http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_356677.html?wid=21

Isn’t the XHP35 a 12Vf emitter?… 4 dies in series. I don’t think its possible to boost up high enough, and efficiently enough in the C8 form factor, at least not with sufficient current for it to be worth while. Unless there’s a version C8 out there that uses an unusually large driver area / cavity. Let others correct me though.

Similar thread here, boosting up 4.2 Vin to 6V in a small size, single cell host.
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/52120

Here’s an XPL-HI V2… off the top of my google search.
http://www.gearbest.com/bathroom-lighting/pp_356667.html

Better wait for Simon to return and fills his Convoy Ali shop back up
Of course check daily deal topic of Gearbest and Banggood in the meantime

Not a lot of single cell XHP lights and if you find one it usually is more expensive like Olight R50
Hmm what was that rather small thrower Gearbest released not long ago (Manker copy/made)? XHP35hi below $50 and not so big.

Utorch UT02 i think.
1× 26650 boost driver

Yeah Utorch looked sweet!

Oh yeah… Manker U21, Utorch UT02… if the OP can jump to 26650.

Thre is nothing better than a heavy modded C8 m8, check Tom , Dale or other US based blf modder, they will make one for you : it would be prolly 40-50$ yet for this youll get 1800lm( min) and 140+ cds – a pocket rocket, with modes you can .

Those default HI based C8 aint that good, especialy when you know you have a “cut off” rocket in your pocket

Hmm..
I think you can’t beat a stock C8 for that money.
And when the battery runs low it’s probably similar output as a modded one.

You can buy a C8 host,
http://www.banggood.com/NEW-Version-Convoy-C8-DIY-LED-Flashlight-Shell-Host-118650-p-985101.html?rmmds=search
XPL HI V3 on Noctigon Star 20mm
http://www.kaidomain.com/p/S024438.Cree-XP-L-HI-V3-1C-6500K-White-LED-Emitter
Or a dedomed XML2 U4
http://www.kaidomain.com/p/S025971.Cree-XM-L2-U4-1A-6500K-White-LED-Emitter
And a FET +7135 DD driver
http://www.banggood.com/Astrolux-S1-BLF-A6-A17DD-L-FET-1-2_8-4_35v-7-4-Modes-Flashlight-Driver-p-1009980.html?rmmds=category
Plus a good high drain cell like Samsung 30Q or Sanyo 18540GA

Jerommel wrote:

Hmm..
I think you can’t beat a stock C8 for that money.
And when the battery runs low it’s probably similar output as a modded one.

Skip all that, just got these 2 lights from Aliexpress and it came very quick too.. apparently somebody is a big fan of BLF, the new C8 came with 12* 7135 ( 4,2A) driver and XP-L HI V2, the only bad thing it’s only 1 mode
but for the price, it’s not a bad deal at all.. in fact it is the brightest C8 I ever own without modding
12* 7135 C8

As for C8s, Convoy, Thorfire, and XinTD are all Highly Regarded. Not sure if XinTD is still being made, though.

Straight out of the tin, all 3 are damned good for <30bux. Thorfire has a kick-ass light for 17bux on Amazon, like, RIGHT NOW. (That’s pretty much what I pay just for a C8 host to roll my own, fwiw.)

Rather than modding the Hell out of a C8, you might just want to get an L2. Twice the bux, but Very Throwy.

Modding a small C8 too much just gives you a curling iron in your hand if you keep it on high too long. Lots of “Ooooh!” factor, but not very practical, if you ask me. At least the L2 has lots more thermal mass and more cooling fins to deal with the heat.

