I am wondering what kind of beam would a XM-L make in a Mini Mag Led 2AA, I am sure someone on CPF tried it but can’t find the thread, anyone knows?
I am interested in knowing what kind of beam profile will that reflector make, if it makes a nice and tight beam, it would be used in another host.
The reflector is so small, that it ends up bieng a floodlight. Possibly a TIR might do better.
I have the MM in OL’s thread (purchased from OL). I run it with a 14500 with a spacer/dummy cell & it has a very nice beam that is very floody & will light up a 9x14 ft wall at 30 feet. Not much for throw but that’s not its purpose. Nice, neutral warm tint. Real nice.
Keith
Yep...What O-L said. With the stock reflector, you're better off going with a small emitter like xp-e or even xp-c. Even with a narrow TIR lens, the xm-l is still on the floody side. Then again, some folks like that.
ok, thanks!
I have seen some scattered TIR beamshots and lots of small reflector beamshots on custom builds in this forum.
Also in this thread
yeah, that’s a good source 
I use the narrow Carclo optics in most of my micros. They throw 100 yards easily but are mostly flood.
The lights O-L made were incans. The LED reflector is way deeper. I have a few I’ve not gotten around to converting yet so, unfortunately, I am unable to offer any insight to how the led reflectors differ from the in can when used with an XM-L.
I’m probably just going to try and put the led reflector in front of the XM-L it and see the result. I think it might just yield a nice hotspot with lots of throw.
I’ve used some different P60 drop-ins with a NiteIze reflector in a 2AA minimag but I’ve mostly stayed with the ramping XPE off of DX and a couple 14500 TF flames. The SF 3 mode low volt R5 XPG is good with NiMHs, too. I like a nice beam hot spot and these have been the best for that.
Thanks for the input GottaZoom, Just wanted to check the beam pattern of the Mini Maglite Led reflector.
I just went ahead and checked the Mini Maglite AA Led reflector on a XM-L led and it gives the same hot spot size as the Regina reflector but the side spill is bit more narrower and just a tad brighter than the Regina.
I would still pick the Regina reflector over the Mini Maglite AA led reflector.
I have 3 AA mini mags all with P-60 pills AKA Match mod one XRE single mode 2 AA, one XPG 2 AA with ramping and a single mode 2 14500 XML. Out of the three the XML has the nicest looking beam followed by the XPG and the XRE with the ugliest beam has the best throw, so no real surprises there.
This XML drop in work really well for a 2/14500 Match mod mini Mag.
I have just recently built a mini mag with a XM-L and 2 AA nimh.
The stock reflector gives a really ugly beam, so I am looking for another one, but I coudn’t find any that fits so far.
If anyone has a good website to find it ? Dropins are too big, and I already have my LED and driver.
Other than that its floody but nice
You could try using some carclo 20mm TIR optics.
Get yourself a Carclo narrow TIR from illumination supply. You will love it and ther are really inexpensive.
Oh nice thanks !
So how does it works with the TIR lens, am I supposed to use it on top of the reflector (inside), or in place of the reflector ?
It replaces the reflector. Just place it on top of the LED and you're set.
Word of warning, though… TIR optics will leave a square flood area around the round hot spot. Only noticable when whitewall hunting but not noticable in practical use. While you are ordering one, order one each of the others that are available ( frosted, wide, flood, etc.) since they are only about $1.50 each.
I think the 20mm plain one would fit the most, but 87% efficiency looks scary
I planned to used a TIR lens in another flashlight anyway.
Also, my mini mag is modded with a XM-L on a copper star, I don’t really have any heatsink, the star is a little bit smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the mini mag head (I have no tool to dig into the head for a large heatsink)
Currently my driver is giving me about 150 lumens, and I am about to boost it to almost 300 lumens.
I didn’t expect it at all, but at 150 lumens the star was getting warm!
As I am looking for a XM-L U2 for another light, do you advise me to buy this drop in,
SMO Cree XML U2 1300 Lumen 3V~18V 1-Mode LED Drop-in http://kaidomain.com/product/details.S009986 ($12)
That way I will have a heatsink I can use, and a reflector that can help to dissipate the heat,
Or a simple XM-L U2 fron illuminationsupply ($12 too)
https://illuminationsupply.com/cree-xml-16mm-round-mcpcb-u2-1a-tint-p-186.html?zenid=76c18c1e1cf1da6586fc3409adc0040b
The thing is, with dealextreme I got disappointed with an XM-L I ordered. It was supposed to be 1A, but the light was greenish. Also the “drop” on the LED was not correctly centered (basically it was a low quality LED)
Does Kaidomain provide better quality for the LED, or I have to buy it from illuminationsupply to be sure I will get a good LED ?
Thanks