Review: "ALXM" P60 Drop-In from Int'l Outdoor Store

ALXM XM-L2/T6/3C P60: No-Noun Name, Fantastic Module

The ALXM is Foy's second happy experience with Cree's improved XLamp SC8 technology XM-L2 emitter. I purchased three of Int'l Outdoor Store's previous P60 drop-ins about a year ago and two of them are still among the very best I have. The other went to New York inside a favorite L2i to a contest winner that is enjoying, as I have, the quality and tint of these wonderful modules. I ordered what I see is still listed on the site as the pre-XM-L2 edition that I believe to be the follow-up version of the original I received in April of last year. A few days after placing my order for this drop-in, Hank e-mailed asking if I wanted the newer version XinTD C8 and improved ALXM, both he said, with the new XM-L2 emitter. Definitely worth waiting a few extra days.

Foyapproved

Bottom line: More reasonably priced than the original, the brighter ALXM gives up almost nothing in perceived quality. It uses a different driver and the less beefy pill lacks the extra length in brass at the bottom as well as the brass cover around the emitter. What it also lacks is the ringy beam profile, about the only thing I disliked with the original module. Not quite $17, without going to someone like E1320, it simply makes no sense playing the quality lottery with other Chinese sellers. Additionally, spending double or triple for "boutique" drop-ins of high repute will net you zero in actual performance or value.

What I like:

- new XM-L2 emitter

- output

- tint

- UI

- lower price

What I do not like:

- less brass/less unique pill

"ALXM" XM-L2/T6/3C P60 Drop-In Module

$16.71 from Int'l Outdoor Store http://intl-outdoor.com/xml-p60-dropin-module-alxm-p-656.html

ordered: 4-22-13

received: 5-20-13

Cree XM-L2/T6/3C neutral white emitter

brass pill

aluminum SMO reflector

2.9 to 4.5v working voltage

ascending 3-mode user interface with mode memory: low (5%) medium (30%) and high (100%)

low voltage warning: light drops to low mode at 2.9 to 3 volts and flashes slowly

selected manufacturer specifications:

1.6mm aluminum MCPCB

linear constant current driver: Nanjg 105C, 2.8A

no visible PWM on low (4500+Hz)

reverse polarity protection

gold plated springs

amps using a grey Solarforce L2N with a protected Tenergy 18650/2600:

low - .03 amp

medium - .65

high - 2.90

with AW/IMR:

low - .04 amp

medium - .73

high - 2.90

run-time test using a grey Solarforce L2N and protected Tenergy 18650/2600 charged to 4.21 volts:

1:09

highest measured exterior flashlight temperature:132°F

For comparison, the original module lasted just 54 minutes on high and reached 140°, even though thermal protection should have happened at about that same temperature. (which it didn't seem to do) More run time, less heat and less money. Happy accident or intended, not a bad improvement.

Transit in what appears to be an opaque, 35mm film canister is certainly an improvement over a plastic bag. It had padding on the bottom . . .

The pill is shorter than the original module, lacking the 2mm additional brass at the base. Not necessarily a good or bad thing, just noting the difference . . .

It uses the basic, albeit very nice aluminum SMO reflector . . .

The ALXM has a much better beam profile. The clear donut around the emitter of the original was rather fussy but without it beam quality was abysmal . . .

Without the donut, the original drop-in was practically un-useable.

Very tidy with no soldering bug-a-boos . . .

I see that I listed the original being fully potted but I don't remember how I knew that, as I don't think I removed the cover. I don't believe the ALXM is potted.

Pretty chunk of brass appears well machined.

IO says the springs are gold plated . . .

According to my profoundly anecdotal light meter, the ALXM is roughly 10-15% brighter than IO's original module and it trails a particularly robust performing old Manafont 5720 sku I have by a hair. I'll make no attempt to disguise my pleasure upon discovering an E1320 5-mode/U2 drop-in out-brighted the ALXM by a significant 15-20 points. Vinz's "Meisterstück" topped it by a whopping 25-30%. I'm jus' sayin'.

These lousy beam shots were all taken with a 1/4 second shutter speed at f2.8.

Original Int'l Outdoor Store U2 in a black L2P and apparently, Mrs. Foy watching "The Voice."

