First Convoy Build - Trying not to JPP myself

I’ve ordered the following list of goodies from RMM for a S2+ build, am I missing anything? More importantly, will I die?

Things I still need:
Solder/Flux (recommendations?)
Wire for tail switch bypass (type/size?)
AR Lens - Do I have room to fit one in this build? Do I need to shorten the pill or spacer?

Any advice/tips for a first timer? When soldering the pill to the spacer, do I just go around the perimeter, or use flux and join the faces as well?

RMM uses solder wick for spring bypasses. 60/40 or 63/37 solder and rosin or no clean flux(rosin cleans up with toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol) the stuff he sells is fine though I just use RadionShack 60/40 wire solder or Kester solder paste. You should have room for the lens, the pill just screws in until it runs out of space and the springs take up the slack. I’m not sure you should solder the spacer as a first mod, it can be tricky getting the pill/spacer/mcpcb all aligned. The trick I use is an aluminum can wrap tied with wire. The solder won’t stick to the aluminum.

My first mod was also a S2+ triple with copper spacer. I believe I soldered spacer to pill by heating the pill in an old frying pan, adding solder to the top, then adding the spacer.

Your list looks good. I prefer to use silicone wire over solder wick for bypassing springs. Either will get the job done though.

I also much prefer bistro firmware in lights like this. Auto temp throttling and such is nice

To solder the spacer to pill and the star to spacer you can heat it up with a gas burner or heat gun

For heat transfer to body a bit normal thermal paste added to the heads threads is useful, just be careful not to mess it on the optics and not use too much

With high drain cells without PCB there is no problem adding an AR lens

i have same modding, and yes , have enough room for AR coated len
part form kiriba, AR lens from kaidomain, driver from banggood

Thanks for the clarification folks, looking for a domestically available lens now as MTN is out of them.
The prebuilt s2 that I purchased has a large bead of solder around it joining the driver to the pill, is all this really necessary or can spots be used?
Some of it is missing now from my snap ring pliers struggling to back it out as there were no holes left to grab.

Side note Seeing this enlarged, is the one chip not connected to the board properly?

You won’t need to solder the pill to driver. You can use the threaded retaining ring that comes with the host. I believe the only reason to solder would be for clearance issues you run in to with the 7135 based driver pictured.

Thanks Bourbon, exactly what I was looking for. Want sure if it was grounding vs retaining in primary function.

The blob of solder makes the ground connection. It will need to be a good connection as well since you are building a high amp draw light. I like to solder copper foil to the upper and lower ground rings to form a copper edge and press fit it into the pill when I do not have a driver retaining ring. If you have a ring you will be fine!

Most prefer the retaining ring when it can be used. The driver you ordered is single sided meaning there will be no clearance issues. In which case it actually retains and makes the ground contact as well.

Finally got everything together, here’s an album of the final outcome. Thoughts and criticism welcome. Sofa Convoy S2+

Looks good and it lights up. You did good……… :wink:

Looks good! But what is that orangy putty-like thing you add between the MCPCB and the optics?

Its an orange glow gasket. As you can see in the picture with the other 2, it doesn’t glow nearly as bright as the green or aqua.

What’s jpp? don’t want to go into what the urban dictionary said, lol

Wow, that’s pretty horrible.
I was referring to this:
Ouch