Mod for more throw for BLF A6

It is a floody flashlight and a facebook group I am a member of offers this service of modding it to add more throw for it, I am wondering if anyone here could provide an instruction on how to add more throw to it? And is it possible that it can be modded so it can penetrate rain?

Thank you so much, this is my first post.

BLF A6 uses a FET driver with XPL emitter and Orange Peel (OP) reflector. There are a number of ways to improve the throw of a typical flashlight like this without drastically changing the external shape of the light:

  • Option 1: swap out the reflector for a smooth reflector. Smooth reflectors throw slightly better than textured orange peel (OP) reflectors. However OP refectors give a better beam pattern with fewer rings. I am not aware of any smooth reflectors that would fit in the A6. I'm sure there are some, but you'd have to hunt around for them. Probably not worth the effort.
  • Option 2: Increase the power to the LED. Some drivers limit the max current to the LED. For those lights, you can increase output, and therefore throw, by modding or replacing the driver. However, the A6 already includes a FET driver that will pull as much power as the battery can provide. This leaves a few options:
    • Get a quality low-resistance 18650 cell. For absolute max possible output something like a Sony VTC5A or VTC6 are probably the best options. This could give a large increase to power if your previous cell wasn't very good.
    • The springs at each of the battery tube hold the battery itself, but tend to have resistance to current. You can bump up the current slightly by replacing them with Beryllium-copper low-resistance springs, or by applying a spring bypass with wire or solder braid to each spring.
  • Option 3: replace the emitter. Intensity is how many lumens are emitted per unit of area on the emitter surface. High-intensity emitters have better throw as do domeless emitters. Warmer color temperature emitters probably penetrate rain better than cooler temperatures.
    • The A6 comes with an XPL emitter. You can increase throw by replacing it with a domeless emitter like XPL HI. For best penetration through rain I suggest a warmer color temperature ... perhaps 3000 or 4000 Kelvin.
    • Alternatively, you can replace it with a High-CRI emitter. This gives the best possible color rendition, but tends to cost some raw output so throw might not be quite as good. Good choices for a high-CRI emitter are the SST-20 4000K 95-CRI.

Replacing the emitter is probably the best option for increasing the throw of your light. You will need a soldering iron, basic solder skills, thermal grease, and solder or solder paste.

There someone on youtube who put in a xp50.2 3v in his

If it survives the heat that would be a monster :confounded:

The new BLF A6 SE of banggood already has double rear springs

I have been using a convoy s2+ with a xhp50.2 (3v) emitter for almost a year. All day every day as i work on cars. Mtn 17mm driver and its a hoot. I love to show off the fire starting ability to most everyone, and it handles the heat really well- i mean as much as an s2 can. Im almost at a point that i need to replace the switch, its starting to feel mushy (poor omten 1288 isnt rated for such current). I never expected to like this light as much as i do, it really is something! Ever start a campfire with a flashlight? That sparks a conversation with people watching you.

Obviously you cant turn it on turbo an walk away, as theres no thermal regulation in my s2+. it does quickly get hot, scolding hot after 45 seconds. Unbearable to hold in mechanic hands after minute and change. But, by the time its about to melt solder the battery voltage has dropped significantly.

its an amazing emitter When paired to the orange peel reflector. By sheer lumens alone it throws light. Want more throw? Shave the dome. And when your not in turbo, its kinda efficient (still 4 emitters in parrelel). So i say go do it! Find a pcb for the a6 that will fit the 5050 emitter and go to town, and be aware the reflector may need to be modified slightly to accept the xhp50.

I’ve got the SE (Special Edition) and I confirm that it has this double rear springs.

Simplest way is to just buy another light with a bigger head /smooth reflector and an emitter that has more throw like an xpl hi or an sst-20. the difference is the angle at which light comes off the die .de-doming an emitter creates a tighter angle and even manufacturers picked up on peoples desire for more throw which is where the xpl factory de-dome (xpl-hi) came from.

I wouldn't pay for a mod till I knew what the same light with different emitters looked like first . This is why the convoy S2 became so popular ..convoy and fastech made the lights available in multiple drivers and emitter options . Try asking Simon at convoys ali express store to make you a S2+ with an sst20 high cri and a smooth reflector

Thanks a lot for your suggestions, the 2nd option is the easiest, I will try to find for a smooth reflector if I can, the 3rd option maybe is out of my skills but I’ll dig deeper into this. I’m quite amazed of the fast response I’ve gotten here.

Yes, that is an option I am looking at, just to buy another light, I’m just a little concerned with the “bigger head”, it may not be EDCeable?

Does this product fits your description sir?