As much as I like the concept, the two 26650s in series just isn’t enough battery to keep both current and runtime high enough.
I’ll stick to a Crelant 7G10; same reflector size, direct path shelf, but 4 18650s in series, to drive the XHP70 at 12v for lower current.
Also more compact.
Looks good, but it’s a no thanks from me. I’m sticking to physically parallel batteries for now.
Edit: probably similar battery energy, but less compact. Just my personal preference. It’s a great light though, and I’m sure it’ll prove very popular!
This is definitely my next convoy light! (well if the price isn’t too high…)
Awesome!
I really like that side switch, it is very nice designed.
I know that there was some feedback about making more cooling fins around the emitter shelf, but after looking at that cross section I dont really think that it is necessary. I mean, there is a lot of aluminium to transfer the heat.
@agnelucio, actually the crelant 7G10 uses 4 18650 in a 2s2p configuration. But I Get your point.
It is really interesting how he can make entire new flashlight almost over the night but needs more than a year to design a single pressure remote switch!!!
I like this one a lot. And what really stands out for me is a reflector that’s not too big. From the other L2 thread it’s a 65mm head, please don’t make it any bigger. At 3500 lumens I expect it would light up a warehouse or large parking lot fairly well. That’s carrying a pair of high beams in your hand. That was just “crazy talk” a few years ago.
Looks too interesting to ignore, I have to admit. Sure will be watching and waiting to see the price on it… Convoy lights’ are always quite reasonable though, so I’m very tempted to say mark me down for one of the 1st one’s off the line.
Oh and the XHP 70 tints seem to be running cool, so a good choice of desirable tints (multiple NW for example) (not just what is cheap or left over).
Look at the X5/X6 group buy and take a look at the overwhelming demand for NW tints. In fact it seems that a choice of NW tints might pay off (it seems that folks actually have different preferences in this most desired of tint preferences).
I know that the tint thing sounds like a personal dig and that is not intended, but it does need to be said and admitted, that WAY TOO MANY manufactures seem to be chasing big lumen numbers and PUSH undesirable tints on us to suit their big marketing lumens numbers. Instead of supplying us with tints that don’t make us want to run out and swap the emitter of immediately, or not buy in the first place. A new cutting edge idea! a choice of NW tints, no other MFG is doing that (yet ).
Again not a direct accusation but it is way too common “out there” and is easily found in “new and improved” lights ALL THE TIME, so lets head that one off right up front.
The price on this one is going to be standard Convoy… meaning you’ll wonder how you got so much quality for so little money. I don’t want to commit to an exact price but Simon’s estimate, believe it or not is under $60. In my opinion that is a steal.
Thank you for mentioning that about the cooling fins. It came up in the L2 thread and the X6 hunter was used as the example. No doubt the X6 has good heat dissipation but I think the L6 is a much better looking light. Just my opinion of course but I really like the design. Personally I think when you go too far with cooling fins you detract from the aesthetic value but opinions vary.
Edit: Simon will also be extending the 15% BLF family discount to this to this beauty so you can take that off the top.
The XHP-70 is, essentially, 4 XM-L2 dies on one substrate, so, at 5 Amps, each one would be getting 1.25A, right? According to everything we already know, an XM-L2 at 1.25A is good for about 550 emitter lumens, so 4 of these at that level would be good for about 2200 lumens before losses. Or maybe 1800 out the front. Wouldn’t that be about right? If so, that would be somewhat disappointing.
My Intimidator is making some 5700 lumens from the High CRI XHP-70 (supposedly 96 CRI) and I think it’s doing in the 12A range. The way this one is set up it’s kind of difficult to measure, but I’ll give it a go and see if I can get an emitter amperage reading from up top. The big Illuminations Machines LUM 5-90 works splendidly in this big light, so I can positively say the diamond pattern works beautifully with the quad die emitter.
I also know from prior experience that the XHP-70 will make a lot of heat (I had an XHP-70 in the EE X6 doing 5500 lumens, heat IS an issue!), the more heat sink mass and cooling fins the merrier. I’m wondering why there is such an air gap between the head and reflector down low, close to the emitter shelf? Couldn’t this be adjusted to allow deeper fins at the bottom, near the emitter? That would help a lot. Efficiency first, aesthetics as applicable. Being as how this is in the 3D design stage, this is where small adjustments can be easily applied and the end result would be much improved. Just sayin…
Edit: I realized an error, the 4 emitters are in 2P2S configuration, so the 6V run across a pair in series would see 2.5A each, effectively making 1000 lumens each at the emitter. Might hit that 3500 after all. My bad, all this series/parallel 8.4V step down to 6V and divided by an ounce of Vodka get’s confusing. Either way, there is gonna be some heat produced, that much I do know!
Dale buddy you’ve probably forgotten more about this flashlight stuff than I’ll ever know. As far as the lumen numbers they are just what Simon estimated. As far as the suggested design changes I can’t tell you what factors are involved but I’m certain that manufacturing cost plays a part. Might be that making the light as you suggest would cost another $10 per unit. It might be just that Simon had a different thought. He did say that the huge amount of heat generated by the XHP70 was a difficult thing to work out in the design and the components. All I have is a picture of a CAD model but that doesn’t mean Simon isn’t beyond that and into the manufacturing process already. I can ask but I think he’s pretty content with the design. Looks pretty sweet to me.
+1.
The only thing that would hold me back from buying one would be if the tint were cooler than, say… 5,500Kelvin.
Perfect would be between 4,500 and 5,000K
