Using a 7135 regulation chip driver is still pretty easy, stack the extra chips on the inside and the retaining ring will fit like always.
If having ANY chips on the spring side is a problem, remove them and put them on the inside, there’s almost always room for them in the driver bay. I’ve gone 4 high plenty of times.
As an aside, the price you pay for the ArmyTek is potted drivers and glued bezels, similarly the Klarus is difficult to mod as well. Pay more, play less.
For me, the boost driver and constant current drivers are unnecessarily hard on the cell, requiring ever more current from the dying cell. Hard discharges will shorten the cells life as well as leave you suddenly without light in a worst case scenario, while the regulated boards that use 7135 chips will eventually dim and let you know you need to take precaution, as with the direct drive FET drivers. Tit for tat, I guess.
For me, the boost driver and constant current drivers are unnecessarily hard on the cell, requiring ever more current from the dying cell. Hard discharges will shorten the cells life as well as leave you suddenly without light in a worst case scenario, while the regulated boards that use 7135 chips will eventually dim and let you know you need to take precaution, as with the direct drive FET drivers. Tit for tat, I guess.
Hence, never ever ever run the cells down that far.
That’s the same reason why I don’t trust multicell (series) arrangements. Even with nominally balanced cells, the slightest imbalance will run down one cell more than the other(s). Only way to keep that from happening is to make sure you don’t get close to burning them down too far.
I’m gonna say it straight: I’m not bothered with Convoy cutting a corner just once or twice given how much modding is a factor for them. And I have way more reason to complain than two semi-inadequate screws, as I see it: the pill on my latest light (an S2) doesn’t have the driver retaining ring – instead, the driver board is welded directly on the pill in two spots. I’ll post a photo when I can.
Every C8 or S2(+) with 6*7135 or 8*7135 is soldered, only up to 4*7135 can use retaining ring. It’s the way it’s always made.
No the Convoy C8 never have soldered in driver in any version. It always has retaining ring. Only the threaded pill S series had solreded in drivers with 6 or 8×7135s and maybe the early pilled M series. For example the S3 doesn’t have threaded pill so it is a retaining ring type fitting even with 8×7135.
I’m gonna say it straight: I’m not bothered with Convoy cutting a corner just once or twice given how much modding is a factor for them. And I have way more reason to complain than two semi-inadequate screws, as I see it: the pill on my latest light (an S2) doesn’t have the driver retaining ring – instead, the driver board is welded directly on the pill in two spots. I’ll post a photo when I can.
Every C8 or S2(+) with 6*7135 or 8*7135 is soldered, only up to 4*7135 can use retaining ring. It’s the way it’s always made.
No the Convoy C8 never have soldered in driver in any version. It always has retaining ring. Only the threaded pill S series had solreded in drivers with 6 or 8×7135s and maybe the early pilled M series. For example the S3 doesn’t have threaded pill so it is a retaining ring type fitting even with 8×7135.
Right, the C8 has a bigger driver and can use a ring. The S2 uses a tiny driver.
—
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Right, the C8 has a bigger driver and can use a ring. The S2 uses a tiny driver.
Both 17mm same drivers. Only the head has more room for the retaining ring in C8 than S2 pill.
Huh. Your sure right. I had to look just now. I’ve changed drivers in both before, but didn’t realize they were the same size. I thought the S2 was 15mm and the C8 was 17 and that was why the S2 needed to be soldered.
—
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
C8 comes with retaining ring, I don’t know why I thought it doesn’t…
S2 6/8 * 7135 doesn’t
—
“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” - Isaac Asimov
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured...the first thought forbidden...the first freedom denied – chains us all, irrevocably."
From stock, the 6 or 8*7135 versions are soldered, but 8*7135 can be used with regular retaining ring! It is a more “fragile situation” as the ring can “jump” if the flashlight falls, but it can be done
Can tell about the C8 as I don’t have one. :ARROW-RIGHT:
For those who have the new clear version would you say the extra price is worth it? Looks like it comes with quite a few good upgrades
Yes, although you don’t have to get the clear version if you want those upgrades. The main upgrades are the XP-L HI emitter, Smooth Reflector, Biscotti Firmware, and AR Glass. There is a Black model with the XP-L HI and smooth reflector; you can add that to your cart and add a note requesting Biscotti and AR glass, then wait for Simon to adjust the price before submitting your payment. For the Gray model, you have to include the XP-L HI and smooth reflector in your note.
So the Clear model is the easiest to order, but you can get the other colors if you prefer.
