You read my post and thought I was full of it so be it it is your right as it is anyone else’s but someone else may see it differently and more in tune with my experience and it may help them.
I saw clearly with my own eye’s and I know what I will be buying as far as these particular LED’s are concerned if need be in the future definantly won’t be buying this version of the Cree XPL again it’s just not in the same league it’s just an LED made for different application’s I do realize copper makes a difference compared to aluminum but this version of the Cree XPL got spanked so hard by both version’s of the XM-L2 that I just can’t see it competeing at all even if it was on copper.
I was all set and didn’t realy need the new V3’s or the XPL’s didn’t realy know much about them either as I havn’t kept up with flashlight’s lately but I saw these and bought them on impulse and came away disappointed and it was from my own ignorance that this happened as I shouldn’t have expected a huge gain over what I already had as it was if I had just looked over the data of these LED’s across the web a bit more before purchasing.
tarpon31, If you (learn how to) reflow the XP-L onto copper it will make quite a difference. Highly recommended if you are pushing it to 5A.
Just to give you and idea what a good copper mccpb does with emitters at 5A compared to aluminium. I would expect at least the same performance gain on the XP-L if not more due to the tiny footprint.
Basically, if you have a 5A driver, your will loose out on several hundred lumens...Needless to say, its not going to be close to the XM-L2s on copper.
Comparing U2 and U3 from a visual point of view will not be easy. Differences are really small. But at the end of the day, the visual thing is the most important, so stick with what you prefer. :)
Fingers crossed this was irony or something.. 0:)
So, ehm.. when can we expect the graphs? ^^
Would be interesting to see your comparison of these emitters:
XM-L2 U3 1A
XM-L2 U3 2A
XP-L V6 2C
You need some emitters shipped to you (from IOS)? PM me if you do.. ;)
Wow that is a big difference I can tell by looking at that graph that the Cree XPL would have stayed alot closer to the XM-L2’s if they were on copper because they were a couple 100 lumen’s off from each other as-is as a guesstimate so the XPL on copper would have brought it right in-line and competitive IMO.
Please forgive me for asking about something you mentioned to the other member but do you have access to the XP-L V6 2C ?,I havn’t seen that one anywhere and wanted to try that one.
I will say one very positive thing about the XP-L version I do have is the consistency in the tint….they were all a very pleasant milky white in color plus efficiency on them seem’s to be great as I have been playing around with them tonight with an STL-V6 3 amp driver and a LD-2C 3 amp driver (to test differences in driver’s and LED efficiency at this level) and the CREE XP-L V5 2A does a great and better job then the XM-L2 IMO at 3 amp’s but all this testing I speak of is visual only I don’t have the equipement and doubt I’m smart enough to use it right even if I had it as you smart folk’s on that stuff contribute so much to this forum with your knowledge on it and I thankyou for that.
While I’m at it I don’t visit this forum very often and when I show up I try to contribute the only way I can and that is to leave a link to a deal that I think is exceptional if I find one—> Home - MeritLine I know the site list’s it as name brand “Powerflash” but the light I get is “Small Sun ZY-T614” and has been a great light comes with a nice 3 amp driver’s and XML-T6’s……I do put in my spare STL-V6 driver’s in these light’s though because I am very fond of this driver but the driver’s that come with this flashlight have been great I realy like this little light and it has been a pleasant surprise for being such a cheapie in price compared to some of the other light’s I have bought from that company (lot’s being just junk but it’s to be expected) just to try out as this light is way beyond “cheap quality” work’s awesome as-is but I put in Cree XP-L’s along with my favorite 3 amp driver in the light’s just for the heck of it……buid quality is outstanding and solid and has already proven to me a few times by taking some some massive fall’s……lol,hope it help’s someone as this light sell’s for much more in store’s I see it at else where and sorry if it’s been mentioned before already.
Take care everyone and hope none of what I posted offended anyone as that was not my intention at all.
Ohhh - interesting... Guess that's why my U3 1A from IOS did so well because I used it around the 3.8A range in a zoomie and thought it did fantastic, but couldn't compare it to a U2 1A.
