HowTo: Modify Carclo Optics for XP-L Use--For $0.25

[Halo]

@DBCstm

I’m all for keeping the domes where they belong, on the emitter instead of on top of my computer. (I have a little collection of hot de-domes.

Let see your collection! :bigsmile:

[DB_Custom (Dale)]

Couldn't resist trying, so I modified a Torx bit and gave it a shot...

YouTube&showinfo=0

I used a cordless Makita hand drill with variable speed and did most of it at very low revolution. Then I set it to high speed mode and ran it fast to sort of polish the cut. Works so so. There was a bit of slag along the cut edge that I scraped off with the razor sharp tip of my Sage 2. Now I'm gonna have to build a light! :)

[DB_Custom (Dale)]

Just ordered a shorty S2, I swear those weren't on the site last order I placed just day before yesterday! Now I'll have to wait for that to come in so I can complete this quad. :)

[RMM]

@DBCstm

Just ordered a shorty S2, I swear those weren't on the site last order I placed just day before yesterday! Now I'll have to wait for that to come in so I can complete this quad. :)

They weren't! Added them last night.

[RMM]

@Firelight2

Hey RMM… you should offer opening up the optics to fit domed XPL as an extra add-on service with all your Carclo triple optics

Been available since yesterday for the triples and quads.

[WarHawk-AVG]

Here is one that might work…might need to remove the outer ledge in order to expose the cutting blades

http://www.harborfreight.com/reamer-deburring-tool-65338.html

[Old-Lumens]

Good idea. I just use an exacto knife and taper out the openings with that. Same way as I trim off the metal in the ID of a pipe after cutting it.

[wight]

@DBCstm

Even if the XP-L stays within 10% of it’s output when de-doming, with a triple light that’s a 30% loss in output! With a hot rodded triple, that can be a very significant lumens loss.

Say we’re seeing 1400 lumens per emitter for 4200 OTF lumens with the domes on. Take the domes off and lose a mere 10% and we have a 520 lumen loss! Yeah, I’m all for keeping the domes where they belong, on the emitter instead of on top of my computer. (I have a little collection of hot de-domes. )

Edit: Obviously, even more impact on a Quad.

In response to the text I bolded: It’s still 10. A triple of 100-lumen emitters where each emitter puts out 10 less light (90-lumens each) is now putting out 270 lumens. 270/300=0.9, or 90. 30/300=0.1, 10.

The output loss is still noteworthy of course!

@RMM - thanks for posting this.

[Slim_Pickens]

A lot pictures of the Convoy triples that I’ve seen look like the bezel is blocking part of the optic. Anyone care to comment on this?

[Caleb-v]

Do you have to sharpen the top edged of the drill piece

[DB_Custom (Dale)]

I put this quad optic on domed XP-L V6 2C's, it pulls 13.21A from a rested Samsung 20R. :)

[Dubious_Speculation]

RMM, is there an ETA for the XP-L V6 3D leds?

@Slim Pickens

A lot pictures of the Convoy triples that I’ve seen look like the bezel is blocking part of the optic. Anyone care to comment on this?

I’d also like someone’s opinion on this. Specifically how much lumens is being lost because of this and if there is a way to rectify the problem.

[Rufusbduck]

It’s possible to ream the bezel closer to the OD of the optic but you wouldn’t want to uncover the o-ring.

[wight]

While we are sort of on the subject (OK not really), I’ve just been looking at Ledil’s product line and it seems to me that the Sandra series can be cut down to a 35mm triple without the squished-up optics of the Cute and with less depth. (11.1mm vs 15.0mm). Assuming one was inclined to do such a thing. There isn’t an XR or XM version, but I assume that the XP version can be trimmed as described in the OP and/or using the method described by C_k elsewhere.

EDIT: While I’m writing it all down in this post… I speculate that the Cute-3 uses squished 20mm optics while the Sandra-12 uses ~16.6mm optics.

[DB_Custom (Dale)]

With a freshly charged 20R cell, amps at the tail shows to be 13.79A.

Output in my lightbox "only" shows 2742.75 at start.

This would imply 685.75 lumens per emitter, at 3.45A ea.

Something wrong with this picture, should be in the 1200 lumen territory per emitter at 3.45A.

I took heat into consideration building this one, spent the day putting it together...

[DB_Custom (Dale)]

Wight, I measure the optic in the CUTE-3 35mm triple at 17.4mm for each TIR.

[wight]

@DBCstm

Wight, I measure the optic in the CUTE-3 35mm triple at 17.4mm for each TIR.

Thanks DBCstm, shows what I know. Is that measuring across the longest way?

I’ve been working based on assumptions derived from the 20mm optics (which are of similar height to the 25mm triple)

[RMM]

@will manners

RMM, is there an ETA for the XP-L V6 3D leds?

@Slim Pickens

A lot pictures of the Convoy triples that I’ve seen look like the bezel is blocking part of the optic. Anyone care to comment on this?

I’d also like someone’s opinion on this. Specifically how much lumens is being lost because of this and if there is a way to rectify the problem.

They will be back here in about a week.

I'm not sure how much is lost, but there has to be a little bit. The issue is that the o-ring lands are there, so unless you can re-cut the groove or do without the o-ring, there isn't much. I've thought about opening it up a bit then using some silicone instead of the o-ring, but haven't tried it yet. I suppose that the easy way to test would be to measure the same driver/LED/cell combination outside the light vs. inside the light.

[DB_Custom (Dale)]

Wight, from the bottom of the cone to the top of the lens is 13.9mm, each round TIR within the triple is 17.3mm in diameter... near as I can tell with my cheap digital caliper.

Edit: I measured 17.4 across on the mounted one that I've polished the face of. You can see the optics better behind the polished top surface. The second measurements are from an optic that is loose but honeycombed on the surface for the diffusion.

[DB_Custom (Dale)]

I de-domed the XP-L's and put a stock optic on it.

Lumens is up from 2743 to 3326.

Tint suffers.