For those who have the new clear version would you say the extra price is worth it? Looks like it comes with quite a few good upgrades
Yes, although you don’t have to get the clear version if you want those upgrades. The main upgrades are the XP-L HI emitter, Smooth Reflector, Biscotti Firmware, and AR Glass. There is a Black model with the XP-L HI and smooth reflector; you can add that to your cart and add a note requesting Biscotti and AR glass, then wait for Simon to adjust the price before submitting your payment. For the Gray model, you have to include the XP-L HI and smooth reflector in your note.
So the Clear model is the easiest to order, but you can get the other colors if you prefer.
I’ve never seen a Convoy C8 with an OP reflector. I’ve only seen smooth.
—
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
For those who have the new clear version would you say the extra price is worth it? Looks like it comes with quite a few good upgrades
Yes, although you don’t have to get the clear version if you want those upgrades. The main upgrades are the XP-L HI emitter, Smooth Reflector, Biscotti Firmware, and AR Glass. There is a Black model with the XP-L HI and smooth reflector; you can add that to your cart and add a note requesting Biscotti and AR glass, then wait for Simon to adjust the price before submitting your payment. For the Gray model, you have to include the XP-L HI and smooth reflector in your note.
So the Clear model is the easiest to order, but you can get the other colors if you prefer.
I’ve never seen a Convoy C8 with an OP reflector. I’ve only seen smooth.
My very first Convoy flashlight was an early Convoy C8 with an OP reflector. Love it. They’ve been around for a long time, most people just go for smooth reflectors. The OP reflector has a beautiful beam pattern. It’s a pretty light OP but it makes the transition from the hotspot out very smooth and eliminates any rings that might have been there. This ultra smooth beam transition does cost you a bit of throw though. I actually just got an OP C8 reflector from Simon but it’s for the older 7mm opening so it’s not a direct swap in a current model C8 unless you have the smaller centering rings. Old opening is 7mm. New opening is 9mm. The other upgrade that happened at the release of the clear C8 was a new DTP copper MCPCB.
I ordered another c8 with everything on it and asked Simon for other button and black body color. As before, he said no problem and gave me a discount Probably the best seller i have seen
I have “tested” the beam of my Klarus xt12gt, c8 and Fenix rc20. Fenix has the worst beamshot. Klarus is the best, but is getting hot on max output. C8 is not far away from Klarus beam distance.
I ordered another c8 with everything on it and asked Simon for other button and black body color. As before, he said no problem and gave me a discount Probably the best seller i have seen
I have “tested” the beam of my Klarus xt12gt, c8 and Fenix rc20. Fenix has the worst beamshot. Klarus is the best, but is getting hot on max output. C8 is not far away from Klarus beam distance.
hm the klarus says a bit over 600m throw, can the c8 with xpl hi really come close to that? its more around 300-350m throw at most no? either way the convoy wins any day if u look at the price and what u get, clear winner to me.
I ordered another c8 with everything on it and asked Simon for other button and black body color. As before, he said no problem and gave me a discount Probably the best seller i have seen
I have “tested” the beam of my Klarus xt12gt, c8 and Fenix rc20. Fenix has the worst beamshot. Klarus is the best, but is getting hot on max output. C8 is not far away from Klarus beam distance.
hm the klarus says a bit over 600m throw, can the c8 with xpl hi really come close to that? its more around 300-350m throw at most no? either way the convoy wins any day if u look at the price and what u get, clear winner to me.
Yes it says 600m. How to post pictures? Cant add them.
They need to be on a website, first. Then you take that pictures url and copy paste it into the pop up box when you click the orangish sunset looking button above the post window.
Or just add ! in front of and behind the url.
—
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Yes it does, but after some time it also gets hotter than Convoy. For my needs (job) the Convoy is a great flashlight. If only i would find the Convoy before purchasing the Klarus
A friend of mine just got in some XM-L2 U4 0D emitters, found that de-doming with Coleman lantern fuel left the tint very nice and it came clean in about 20 minutes. He used it in an L2 and absolutely loves the result!
Jason, just looking at the wattage isn’t the whole picture. The efficiency of the emitter at a given output will change how much of the applied wattage is light and how much is heat. When overclocking the percentage of heat/light changes. So which one is overdriven will tell which one is making more heat. In the case of a 1600 lumen XHP-35 vs XP-L at 900 lumens, they are both in their comfort zones and shouldn’t be getting all that hot… the boost circuit in the Klarus is probably making the heat directly from the driver.
And to establish wattage, forward voltage at the applied current needs to be known, it changes as the current changes. The XHP-35 goes up to some 14.3V when pushed at 2.5A, gotta have actual emitter Voltage at the applied amperage to know the wattage.
An example is my 18V Cree COB in the small DQG Tiny 7x XP-G2 light. At 1A the COB is pulling 21V for 2004 lumens. That would be 21 watts. Yet the small light doesn’t really get hot until quite a bit of time has gone by, so the efficiency is high and most of the wattage is burned as light out the front.
