Sofirn C8F host. 21700 C8F Available

[prototype3a]

M2.5x8mm

Mine is a cheap phillips head. If I reinstall the reflector, I’ll probably replace it with a socket head cap screw of some kind.

[JasonWW]

@JasonWW

@Inkidu

Thanks for the reply. No. I mean C8F 21700 battery tube working with the Convoy C8 head. I know that bored out C8 exist that will accept a 20700 cell, with the o-ring being the thinnest part. So, it is close.

No, it’s not close. I’ll take a picture of the two later today.

Whoops, looks like I forgot.

Here are the two battery tubes side by side.

.

[Lightbringer]

Hmm, I just posted something on the S11 thread, saying that the 21700 seems closer in size to the 18650 vs the 26650. This is kinda the proof I need.

[contactcr]

The c8f is not even a good example. Its way overbuilt and thick. A smooth tube light could have much thinner walls

[Inkidu]

Thanks for the pictures and update JasonWW. Wishful thinking on my part.

@contactcr

The c8f is not even a good example. Its way overbuilt and thick. A smooth tube light could have much thinner walls

I noticed that myself. Hoping that the upcoming Convoy C8+ 21700 has some thinner walls. I don’t really see the need for the wall thickness. If your going to add weight, it would be better served in cooling the head.
It would be great if the C8+ 21700 body would fit into a 18650 C8 head. Maybe the dimensions are just too far apart.

[contactcr]

That is too thin

[Tom_E]

@Lightbringer

Hmm, I just posted something on the S11 thread, saying that the 21700 seems closer in size to the 18650 vs the 26650. This is kinda the proof I need. :laughing:

Hhmm, 18<-->21 vs 21<-->26

Yep, 21 mm is closer to 18 mm then to 26 mm, 3 is less than 5. Math proves it also

[Spartan]

@Sofirn

Note:
If you guys want tell new ideas for Sofirn light, please just PM me, but contact aliexpress sales only for order related topics. Simple and clear communication helps us making acurate plan.

I contacted your company via email on two projects and got no senior response.

Oh well……

[contactcr]

@Spartans

@Sofirn

Note:
If you guys want tell new ideas for Sofirn light, please just PM me, but contact aliexpress sales only for order related topics. Simple and clear communication helps us making acurate plan.

I contacted your company via email on two projects and got no senior response.

Oh well……

FYI, Barry works for Sofirn and commented in your thread even. You are in for a huge disappointment and reality check if you expect constant and clear communication from these guys (nevermind it’s during a national holiday). Just set your expectations to this all the time.

[Zippo]

Hi guys, i order c8f sec version with 21700, does anyone know how much power stock driver can put? I wanna change it with XP-L2 v5, wonder if they will work on that driver without modification, and is it worth changing XP-L? Thanks.

[pc_light]

Hello Zippo,

The C8F seems to typically draw from 7-10Amp as measured at the tailcap, with some people reporting 12-14Amp draw (after tweaks to minize resistance and improve heat management.) This should be more than adequate to drive the emitters you’re proposing.

The change from stock XP-L to XP-L2 is probably not going to result in a significant bump in brightness. Most users performing such a changeout would typically do so for a change in the “tint” (to something cooler or warmer depending on personal preferences) and/or an increase in the Color Rendering Index (CRI) of the output.

Hope this helps, and welcome to BLF.

[JasonWW]

I think Zippo was asking how many amps the xp-l2 would draw, not if the stock driver could handle it.

Here are a few quotes I found with a search of “xp-l2” in this thread.

@LEDtec

I recently received 2 C8F 21700 hosts, along with a driver kindly sent by Sofirn, and today I found the time to assemble 1.
I used 2 pieces of 16AWG wire (about 4-5cm each), 3x XP-L2 V4 4500k 80CRI 3-step, and the Sofirn driver.
And I was really amazed by the result, I measured 17.8A max at the tailcap, with a 30T @ 4.2V
THANKS Sofirn.

@Tom E

I modded up a C8F 21700 host with 3 351D 4000K 90 CRI’s and also measured 17.8A at the tail! Mine does 4150 at start, 3750 at 30 secs, but that’s not ANSI lumens, more like manufacturer lumens. Measured 33 kcd throw. I used 20 AWG LED wires (long to re-program), and swapped the tail bypass to 20 AWG.

I got one more 21700 host on the way (hope so), and got in 3 C8F 18650 hosts, 2 modded up.

One C8F with XP-L2 V6 5000K actually read 19.1 amps on a VTC5D cell, 5640-5050 lumens, 42.5 kcd.

