triple XPL with carlco - dedome or not?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

sorry - but i can´t find the post where that was answered…

Q:
a: should i dedome (gasoline) 3pcs XP-L V6 2C on a 20mm triple Noctigon with a Carlco 10507
or
b: mod the optic with the torx-trick?

lumen loss vs. tint shift vs. beam pattern etc…

2

Having lights with both, I personally prefer to leave the dome on and mod the optic. I hate the ugly greenish tint shift dedoming creates. Leaving the dome on is the easiest way to get really good tint.

Dedoming results in a loss of something like 10% of the output. Modifying the optic while using domed optics reduces output around 20%. This reduction in output is not very noticeable.

You’ll get less throw if you leave the dome on, but this kind of light is best used for floody short-range use anyways. So having a wider hotspot shouldn’t be a big problem.

I think the reduction in output from modifying the optic is caused by light hitting the widened portion and then scattering. Instead of transmitting through the vertical sides of the unmodified optic and then reflecting off the angle portion, the light hits the slightly rough torx’d section and scatters. Much of the light is then lost behind the reflector rather than being emitted as output.

I wonder if it would help to try polish the inside of the 10507 after widening it with a torx. If polished then the light hitting the inside of the optic wouldn’t scatter when hitting the inside edge of the optic. It should then transmit through and hopefully be reflected out the front. I say “hopefully”, because if the torx’d section isn’t vertical then the light might still not hit at the correct angle.

Anyone tried flame polishing a widened carclo optic yet? Something like this:

  1. Take 20mm triple star and glue it rightside up to a larger piece of sheet aluminum. The aluminum will serve as a shield to insure the flame only hits the inside of the optic.
  2. From the top, drill 3 holes all the way through the top of the star and the aluminum sheet at the emitter pads.
  3. Place the optic into the star and then turn the aluminum and star upside down. Mount it on something so it stays in place. You should now see the underside of the piece of sheet aluminum with 3 holes, each revealing the inside of one of the optic cavities.
  4. Take a propane torch and give the inside of each hole a short blast. Just a few seconds of flame in each hole ought to be enough.
3

have you attempted that flame polish yet?

4

Actually no. Never got around to it.

And now’s there no need. High Intensity XPLs fit under Carclo optics without needing to modify the optic. My EDC triple is equipped with 3 of them.

5

Dedome it. I’ve never gotten an ugly tint from a good dedome

6

One way or the other, you will lose lumens.
So dedome to get a better hotspot, or not for more flood.
Take your pick. I would go with a dedome.

7

I’ve dedomed probably a dozen LEDS and probably purchased half a dozen more from RMM. None of them have a tint I’d consider remotely as good as a domed LED. In contrast the XPL HI that I have all have the throw of a dedomed LED with tint that’s just as good as any domed LED… no green at all even at low power.

Bottom line: why accept ugly tint when there’s a much superior choice.

8

I agree on not compromising, but I truly haven’t gotten much green from a dedome. In fact, the 2nd nicest tint I have is a dedomed XPL 2A. It beats out my XPL 3D triple, and only loses to my Nichia 219b. I generally prefer the tint from dedomes because the tint is consistent throughout the beam even with a smooth reflector. No “Cree rings”

The only time I’ve gotten green is when I was practicing hot dedomes with crappy blue XM-L’s.

I think maybe you’ve been very unlucky? Or maybe we just have different eyes.

Edit: for the record, the new HI emitters would be my first choice, but I’d personally always dedome before marring up the optic

9

I’ve yet to see a dedomed CREE that didn’t look green, at least on low power. This includes probably 2 dozen dedomed XPG2, XML2 and XPL of various tints plus the 12 1D dedomed emitters in my M43.

There’s just no comparison. The XPL Hi blows all the dedomed emitters away in tint quality. There’s no contest.

10

I have to agree, the tint is outstanding, so much so my TK75vnKT and my BTU Shocker are getting upgraded to the XPL-HI 5700K’s……I like the tint that much, even if I lose throw on one, and gain throw on the other. But that’s just me….never liked yellow, unless it’s Chrome Yellow on a 55 Chevy Sedan, Bored and Stroked Chevy Big Block, Straight Axle Gasser with Hilborn Mechanical Fuel Injection, Muncie Rock Crusher and a Grumpy Jenkins hood scoop……push start only!

11

Depends on what you want.I did both ways.

If you are looking for flood that looks like it has diffuser film...mod the optic. The flame polish leaves artifacts unless you work and work with a magnifying glass to minimize the deep scratches and that seemed like too much work.

If you want no fuss and no muss...dedome the damned thing or get the new XPL. Still floody but NOWHERE near as bad as cutting the optic.

I built something like 5. (2) XPG2, (1) XPL w/ cut optic, (1) XPL w/ dedome, (1) XPL w/ cut optic and polished (just to see if I could do it on something so small...never again :)) I like the dedomed XPL and the XPG2 (which I still have)

12

where are the XPL HI available in small quantities with cheap shipping to €urope?

13

I am of this heritage so I can say it :) .....

If you wait a few days you will be able to buy anything in Greece for pennies on the dollar

14

I also would wait for the XP-L HI.

At first I had a triple with dedomed XP-L V6 3D and hated the green tint.
Than I modded the optics and put domed XP-L V6 3A in. This was definitely better. But than I accidently dedomed one of the XP-Ls as I twisted the pill in the flashlight. The domes on those XP-Ls are really delicate.

15

the only reason why I chose carclo mod over dedome was price.
damn all this talk of triple, need to stay busy while my parts from RMM are made and sent out :smiley:

16

Here is a tip...

After placing an order with Richard...STAY AWAY from his site...the ADD TO CART button get much much bigger. LOL

On the other hand...the more you buy the less he has in inventory to sell to us. LOL. Forget what I said before :)