Using a 7135 regulation chip driver is still pretty easy, stack the extra chips on the inside and the retaining ring will fit like always.
If having ANY chips on the spring side is a problem, remove them and put them on the inside, there’s almost always room for them in the driver bay. I’ve gone 4 high plenty of times.
As an aside, the price you pay for the ArmyTek is potted drivers and glued bezels, similarly the Klarus is difficult to mod as well. Pay more, play less.
For me, the boost driver and constant current drivers are unnecessarily hard on the cell, requiring ever more current from the dying cell. Hard discharges will shorten the cells life as well as leave you suddenly without light in a worst case scenario, while the regulated boards that use 7135 chips will eventually dim and let you know you need to take precaution, as with the direct drive FET drivers. Tit for tat, I guess.
Hence, never ever ever run the cells down that far.
That’s the same reason why I don’t trust multicell (series) arrangements. Even with nominally balanced cells, the slightest imbalance will run down one cell more than the other(s). Only way to keep that from happening is to make sure you don’t get close to burning them down too far.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
No the Convoy C8 never have soldered in driver in any version. It always has retaining ring. Only the threaded pill S series had solreded in drivers with 6 or 8×7135s and maybe the early pilled M series. For example the S3 doesn’t have threaded pill so it is a retaining ring type fitting even with 8×7135.
Reviews: Olight Seeker2 pro, Lumintop GlowI, Sofirn SP36, Convoy 4X18A, Convoy M21C, Brinyte SR8 Rescue Angel, Astrolux MF01 mini, Astrolux FT03S, YLP Sherp S15, Sofirn SP40, YLP Panda 3R and Unicorn, Armytek Prime C1 Pro, Acebeam M50, Imalent MS18, Convoy M3, Nitecore TIP2, Imalent RT70, Wuben T70, Sofirn SP32A, Thorfire VG15S, Thorfire VG10S, Thorfire TG06S
Mods: Imalent MS18 dedoming, Astrolux MF01-20K, Small sun T08 MT-G2, Eagle eye X6 triple XPL, Ultrafire F13 MT-G2, Convoy C8 XHP70, Solarstorm T3 triple XP-L HI
Big flashlight measurement and beamshot collection
3D printing stuff for flashlights
My flashlight related Instagram
My Flashlight related Youtube channel called Zozzlights
Right, the C8 has a bigger driver and can use a ring. The S2 uses a tiny driver.Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
Both 17mm same drivers. Only the head has more room for the retaining ring in C8 than S2 pill.
Reviews: Olight Seeker2 pro, Lumintop GlowI, Sofirn SP36, Convoy 4X18A, Convoy M21C, Brinyte SR8 Rescue Angel, Astrolux MF01 mini, Astrolux FT03S, YLP Sherp S15, Sofirn SP40, YLP Panda 3R and Unicorn, Armytek Prime C1 Pro, Acebeam M50, Imalent MS18, Convoy M3, Nitecore TIP2, Imalent RT70, Wuben T70, Sofirn SP32A, Thorfire VG15S, Thorfire VG10S, Thorfire TG06S
Mods: Imalent MS18 dedoming, Astrolux MF01-20K, Small sun T08 MT-G2, Eagle eye X6 triple XPL, Ultrafire F13 MT-G2, Convoy C8 XHP70, Solarstorm T3 triple XP-L HI
Big flashlight measurement and beamshot collection
3D printing stuff for flashlights
My flashlight related Instagram
My Flashlight related Youtube channel called Zozzlights
Huh. Your sure right. I had to look just now. I’ve changed drivers in both before, but didn’t realize they were the same size. I thought the S2 was 15mm and the C8 was 17 and that was why the S2 needed to be soldered.
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
My mistake.
C8 comes with retaining ring, I don’t know why I thought it doesn’t…
S2 6/8 * 7135 doesn’t
“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” - Isaac Asimov
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured...the first thought forbidden...the first freedom denied – chains us all, irrevocably."
My reviews:
Sofirn SF36 /// Thorfire VG10S /// Sofirn C8F /// Zanflare F1
From stock, the 6 or 8*7135 versions are soldered, but 8*7135 can be used with regular retaining ring! It is a more “fragile situation” as the ring can “jump” if the flashlight falls, but it can be done
Can tell about the C8 as I don’t have one. :ARROW-RIGHT:
MY REVIEWS THREAD /// My Flashlight Collection ///
Mods: 1 / 2 // TIR: 1 / 2 // Others: Biscotti 3 + 1*7135 / Triple TIR w/ XP-G2 /// My Review's Blog (PT) /// OL Contest 2019 /// OL Contest 2020 /// GIVEAWAYs: 1 / 2
For those who have the new clear version would you say the extra price is worth it? Looks like it comes with quite a few good upgrades
Yes. The only UI wasn’t very good at all. The new UI is much better.