ALXM in a grey L2N.

Side by side with original on the left and ALXM on the right. To my eye, the new module wins.

Original version . . .

ALXM . . .

Original on the left, ALXM on the right and again, the ALXM appears brighter.

This is Erik's 5-mode U2 in an L2M.

ALXM at right with E1320's drop-in at right. Perhaps hard to tell here but in real life, E gets the win.

Original IO module . . .

ALXM and supervisorTed. (my cat)

This is Vinz's MD26E . . .

ALXM with the Meisterstück on the right. Is that incredible or what? That German howitzer never fails to amaze me.

To summarize; the ALXM is the right module at the right price and I plan on buying more. I also want to try at least one in some kind of C8 host.

Foy

This may be the new go-to dropin , now that the latest versions of the original ultrafire/Manafont dropins are reportedly underdriven ...

thanks for the great review Foy :slight_smile:

Nice review Foy!

Ehm… Maybe I need to get my eyes checked. But at this very moment. I can not see XM-L2 version on intl-outdoors webpage.

From the webpage:

Your drop-in does clearly have an XM-L2 emitter though!

Great review as always! I have been eyeing this drop-in for an L2m, but waiting for some feedback. The site however still does not mention XM-L2! (?)

Thanks Foy. Very nice shots as usual. The machine work on the pill looks near on perfect. Should IOS be selling these and XTind C8’s as bare items for the fussy modders? Hi Hank and cheers Foy. :wink:

for the price and newest led, hard to beat though I cant see xml2 in link.

Yes, the site still does not say XM-L2, as I mentioned.

I hesitated calling it that until Hank's e-mail because he said, " Same thing for the ALXM" when he was asking me if I wanted to wait for the V4 version XinTD with XM-L2 emitter. That, plus its identical appearance but more important, its output is similarly improved, not to mention the 3C tint being an exact match to the SC-82.

I hope I'm right. If not, I'll eat crow, make the change and shuffle back to my corner.

rollthediceFoy

I have one on the way, ordered 5/26, so we’ll see if I get xml2….

Not sure which "original" you had Foy. There were at least 3 versions when I ordered.

I purchased two of the previous IO dropins last year - a NW T6 3C driven at 1.5A and a CW U2 1A driven at 2.5A.

Very nice dropins indeed. The NW found its way into a cheap SkyRay host and has a very pleasing beam. The CW pill went into a a Trusfire TF-R2 where the beam is a bit ringy indoors but not really noticed outside. The throw in the larger reflector was much improved and heating has never been an issue.

One major difference between the newer version and the previous is the lack of thermal protection on this new model. Both of the previous versions were listed as having

"Thermal management, overheating protection 55-60 deg C."

Unfortunately, a later order I placed for a 3A version never arrived. Hank offered me this module as a replacement but I was put off by the Note on the specs page.

The module can get very hot on high mode due to high current.

High mode is recommended to be used only for 1 minute continuously.

If you live in a cold environment the high mode can be used much longer.

I don't know if you've performed any extented runtime tests yet but I was not really excited by a need to restrict or monitor the runtime to protect the dropin.

Thanks for the review on this new model but I think I'll pass. The thermal issue is likely to be major sticking point for me. YMMV

I like the low voltage linear driver, and the low battery “flash” warning. No PMW. Thanks for another great review.

Any P60 SIZED light will have thermal issues if it is on high for 10 minutes in a warm environment and have a 3 amp driver.
When I say thermal issues, I am talking about that it gets extremely hot to hold. :stuck_out_tongue:
If you kill it you are good. Mine turned on accidentally in a backpack. It was on high for 30+ minutes without any air to cool it. It was 80 degree on the body. I could not touch it! Luckily I had a lanyard on it to get it out. No issues though… The switch was modified shorty after.
Outdoor,with some wind in minus degrees, it will just serve as a hand warmer. It its cold/windy enough, it will not even function very good as a hand warmer.

The warning was just a precaution.

On my light, the thermal protection did not work/function as a protection. It only served as a blinking warning.
I wonder if that was some of the reason he stopped selling it… And started to only sell the ALXM version.

