Beamshots: Comparison of modified budget thrower favourites

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
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Got some XM-L2 U2 2C emitters this weekend. So I finished three throwers. :) Did not get them as high up in the 5 or into the 6A range as hoped for, but they became decent.

First some shots of the lights. I think many will recognize many of them. I don't have many toilet plunger style throwers anymore. Here are most om my throwers. I also included Convoy L4 as a stock reference light.

BTU -Lustefire - Solarstorm - COUROI

COUROI -HD2010 - ZYT08 - ZYT08- L4 - UFT20- CNQ zoom host

Ill just say 5A+ on some of the lights that are in the 5-6A range. All lights have copper mcpcb.

Camera settings: 1 sec, F4, ISO 800, auto WB.

Auto WB means that these shots are not meant for comparing tints.

Sorry about some blurry shots. I had little time to do these shots, and rushed them. I went full retard and used the camera for support for the flashlights when taking some of the shots. And I did not check it.. oh well...

The Convoy L4 was just used for reference, its not really a thrower.

Zoom Shots (55mm aps-c)

Control:

BTU Shocker - 3x XM-L2 U2 2C, around 5,5A

Lustefire 3x U2 1A (one two emitters de-domed). About 4,5A (was using KP 4500mAh cells)

Solarstorm SP03 ("shorted" resistors). 4x NCR18650PF, about 4A to each emitter?

The big headed Courui. XM-L2 U2 2C. 5A+

HD2010 XM-L2 U2 1A 5A+

ZY-T08 6,4A regulated. XM-L2 U2 1A de-domed

ZY-T08 5A+ XM-L2 U2 2C

Convoy L4, stock with U2 1A

Uniquefire UF-T20, dedomed XP-G2 R5 1A @ 3,7A

Another small aspheric zoomie (host from CNQ). dedomed XP-G2 R5 1A @ 3A

WIDE ANGLE SHOTS (17mm aps-c)

BTU Shocker. I must have used medium for this shot :/

Lustefire, notice the wider spill compared to BTU.

Solarstorm

Curoui (slightly lower in the 5A range compared to HD2010 when these shots were taken)

HD2010

ZY-T08 dedomed (constant 6,4A)

ZY-T08

Convoy L4

UF-T20

CNQ zoom ashperic

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Fantastic shots RaceR86. It puts things into perspective. If I have asked this question before I apologise, what is the rough diameter of a single shocker reflector? Measured through the glass lens would be fine. I'm just curious how it compares to a C8 reflector.

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Thanks for the comparison! The dedomed ZY-T08 is one of my favorites.

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[quote=MRsDNF]

Fantastic shots RaceR86. It puts things into perspective. If I have asked this question before I apologise, what is the rough diameter of a single shocker reflector? Measured through the glass lens would be fine. I'm just curious how it compares to a C8 reflector.

[/quote]

Did you shake your head or something in order to make the blurry shots sharp MRsDNF? :D

A single BTU shocker reflector is roughly 42mm wide. So they are wider than a C8.

:beer:

Yupp, its great. Easy to fit in a pocket. And even with half empty cells its got full output, unlike all the other lights in this comparison.

I used to have a ZY-T13 and STL-V6 before. But I prefer to have two cells in series in a shorter more pocket friendly body.

Im not that into de-domed XM-L2s though. But that light have an emitter with very nice tint. I picked the best out of around 4 emitters, and the 3 others looked like crap in comparison. I was really lucky with it, so im not pushing it harder than 6,4A. But the driver, HX-1175B can do whatever I want to do in terms of output. I took it from the lustefire.

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Great shots RaceR86. Thanks for setting them up. Looks like you have someone aiming them down from the top of a cliff. Those lumens must be just falling right of those flashlights.

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Thanks. Yes my head shakes a lot. One, in amazement at what some members here can do and achieve, two, I cant say as it against forum rules and thirdly when I get home from work (l'll leave the last two to your own imagination).

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awesome comparison shots… just wondering, what kind driver or mod is the one being used in 6.4A constant current for ZY-T08?
’cos I got 3 that begging to be mod :slight_smile:

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Wow, great shots!

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Thanks Ouchy.

Im a bit higher than the ground below (about 3 meters). I just hand held the lights above the camera, somewhere between 0-30cm away from it.

MRsDNF, I was thinking about including your little 14500, but im only using a Protected Sanyo cell in it. I dont have any IMR14500 so I cant show off its full potential. At 2A+ its still a very good thrower considering the size. I used it on my keychain for several months in the winter. :)

Thanks Daylighter. HX-1175B, slightly trimmed.

:beer: Tom. Dont tell me you too are getting a shaky head. ;)

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There really is alot to like about the HD2010 and ZYT08. Cheap as chips and can be made to perform very well.

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I prefer the grip, size and weight of the HD2010 over the ZYT08. But it needs a hot-rod cell in order to really shine. Ive built mine up with a souped up Qlite. Its a great overall light. When that is said. It does pretty well with something like a King Kong or Keeppower 4500mAh cell too.

In the ZY-T08 with cells in parallel there is no need for "hot-rod cells" since the load will mostly be less than 2,5-3A even in a "hot" light, so you can still use high capacity cells, and still get great peak output and fantastic runtime.

Or you can just get fantastic output from start to finish if the cells are in series and combined with a buck driver. Properly regulated light is just awesome! But then at the expensive of having a basic 5-mode driver and a slightly less safe and simple battery setup.

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My twin cell HD2010 with copper throughout leaves the stock light for dead and is a usable camp light with a long run time on maximum if needed. I like it a lot. In this set up as well the MTG-2 operates ideally with a reasonable hot spot.

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Great beamshots. Thanks for sharing.

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Great shots ! :slight_smile:

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Great beamshots. Thank you for this comparison!

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Thanks for taking time to do this! I especially like the dedomed T08. Impressive focus and tight beam!

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great shots at a pretty interesting spot. looks like a camp ground.
nice collection as well

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Great shots!
You have some nice flashlights !!!
I saw that you lit up the sky in west Norway, all the way to me … 198 miles … :slight_smile:

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haha.. Kurt_Norway :D

Glad you guys found the shots useful.

I noticed I said one emitter in the Lustefire was de-domed in OP. Its actually two.

If anyone have any questions about the lights feel free to ask..

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I have a modded T08 too but yours is even crazier! 6.4A with constant current regulation lol.

Did you measure the lux reading of your 6.4A T08?

And where can I get the HX-1175B driver?

Great beamshots and thanks!