I hope they get in more - doesn’t sound or look good. They don’t seem to sell the 18650 versions any longer as well.

@ZozzV6

There you go:
Sorry for quality.

From table to ceiling:

Outside:

My opinion is that not much gain with the XP-L2 by eye. What you can see with the spill you can also see with the HI led but the XP-L2 draws much more current and heating up faster. My XP-L2 version draws above 16A and puts out 4550 lumens at start.
The XP-L HI version draws 11-12A and puts out 3300 lumens and out throw the XP-L2.

@Yourrid

Man I can’t believe it took me this long to read about this C8F host. I’ve been waiting for Convoy to come out with a triple C8 for years!!! I read 90% of the posts in here and decided I’m buying one of these hosts from RMM (mtnelectronics) right away (like right meow).

Build list:

• C8F Host
• MTN-17DDm FET + 7135 Driver - 17mm (D4 UI v2)
• Samsung 30Q
• XP-L V6… XP-L HI V3… or XP-L2 V6 :smiling_imp:

@DB Custom

Sorry, been sick.

18ga wires will fit in the C8F, it’s just not easy. I gave the C8F I put XP-L2’s in away. Don’t recall it’s numbers and can’t find any record in my notes. Gave it away literally right after building it. Will ask and see what it’s doing. (he has a lightbox)

Edit: He says he got 3800 OTF with the XP-L2’s in the C8F, but he uses older Samsung 20R cells. I seem to recall I got like 4200 with a top cell, I just can’t find my notes on it. (probably scribbled on the side of something else)

Seems like the XP-L2 is a clear winner in the lumen game between those 3 choices. But…

@BlueSwordM

Yes, but from 3 XP L2s, which are known to have even worse tint shift than XPLs.

Is the tint shift from dedoming or just from the massive amount of amps they pull? I plan on leaving them domed and would like max output. I know the XP-L2’s have a very low forward voltage, but I would imagine 3 running off of one 30Q would be reasonable… right?

Also, anyone ever get any beamshot comparisons between different emitters in the C8F? I remember reading someone asking for some but I don’t think they ever got posted.

Thanks! :+1:

There has been a lot of talk about it in this thread.

[Zippo]

Thank you, that’s what i wanted to see, well it’s not some huge increase in light output, but it is in current draw, 19.1A with xpl2 v6 is crazy, no way to handle that heat, host is too small…will keep everything stock then, just to change wires with thicker ones.
Need to try putting some convex lens and set up focus when i need better throw for long distances, will see how that works and post after i finish it. Next step is making laser out of c8f…hehe

[the4ds9]

Having now owned and used the Sofirn SP70, I can see how there are people who likes the 26650 more than the 21700. The Sofirn SP70 has definitely become my favorite light and I love the 2x26650 battery configuration. I just plain love Sofirn.

[Mantser]

Hello everyone, where to buy a reflector “orange peel” for this flashlight? I really need this reflector! Thank you.

[JasonWW]

@Mantser

Hello everyone, where to buy a reflector “orange peel” for this flashlight? I really need this reflector! Thank you.

If you are desperate, you might try spraying the reflector in clear paint. When it dries it has a orange peel texture. This is an old school technique.

[Moleyman69]

Hi everybody,

I hope that you are all enjoying the holidays.

I have a spare working C8F 21700 “head” back from when Sofirn realised that these lights weren’t outputting the full lumen count (along the lines of a bad MOFSET or something) because Sofirn sent me a new, upgraded “head”.

If I were to buy just this host I assume it comes with the battery tube and switch so that I can put my “original” lower-lumen C8F 21700 head on the new battery tube from the host? Will it fit properly?

I hope that this makes sense.

As always, many thanks,

Moley

[Dioda]

I received the C8F recently and consider ordering the host version to build a triple with more throw. Are there any beamshots of the triple XPL-HI available? They would be my go-to LEDs of choice, not so sure about SST20s.

[g_damian]

@Dioda

Are there any beamshots of the triple XPL-HI available?

There are beam shots in the album attached to the post:

What did you mod today?

New light built: Sofirn C8F with three XP-L HI V3 3C. Inside Lexel’s board with customized Narsil. Comparision pictures with BLF A6 (the same LED) are in linked album. Pulls 10A on turbo, so it should be ~3000lm. [image] [image] [image]

[mortuus]

@the4ds9

Having now owned and used the Sofirn SP70, I can see how there are people who likes the 26650 more than the 21700. The Sofirn SP70 has definitely become my favorite light and I love the 2x26650 battery configuration. I just plain love Sofirn.

but its hardly EDC light, how do u carry it ?