Common sense is the best defense. Extra warnings & safeguards are good and great, but can’t rely on them alone. Still need to use common sense. If it gets hot - switch to lower mode for a while. Easy!

There are many drop-ins for many purposes. That is the beauty of p60s. :slight_smile: With three modes to choose from I think the ALXM is very useful in many scenarios. A single mode running 3A might not be the best idea… but lower modes make the ALXM very feasible for most uses.

Thanks RaceR86

I've always wondered how much heat it would take to "kill it"

I've had several accidental pocket-based turn-ons (doesn't that sound iffy ) with my Zebra SC51. But the thought of a 2.8A 18650 light getting too hot to hold doesn't thrill me. I actually wanted the dropin for a light - I think there are better ways to warm your hands quite frankly!

I am always mindful of heat issues and in all likelihood will probably never kill a light this way but the "1 minute" warning sounded a bit over the top.

When you talk about your light "blinking" was this the IO dropin we are talking about? That would be kind of limited; I assumed thermal protection meant thermal shutoff or stepdown. But it was never spelled out I guess.

Yes, I was talking about the “old” 3 amp intl-outdoor drop-in. I think they stopped selling them about 5 months ago.
The driver circuit was one of the main reasons for buying it. (Nicer mode spacing, now PWM whine… etc) I still have the drop-in. Its probably the only flashlight (/part) I have not modified! :stuck_out_tongue:
The overheating protection just served as a dim down feature once every 10 sec or so before going back to high. I talked to Hank about it, and If I remember correctly, I think drop-in was supposed to step down and stay there, but mine did not. I know at least one other forum member with the same driver. It worked in the same way as mine. Still a good driver circuit and drop-in though.

I love to have around 3 amps on high though. There are a reasons lights have several modes. :slight_smile:

1. gen XM-L emitters have 70% output at 150 degree Celsius. I have a feeling the emitter itself will withstand more heat before it gets damaged or dies. I don’t worry about overheating the emitter in lights that have good mcpcb to pill contact. Killing the emitter have never been a concern for me.
Especially not any more since all my hard driven single emitter lights have copper mcpcb… :slight_smile:

gadabout -

Mine were the very first offered for sale on IOS. Should have been more specific.

Also, I did include a run time test and it did get warm.

using a grey Solarforce L2N and protected Tenergy 18650/2600 charged to 4.21 volts:

1:09

highest measured exterior flashlight temperature:132°F

And, whatever thermal protection the first version had, Foy didn't encounter it. Run time was 15 minutes less and it got even hotter. I measured 140°.

Foy

Whoops, don't know how I missed that, sorry

I've got to stop sitting up all night reading BLF! Or perhaps I was distracted by the lovely Foyphotos.

Thanks for the reply. Could you estimate the ambient temp when you ran your test?


[quote=Foy]

And, whatever thermal protection the first version had, Foy didn't encounter it. Run time was 15 minutes less and it got even hotter. I measured 140°.

Foy

[/quote]

Hmmm. At 140F (60C) it would have been right at the point where something should have been happening. RaceR86 however, pointed out above that his would just give a blinking warning. Interesting. Maybe I'm being overly paranoid. I've never encountered any sign of overheating with either of mine, but then I rarely run them for extended periods on high.

I have the upstairs thermostat set at 74°F and I'm pretty sure it was close to that in my office that night, maybe a bit cooler.

When I started the test the host was 81°. 14-minutes in it was 123° and at 39-minutes it was 130°. It peaked at 132° at 49-minutes and finished the test at 118°. (1 hour and nine minutes total)

Foy

I bought this dropin when Hank first had them. Slight mods to the L2M allow it to run off of AW’s 18490’s. I take all the parts out of the tail cap. 1st place a rubber boot with no inner button in. 2nd I put an o-ring around a reverse clicky switch. The o-ring is around the 2 metal tabs coming out of the switch to prevent shorting on the tail cap. 3rd switch placed directly in with out its spacer plate/ring. 4th screw down the retaining ring with plastic insulator ring. When done with all other dropin’s I had to use a lanyard ring for a spacer as they just didn’t quite screw down all the way. With these drop-ins, my L2M’s are running on 18490’s with no problems and no lanyard ring needed. These are some of my favorite EDC’s.

Thanks a lot for the review! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.