Anybody put an XP-G2 in a DST?

Seems how a DST is now about $17 dollars, I wondered about using it stock to Host and Drive a XP-G2? What do you think?

Bump

DST currently works best with XML2 de-domed driven by a 26650 or a high end 18650. Take advantage of that big reflector’s design which not coincidentally was for XML. XPG2 doesn’t quite do it as well. I’ve done it. Yawn.

Basically this reflector needs more flood right out of the emitter gate to perform and XML2 especially de-domed gives you the best of all worlds.

Thanks for the input, any suggestions for a XP-G2 Host? and Driver?

XPG2 will really perform in a C8 platform to just about its peak optimum with respect to reflector size particularly if de-domed - this is assuming you want to stick with 18650. I would stay with a pure SMO reflector too. A Nocticon base would be best but with a decent C8 pill with aluminum star will perform very well indeed. Use 22 awg wire in any case. It may sound like overkill but using forward thinking in case you have or plan to get a top notch 18650 current monster this will come in handy. IOW plan ahead and put in wires that can handle the future.

I would start with going direct-drive first as your base light as most likely you’re going to get a budget lousy driver if you buy a budget host to begin with so why not just direct drive it. This is BLF afterall. Point is that you should get two C8’s from the get go. The second C8 can then be driven by any myriad of drivers you want to experiment with, 7135’d versions, Nanjg 105 series, etc. KD, IOS, FT, will have I’m sure what you’re looking for. Now you can compare to your simple simon direct-drive version and have a real-life shining gauge on what’s what. XPG2’s can handle the amps so don’t be shy here.

The emphasis on whatever host you settle on is that the most important aspect ultimately comes down to pill construction. You likely already know what I mean here but to repeat the oft repeated BLF story a pill that has a solid surface beneath the emitter and interfaces within the tube by a good thread structure gets you there. I haven’t bought any budget C8 hosts for quite a while now so I can’t advise you based on my purchase history what’s good out there. I would ask someone like Pulsar 13, the, and the like for that insight.

I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised with how much a decent C8 comes alive with a de-domed XPG2. IMO the reflector and this particular emitter go hand in hand together as if they were originally designed that way.

you’ll struggle to drive any single cell xp-g2 build really hard, just like you do with an xm-l2, and I really don’t accept that 40mm is the limit in reflector diameter to work with xp-g2, I got a couple of 70mm reflectors that definitely argue the case, as I said earlier, get a convoy l2 to play with, that thing is built for a 5a xp-g2 right out of the box.

Use two cells and your suddenly easily over the higher vf demand of these new emitters and don’t need to get the super low resistance cells you need for single cell high current or worry about braiding everything in sight etc.

Having said all that, I don’t think an xp-g2 c8 at at least 3a is a bad idea, because I’m waiting on a c8 host to arrive to do this very build, already got a c8 xp-g smo and hybrid reflector from cnqg to test to boot, its just I don’t think its going to be the end of conversation on the best xp-g2 light.

I’ve found once I built one xp-g2 light, I wanted to build a lot more of them, domed, dedomed, nw, next I want to try some high cri edc xp-g2 builds.

Just fiddled with my Convoy C8 tonight - de-domed XP-G2, measures 3.95A at the tail. Only did about 98 kcd, then realized I had a XML reflector in it -- forgot I had to use the XPG reflector in another mod, so swapped in the FFL XPG SMO C8 reflector, and that was it - now got 128 kcd which is what I recall. I probably could tweak a bit more out of it, but haven't heard much of anything higher in a C8 with an XP-G2 de-domed.

Also, my UF T20 zoomie does about the same, 130 kcd or so with a de-domed XP-G2.

+1 gords - XP-G2's on copper can work well in big reflectors, multi-cell high amps builds.

so that’s why I went single cell and C8. I try to be extra budget minded whenever I discuss things here because this is afterall *Budget*LightForum. And yes I agree you can get more out of XPG2/coppered with multi-cells and bigger reflectors but I was just talking about C8 dimensions - IOW something truly pocketable, relatively dirt cheap, and very versatile.

I still think a C8 setup like this is tuff to beat $ to giddy up all other things considered and without going nuts on amps and multi-cell balance issues. And I still stand by my assessment that XPG2 is more suited to this size/class reflector more than the other way around. I think XML2’s (de-domed as well) work better and more efficiently in bigger reflectors. But that’s just me.

Bottomline is that I think at this time XPG2 especially de-domed is one fantastic cheap emitter for various setups. Btw, I don’t believe in driving lights “really hard”. I’m a firm believer in longevity, reliability, heat control practicality, decent runtime, combined with above average performance when I can get it any day. I seem to get that and then some. My simply modded driven “hard enough” single-cell C8’s believe me do leave an impression. For their size they absolutely blast.

But most of us like to have at least one real hot rod or two just to have so I understand. lol

Btw I almost forgot to mention what is my favorite C8 host hybrid of all to mod.

I take a de-domed XPG2 plus a decent C8 head and transfer it to an Ultrafire SG-R13’s tube from Manafont. Then I take the SG-R13 head and transfer it to the C8’s tube and now I have an excellent 1” mountable type lite with a smaller more practical head for clearance.

Try it, I bet you’ll really like a C8 in this format. It’s shorter, slenderer plus smoother to the touch, balances great, and the rubber grip now makes it a really comfortable natural breeze to operate the tail switch.

Nice thing about the DST is I can do 18650*2 serial or parallel … just want to see some data or beamshots to help evaluate (another) LED replacement for the DST reflector.

there is that, dst is a great modding platform, mine will be going under the iron once I’ve cleared my work bench of other projects, although mine will be pretty mild at 3a with an ld 3c driver and high cri xm-l2.

Sounds interesting Nottawhackjob. I just ordered an Ultrafire SG-R13.