As important is why... Is it because of a higher Vf, then even at 4A it won't last very long for high output, not as long as a U2 1A. Or I should say it will drop quicker than a U2 1A if the Vf is higher.
A higher Vf is the easiest explanation. If you are really picky about your leds, you could always test the Vf before putting them into your flashlights :tired:
Not picky, but would be good to know. I recall when the XM-L2's first came out, we'd do our usual initial and 30 sec readings and all looked good, but it was pointed out how quicker the output drops as the cell drains compared to XML's. XP-G2's I believe have a little higher Vf than XM-L2's, so issues are a little worse. If the U3's by design are even a higher Vf than XP-G2's, I'd like to know a little more about the behavior as the cell drops and the driver falls out of regulation. I suppose some buck drivers would handle this well.
Good deal RMM with the tests… I guess U2 1A still until it’s fixed, it’s always like that with early adopters.
Yeah Tom, I’d do it with the yezl but I’ve got cousins who want lights now! I’d rather put in the U2 1A cause focusing these things is a time eater in itself. If I had to take them apart and put in older emitters, roid rage. xd
Could it be that the higher binned LED’s at a specific current are brighter simply because they have a higher Vf? The efficiencies might be very similar (lm/W) but since the voltage is higher, they might be outputting more at the same current. In applications where voltage is limited (direct drive), the LED’s might actually have a lower output.
RaceR86 - Thankyou very much for posting this I emailed mtnelectronic’s about returning these and so far getting question’s about my problem with them will keep you and the other’s updated if you want me to or we can keep it on private message.
Was out again tonight comparing with three of my friend’s two were using the STL-V6 loaded with the lck 5 amp driver (3mode version) and CREE XM-L2 U2 1D version and myself and another friend were using the XM-L2 U3 1A that was inside the same flashlight with same driver and we all could clearly see the CREE XM-L2 U2 1D was clearly brighter and I have been picked on since by them for buying more LED’s when not needed in the first place and that the new ones are lower output which kind of got my blood boiling because back when I installed the new driver’s I got that “your alway’s spending time with your flashlight’s comment from my significant other” so yeah these new LED’s have not been a pleasant thing for me (yes I brought it to myself…lol)
Thanx tarpon31 for the MeritLine deal (http://www.meritline.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=78963&SEName=cree-t6…) back in post #23 on that 2 cell classic - great price at $9 shipped. FastTech sells the same light for $16, branded as the UltraFire X8. Still goes for $33 at DX and at one time, that was considered a good price! This light goes back to the 2011 time frame. It's got limited throw because of it's C8 size head though, but the SS bezel and 2 cells makes it pretty unique, and the narrow head may make it convenient for packing/carrying. Best price on eBay I could find was $17.
I got my U3's from Hank at IOS - wonder if I got lucky with a good one for the one I put into the zoomie, or just the fact that it's driven under 4A in my mod.
I’d like to get a couple of these confirmed bad U3’s for my personal testing, anyone that takes the partial refund and keeps them would you want to send me a few (I’ll pp you for shipping).
Hey Tom E No problem I couldn’t agree with you more those light’s along with the Nitefighter F21c and Maxtoch SN6X-2x Limited along with some Defiant’s ( I know all these are realy in different quality bracket’s) have been my “pack away” light’s that give a good mix of power/efficiency IMO the X8 does realy well with the XP-L but could be just personal taste.
Hi Alberto- I don’t think to many vendor’s will take responsibility for it unless proof get’s shoved in there face.
The three xm-l2 u3 leds that I bought at mtnelectronic’s clearly visibly were worse then the xm-l2 u2 version’s I own installed in the same light as seen and judged by my friends and I but all I get from mtnelectronic.com is there should only be a 7% difference which he say’s is not visible……
To make matter’s worse 2 of the 3 xm-l2 u3 led’s I purchase all the sudden just died when my friends and I were testing them again tonight so IMO these led’s have issue’s but the problem remains’ is that proof is what the seller’s will ask for….
Sure I could paypal dispute and win but I’m not going to worry about it as I know mtnelectronic’s is a US company trying to make it out there so I will just take it as a lesson learned hope your issue work’s out well for you my friend.