I already have something of a C8 Army, but I’m tempted to get a few more Thorfires, Just Because.

yclongthrow wrote:

Lexel wrote:

You can buy a C8 host, http://www.banggood.com/NEW-Version-Convoy-C8-DIY-LED-Flashlight-Shell-Host-118650-p-985101.html?rmmds=search XPL HI V3 on Noctigon Star 20mm http://www.kaidomain.com/p/S024438.Cree-XP-L-HI-V3-1C-6500K-White-LED-Emitter Or a dedomed XML2 U4 http://www.kaidomain.com/p/S025971.Cree-XM-L2-U4-1A-6500K-White-LED-Emitter And a FET +7135 DD driver http://www.banggood.com/Astrolux-S1-BLF-A6-A17DD-L-FET-1-2_8-4_35v-7-4-Modes-Flashlight-Driver-p-1009980.html?rmmds=category Plus a good high drain cell like Samsung 30Q or Sanyo 18540GA

Any build tutorials?

Use thermal paste to star, screw it to head
Solder the driver to star
Screw in driver retaining ring

4,2A it’s not enough for a small light?

DayLighter wrote:

4,2A it’s not enough for a small light?

Triple in C8? hmm never seen that before, anyone got the pic or tutorial pic?

Triple xpg2. Modded by 18sixfifty quite a while back ago. I bought this host like 5 years ago, not sure if you can find these triple c8’s anymore.

Lightbringer wrote:

As for C8s, Convoy, Thorfire, and XinTD are all Highly Regarded. Not sure if XinTD is still being made, though.

Straight out of the tin, all 3 are damned good for <30bux. Thorfire has a kick-ass light for 17bux on Amazon, like, RIGHT NOW. (That’s pretty much what I pay just for a C8 host to roll my own, fwiw.)

Rather than modding the Hell out of a C8, you might just want to get an L2. Twice the bux, but Very Throwy.

Modding a small C8 too much just gives you a curling iron in your hand if you keep it on high too long. Lots of “Ooooh!” factor, but not very practical, if you ask me. At least the L2 has lots more thermal mass and more cooling fins to deal with the heat.

I already have something of a C8 Army, but I’m tempted to get a few more Thorfires, Just Because.

x2 on this…. IMHO the C8 is kind of in no-mans land. Too big to on-person EDC. Yet compared to a well designed 26650 host the C8 has lower thermal capacity and less wattage power reserve. If your’e putting forth the effort into a DIY, make it really worth your efforts. Sure it will cost more, but IMHO the added $$ is well spent for the added run time, thermal management, and depending on the host throw.

Here’s what I’d do…

L2 host
http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=66&pr...

Emitter
http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=60_10...

FET Driver
http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=67&pr...

Cells
http://www.gearbest.com/batteries/pp_360841.html?wid=21

You can surely save some $$$ if you take the time to shop around and find better prices.

kramer5150 wrote:

Lightbringer wrote:

Rather than modding the Hell out of a C8, you might just want to get an L2. Twice the bux, but Very Throwy.

Modding a small C8 too much just gives you a curling iron in your hand if you keep it on high too long. Lots of “Ooooh!” factor, but not very practical, if you ask me. At least the L2 has lots more thermal mass and more cooling fins to deal with the heat.

x2 on this…. IMHO the C8 is kind of in no-mans land. Too big to on-person EDC. Yet compared to a well designed 26650 host the C8 has lower thermal capacity and less wattage power reserve. If your’e putting forth the effort into a DIY, make it really worth your efforts. Sure it will cost more, but IMHO the added $$ is well spent for the added run time, thermal management, and depending on the host throw.

Actually, I love the C8. May not be EDCable for pocket-carry, but certainly jacket-pocket.

Anyway, it’s my go-to light for snooping at what’s in the yard, etc., at moderate distances.

As much as I love my P90s, especially my (‘502) EDC, it’s best for general-purpose lighting, whereas something floodier like an S2+ is best for close-in work.

The L2 is a brick by comparison: thick heavy head, wide and heavy battery-tube, 1 or 2 26650s (vs 18650s), and a chalky sandpaper-rough finish that I absolutely would not want to carry on me on any regular basis. But!, it shoots light like a laser, unmatched except maybe for a Maxtoch (which unfortunately I only know by reputation).

The C8 is that perfect compromise between “laserish” and smaller carryable size. No, you can’t really carry it in your pants pocket, and even though I holster my ’502 (borderline dorkdom) I wouldn’t want to holster a C8 (well on the dorky train to Dorky Island where the dorky natives drink dorky nectar out of dorky coconuts).

