Ok, So I have a Smallsun zy-c10 That has an XRE-Q5 emitter in it.
Stock, this thing throws and puts light on a house thats well over 100 yards away..
But I was thinking, it seems very easy to mod.. and I thought I knew which emitter I wanted to use to retain its stock features but make it throw more (not too worried about the flood) So basically, I was thinking to stick with XRE and go for the highest bin which is to my knowledge and (cree flashlight wiki) but its only 10 lumens higher at 1000ma. the XPE however is at r4 with over 50 more lumens. But my question is, Can I drive one of these to 1400ma? Ive read that the XRE can be dirven that hard but the XPE cannot. Also, Like I mentioned, I want to retain as much as possible the tight, focused die beam I get out of the original.
Would an XP-G R5 be an option? Ive read it has a larger beam angle and I wold actually lose lux for throw. (sorry if I am misusing the terms)
And, So im wanting to use either the "KD 4x7135 1520ma 17mm driver" or a "4x7135 1400ma 17mm driver" that I'm getting a good deal on from Old-Lumens, to drive whichever emitter I end up choosing.
I just need that copper heatsink that ChicagoX is offering up if he will only drill my wire holes in it, otherwise I might just have to Melt my own copper shot and pour it into the original hollow heatsink myself... I would much rather ChicagoX's though.
So, any thoughts or input would help.. personal experience as well..
Keep the stock emitter (or get a XR-E R2), drive it harder as you mention using the copper pill and that will be the best option for the pure throw that you are after.
The XP-G won’t throw as far. The XP-E won’t either both because you can’t drive it as hard (no experience here however) and because its beam angle isn’t as conducive to aspherics as a XR-E. More of the beam in a XR-E goes forward (90 degrees) than with the XP-E.
If you were building a reflectored thrower then the XP-E might be the better choice (depending on how hard you were planning on driving it).
I have that light and it sounds like a good mod. You’ll be able to get rid of the modes as well. It’s also easy to replace the tail switch with a forward clicky so you can have the momentary feature (I did this to mine).
I don’t have any real experience it that matter but I wouldn’t personally want one driven harder than 1.4 or 1.5A. I think the key to this mod is to get a little more output (while not frying the emitter) and by heat sinking it well try to maintain that level for longer (if it over heats the output is going to degrade as well).