Modding a River Rock 2C light, should I go mild or wild?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

I have this older (5 years old or or so) River Rock 2 C cell light, it is an xr-e, probably a P3 or P4. It only pulls 500 mA from the tail cap for a grand total of 114 Lumens (IIRC), of course I have been using it a few minutes a month for the last 5 years as a car light with the same set of energizer cells that came with it, so the low drive isn’t all bad. :wink:

I always have a good lithium ion light on me nowadays so I don’t really NEED it as I have been using it, so…should I go mild and run an xr-e R2 with a three mode driver at about 1 A off of the two C cells or should I go wild and squeeze an xm-l T6 driven at 2.5-3 A and a few 26500 li ions?

The mild option is winning in my mind because I wouldn’t need to find a new reflector and it would be a cheap way to get a long run time 230ish lumen light but…who can turn down 900 lumens for about 15 bucks (plus the cost of the cells)?

So what would you all do? Thanks.

2

You shouldn't need a new reflector for the XML as the dome is the same size. I personally would go XML with a good driver to push it to 2.8 amps and have a nice low.

3

It all depends on what you will need it for and how much you will be using it. I’d consider practical over fun, but I’m often a hypocrite!

4

cut it down to a one cell 20650 stick a neutral xml in it and a no flashies driver

5

Good to know I wouldn’t need a new reflector, looks like I may go the xm-l route, it will be even for affordable than I thought and if I run 18500’s instead of 26500’s that is a savings of 75% on batteries too. ($22 is the best I have found for 26500s while I can get 18500s for 5 bucks from batteryspace and add some 18650 protection circuits off of DX for another 2 bucks.)