Yes, although you don’t have to get the clear version if you want those upgrades. The main upgrades are the XP-L HI emitter, Smooth Reflector, Biscotti Firmware, and AR Glass. There is a Black model with the XP-L HI and smooth reflector; you can add that to your cart and add a note requesting Biscotti and AR glass, then wait for Simon to adjust the price before submitting your payment. For the Gray model, you have to include the XP-L HI and smooth reflector in your note.
So the Clear model is the easiest to order, but you can get the other colors if you prefer.
I’ve never seen a Convoy C8 with an OP reflector. I’ve only seen smooth.
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
Funny, most of the Convoy C8’s I’ve seen had an OP reflector, had to order a smooth independently.
My very first Convoy flashlight was an early Convoy C8 with an OP reflector. Love it. They’ve been around for a long time, most people just go for smooth reflectors. The OP reflector has a beautiful beam pattern. It’s a pretty light OP but it makes the transition from the hotspot out very smooth and eliminates any rings that might have been there. This ultra smooth beam transition does cost you a bit of throw though. I actually just got an OP C8 reflector from Simon but it’s for the older 7mm opening so it’s not a direct swap in a current model C8 unless you have the smaller centering rings. Old opening is 7mm. New opening is 9mm. The other upgrade that happened at the release of the clear C8 was a new DTP copper MCPCB.
Hmmm, we’re these all older lights? I’m pretty new to the flashlight world so I’ve only seen stuff fairly new.
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
It looks like the Gray C8 may come with a smooth reflector as well. But the AR Glass, Biscotti, and XP-L HI are not there by default.
I ordered another c8 with everything on it and asked Simon for other button and black body color. As before, he said no problem and gave me a discount
Probably the best seller i have seen
I have “tested” the beam of my Klarus xt12gt, c8 and Fenix rc20. Fenix has the worst beamshot. Klarus is the best, but is getting hot on max output. C8 is not far away from Klarus beam distance.
hm the klarus says a bit over 600m throw, can the c8 with xpl hi really come close to that? its more around 300-350m throw at most no? either way the convoy wins any day if u look at the price and what u get, clear winner to me.
...where Frugal meets with Flashlight!
つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
Yes it says 600m. How to post pictures? Cant add them.
They need to be on a website, first. Then you take that pictures url and copy paste it into the pop up box when you click the orangish sunset looking button above the post window.
Or just add ! in front of and behind the url.
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
Fenix
Klarus
Convoy C8

Woah! Big pics.
Another trick is to set the width to 95 when you have big pictures. You have to use the popup box for that.
Quote my post and you can see how the width is added on.
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
@JasonWW thanks did edit my post. Was hard to post pictures with my phone.
That Klarus does seem brighter than the C8.
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
Yes it does, but after some time it also gets hotter than Convoy. For my needs (job) the Convoy is a great flashlight. If only i would find the Convoy before purchasing the Klarus
I had to look up to see what that Klarus model was. It’s got an xhp35 at 1600 lumen. That’s about 14w.
The C8 has an xpl at 900 lumen. That’s about 10 watts.
That’s why it’s brighter and gets hot faster.
Texas Ace Lumen Tube and JoshK Sphere calibrated with Maukka lights
Click this to go to signature links. I'm still around, just not reading many new threads.
A friend of mine just got in some XM-L2 U4 0D emitters, found that de-doming with Coleman lantern fuel left the tint very nice and it came clean in about 20 minutes. He used it in an L2 and absolutely loves the result!
Jason, just looking at the wattage isn’t the whole picture. The efficiency of the emitter at a given output will change how much of the applied wattage is light and how much is heat. When overclocking the percentage of heat/light changes. So which one is overdriven will tell which one is making more heat. In the case of a 1600 lumen XHP-35 vs XP-L at 900 lumens, they are both in their comfort zones and shouldn’t be getting all that hot… the boost circuit in the Klarus is probably making the heat directly from the driver.
And to establish wattage, forward voltage at the applied current needs to be known, it changes as the current changes. The XHP-35 goes up to some 14.3V when pushed at 2.5A, gotta have actual emitter Voltage at the applied amperage to know the wattage.
An example is my 18V Cree COB in the small DQG Tiny 7x XP-G2 light. At 1A the COB is pulling 21V for 2004 lumens. That would be 21 watts. Yet the small light doesn’t really get hot until quite a bit of time has gone by, so the efficiency is high and most of the wattage is burned as light out the front.
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