Versatility:
If you want a lot of flood grab an XM-L with an OP reflector, a bit more throw an XP-G or XR-E with a smooth reflector, high CRI, Nichia, UV, driver options, lens options, etc. One host with multiple drop-ins can cover a lot of uses.
Modability:
It’s a great platform for starting down the road of modding lights. Drop-ins can be built easily for short money providing the opportunity to try different drivers, emitters and reflectors.
I have 7-8 SolarForce L series lights up to 4.5 amps with no problems. Of course that’s with well wrapped drop-ins and not left tail standing on high for 20 minutes.
I have the L2, L2M, L2N, L2P and L2T, a couple of each. The very well thought out LT-1 lantern, various extension tubes and a lot of tail-switches, bezels, an L2-CL1 Convex lens titanium lanyard rings, Xeno lanyard rings and a box full of various P60 drop-ins. Plenty of protected good quality 18650’s and a stock of CR123’s. I’m perfectly content with what I have, at the moment they serve all my needs.
http://www.pflexpro.com/ “Truly Bullet proof” Tested, mounted to a Remington Mod 11 12 gauge, Auto Loader, where the barrel recoils to chamber the next round!
I’m going to try making a L2M into a mini using either a 18350 or a 16340. What drop in are you using? I have a Solarforce XM-L U2 and will be curious if I can get enough light out of it.
I think they are going out of style because we like to push the limits on output, and the cost savings of getting a new drop-in instead of a whole new host is getting less and less. Quality hosts such as the ones from Convoy are cheap enough where we can just build another light. I still love Solarforce hosts though.
To me, the P60 format is timeless and can’t really ever go out of style. Versatile, flexible and interchangeable… To me it doesn’t get any better. Besides, if most people here are flashaholics, why would this even come into debate? Can’t you own a boatload of P60 format flashlights and also own a boatload of other flashlights?? In my mind if you’re a flashaholic, you’ve got room for more than one EDC in your rotation and the rest can simply sit in your collection waiting it’s turn to be used.
I like the P60 format in the Solarforce line. They seem to me to have the right feel and balance, small enough to have on my person and available when needed yet they produce plenty of light. My problem however is I want one very versitile light that is flexible, and maybe a second as a back up but I don’t want a house full of flashlights. I guess I am not a true flashaholic because too many lights would bother me. Give me my tool that will work when and how I need it to work, but I don’t want a house full of them.
Oh, that problem will solve itself, it's just a matter of time, hang around for a couple of months longer and your bothering about too many lights is over, and you will love each and every one of them :bigsmile:
I love p60’s too. But they do have limitations with thermal management. Although I do think this is sometimes over played.
If you use a flashlight for fun, as in you don’t depend on it and only tend to use it for short periods of time. Then it’s pretty much a non issue IMO.
But for prolonged on time at high outputs it simply isn’t as good.
Also I find it more fun to have multiple different torches for different uses, rather than one torch with lots of different drop in’s.
I quite like the size of the L2’s. They are about as big a torch as I like to carry in my jeans pocket. The larger reflector offers more throw than tube style lights. But for some they maybe are still a little chunky.
As an alternative, have a look at the Convoy M1:
It’s pretty much the exact same size as a Solarforce L2. But obviously doesn’t use a p60 drop in. It has far superior thermal properties, so if you want high output, or sustained use, then the M1 is a more robust torch that will manage the heat much better.
One very neat thing p60’s have though, is modding them to fit old incan Mini Maglites.
I have the 3 mode Solarforce XM-L U2 drop in, I bought it when it first came out. Thus far I think it’s a brilliant drop in. But it has a wide voltage range that is meant to allow it to run on 1xCR123a up to 2xLi-ion. I think SF rate it at 2.7 - 9.0v
And true enough I’ve even had the drop in working on 2xAA. So it does have a wide voltage range. But the problem is output and more importantly regulation.
I used to run it on 1x18650 but now run it on 2xLi-ion, it now is noticeably brighter (pulls more amps) but importantly gives good regulation and maintains it’s output well. On 1x18650 it would dim fairly quickly. I don’t have the means to test it, but I suspect it simply isn’t regulated on a single Li-ion (I have a Crelant that is exactly the same).
To sum up, while this drop in will work on 1x16340 or 1x18350. I think it’s output is disappointing but especially it’s regulation. This drop in certainly works far better with a higher input voltage.
For a L2M stumpy I’d recommend getting a drop in with a driver designed for a single Li-ion battery, I think you’ll get better performance from it.
On that note, remember a 16340 or 18350 only have 500-700mAh vs 3100-3400mAh for an 18650. So runtime will be significantly reduced.
I sometimes run my L2M as a stumpy (I have another p60 torch this size too). They are kind of cool. Quite chunky in your pocket though. The biggest advantage they have over compact tube lights is reflector size and thus more throw.
When you say versatile, versatile for what exactly? As a general rule, something can either be very good at some things, or very average at a lot of things.
I'm not sure it is mentioned anywhere: if you have your leds on copper boards, thermal management has become effectively a non-issue, everything can become much hotter with the led still running fine. This is especially beneficial for p60 lights: the drop-in gets very hot but that does not matter much, and the temperature difference with the shell becomes very large enabling the heat to escape fast enough, even via the tiny edges of thermal contact that the p60 host has.
P60’s are perfect for weapon mounting, I have one on my AR and love it. It’s a great option for a compact light that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. A Solarforce host, Malkoff m61, and McClicky switch makes for a rock solid and reliable weapon light that costs a fraction of something like a Scout light.
I make my own and in this case it’s just a qlite driver from MtnE and a high cri warm xml2 (7D3). Contrast isn’t as sharp as with a cooler tint but I find it very easy on the eyes.
I’ve heard a lot about heat problems, but I haven’t experienced it yet. If I could program the modes it would be High, Medium and strobe. I wouldn’t run it on high all the time mostly medium and back to high for short bursts when I need it.
I have the XM-L2 in 5 mode with the same voltage range. I like the versatility of being able to use different battery sizes or flashlight configurations. Make it a regular size and put it in my backpack or make it a mini and put it in my jacket pocket. I’m going to run the same experiment with rechargeable 16340’s vs the 18650. I like the idea of more volts in the tube even if it means shorter run times. (I still don’t understand why more volts make it run brighter when the amount of input amps should be the same no matter which battery type is used.)
AS for heat. I don’t know why someone doesn’t make an adapter that sits around the reflector with fins that will move the heat from the reflector to the outer shell
It’s a tool that exceeds my needs. It may not be perfect or the best at any one catagory but it works for me and when I need light that is what counts.