But damn, even with a fairly low-stressed XP-E2, it’s got lots of reach, and the really tight hotspot holds together for long distances (almost like a zoomie!). And an XP-L HI is a thing of beauty in a C8, and despite the wider hotspot (and more spreading) it’s bright enough in sheer lumenage to make up for it.

So actually, the C8 (one of several) is always nearby, either the XP-E2 or the XP-L HI, depending on what I’m going to be looking at. It may not be pockettable, but damn if it isn’t one of the most useful lights I have.

yclongthrow wrote:

I’ll use it as a litmus test for further C8 purchases.

Chose xp-l hi U6-3a.

I always favored 5000K or so, like the 3A, but if you get another one, try the 4C. At first I thought it was a bit warm, but now I’ve really gotten to like it, a lot.

The XP-E2 I went on about is ~4300K, really nice, too.

But no, nowhere near WW, so don’t worry, they won’t look yellow.

—

I’m growing to like warmer lighting, though. Replaced all the interior lighting in my car (1 dome + 2 map lights, front and back, so 6 LEDs total) with the usual CW bulbs, but just recently redid all them in WW. Soooooooo nice.

yclongthrow wrote:

http://m.banggood.com/Convoy-Clear-C8-XP-L-HI-7135×8-New-Firmware-LED-Flashlight-p-1089132.html

Just ordered this version(looks to be the “new” C8 from BLF).

A little over $20 with the 20% code banggood put out.

I’ll use it as a litmus test for further C8 purchases.

Chose xp-l hi U6-3a.

Yeah you could call that the BLF version for sure J-Dub74 and Toykeeper put a lot of work in it.
What code? $20 is too tempting not to order

Lightbringer wrote:

kramer5150 wrote:

Lightbringer wrote:

Rather than modding the Hell out of a C8, you might just want to get an L2. Twice the bux, but Very Throwy.

Modding a small C8 too much just gives you a curling iron in your hand if you keep it on high too long. Lots of “Ooooh!” factor, but not very practical, if you ask me. At least the L2 has lots more thermal mass and more cooling fins to deal with the heat.

x2 on this…. IMHO the C8 is kind of in no-mans land. Too big to on-person EDC. Yet compared to a well designed 26650 host the C8 has lower thermal capacity and less wattage power reserve. If your’e putting forth the effort into a DIY, make it really worth your efforts. Sure it will cost more, but IMHO the added $$ is well spent for the added run time, thermal management, and depending on the host throw.

Actually, I love the C8. May not be EDCable for pocket-carry, but certainly jacket-pocket.

Anyway, it’s my go-to light for snooping at what’s in the yard, etc., at moderate distances.

As much as I love my P90s, especially my (‘502) EDC, it’s best for general-purpose lighting, whereas something floodier like an S2+ is best for close-in work.

The L2 is a brick by comparison: thick heavy head, wide and heavy battery-tube, 1 or 2 26650s (vs 18650s), and a chalky sandpaper-rough finish that I absolutely would not want to carry on me on any regular basis. But!, it shoots light like a laser, unmatched except maybe for a Maxtoch (which unfortunately I only know by reputation).

The C8 is that perfect compromise between “laserish” and smaller carryable size. No, you can’t really carry it in your pants pocket, and even though I holster my ’502 (borderline dorkdom) I wouldn’t want to holster a C8 (well on the dorky train to Dorky Island where the dorky natives drink dorky nectar out of dorky coconuts).

But damn, even with a fairly low-stressed XP-E2, it’s got lots of reach, and the really tight hotspot holds together for long distances (almost like a zoomie!). And an XP-L HI is a thing of beauty in a C8, and despite the wider hotspot (and more spreading) it’s bright enough in sheer lumenage to make up for it.

So actually, the C8 (one of several) is always nearby, either the XP-E2 or the XP-L HI, depending on what I’m going to be looking at. It may not be pockettable, but damn if it isn’t one of the most useful lights I have.