Dale are those beamshots an XPG2 or XPL-HI? You guys have me thinking of building an L2 for a thrower and an L2 with an MT-G2 for a floody general use light.
The beamshots in post 1236 are of the XP-G2 S2 0D de-domed in an L2 with Richards MtnMax Buck driver on 2 Efest IMR18350 cells.
Pretty sure I posted shots of the HI when I first built the L2. That larger emitter can’t get close to such a tight pencil beam, it is, after all, the XM-L2 die. Just because the XP-L is on a footprint of the XP-G2, everyone get’s confused about it’s throw potential. It’s still an XM-L sized die, and as such it has a much larger hot spot even when de-domed (actually de-doming the XM-L2 yields a slightly tighter beam than the HI in case you were wondering, you being subjective and directed at anyone curious)
Smaller die, tighter beam, longer throw. Larger diameter reflector, longer throw (in most cases) So a large reflector paired with a small die, pencil beam. 
An L2 with 2X tube would have fabulous run time in this scenario with the ability to use high capacity cells with the Buck driver. Output would also be well regulated, maintaining the current draw long into the cell life.
I understand the XPL, took me a bit when it first came out but then realized it’s an XML2 packaged into an XPG2 size. Most of the xpg2 based throwers I have seen end up looking more like an aspheric than your beamshots do so that’s why I was asking. I believe I may have have to go with the L2 with the 2 cell tube for both an xpg2 thrower and and an MT-G2 build.
Initially I was looking at the M24 GB light to fill my thrower needs and then the S70 for a larger general use light but I like the idea of having identical lights that feel the same, have the same UI (guppydrv is my favorite UI), I can make sure both of them are 5000k tint, and that all the solder connections are good and everything is potted.
I’m still using a centering ring, the one Simon had made for this light and emitter size. I could probably recut the emitter shelf to take a larger mcpcb and get the reflector down onto the surface so focus would be better, that might make it a tighter beam but could be a lot of work for little or no gain and could even produce rings or something. I’ll look at what kind of space is available and see if I can adapt it. Might be able to put a copper disc under a 32mm Noctigon to bring it up to meet the reflector and have really wide contact points to clear the reflector effortlessly.
I’ll let ya know if that’s an option or maybe a MAXToch 26mm mcpcb would work better.
I like the beam the way it is. I don’t care for a beam that is all hotspot with no spill at all. Hopefully in the next few weeks I can start ordering parts, I have to finish moving first.
Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.
I cut down the emitter shelf in the L2 to accept a 32mm Noctigon. I had one with an XP-G2 already on it in the middle, de-domed, but of course I haven’t the foggiest which emitter it is. But I put it in there anyway. Shaved down the Convoy centering ring (the XP-G2 one) and am getting virtually the same numbers as before. But while the hot spot is a bit more defined there are some colors off in the aura that are a bit odd, so this de-dome isn’t as clean as the one yesterday. Dangit, should have transferred that new emitter onto the 32mm mcpcb!
So now I have a 32mm copper pad under the emitter instead of 20mm. Solid wall to wall contact with Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive holding it down. (I actually lost some output with no centering ring, go figure, and I even kept the base of the reflector about 1.3mm off the surface to keep the die face in focus)
Still have a pencil beam, it’s just not as clean overall as the S2 0D I had in it yesterday. And now, of course, I have it glued in so changing it won’t be quite so easy. lol
Well it comes time for me to build mine I will message ya and get the details for the XPG2 build and build my own. Sounds like you know what does and doesn’t work best in the L2
Pulled the 32mm Noctigon out and removed the semi-bad emitter, re-flowed the original onto the Noctigon and put it all back together. Tweaking the focus I netted 328.5Kcd, looks like that is about all she wrote. The Buck driver should run constant current regardless of where the little cells are, but I’m sure they need a charge.
You are truly one of a kind Dale. Thank you so much for taking my silly little idea and turning it into a monster!
I have ordered the buck driver and a friend is helping out by making a battery adapter tube to fit the little guys so I don’t have to use the rings that came with the light. I also ordered Efest purples instead of using the reds I have.
I’m really not concerned with runtime. If I get 10 - 15 minutes I’ll be a happy camper.
I found that the best focus had the bezel out about 2mm, leaving a gap. So I machined a copper ring to fit in there to ensure I don’t tighten the bezel beyond proper focus. The reflector is held snug enough that it doesn’t move around and this is where it does 328.5Kcd. So now it’s fixed and looks neat too! 
That is the most beautiful L2 I have seen to date. :heart_eyes: Excellent work!
OK, now I feel like I need to try out an XP-G2, even if it’s just in one of my C8’s. But with all the “updated” emitters being discussed in the “angry hulk” thread, I’m not sure about getting one that would be worth it 
Edit: FYI, this thread is what I was referring to
Richards 17mm MtnMax Buck driver with 2 18350’s in a C8 to a de-domed XP-G2 S2 0D does some 158Kcd, serious throw for the size of the light.
Dale, Ive built a fresh C8 with dedomed XP-G2 S4 (old batch) doing 5600-ish lux @ 6.2 meter (after 5 seconds). Normal FET driver, LG HG2, IOS AR glass, 18 gauge wire. That translates to 215kcd. Still need to measure lumens & accurate amps. Very impressed with it.
Wow! I measured at 5M, standard. Unusual for an de-domed XP-G2 to be able to pull the Vf it needs from a single cell and make those numbers, don’t know if that is available anymore.
Dale… I stand to be corrected.
I’ve replaced the 9V battery in my light meter today with a brand new duracell. For some reason, my readings are now literally down with 9%. I would thought it should be the other way around.
Anyway, I’ve re-measured my XP-G2 Convoy C8. Its doing around 5100-ish lux @ 6.2 meters (after 5-10 seconds). That translates to 196kcd (885m). Lumens came to around 1130 and tail amps settled at 4.7. All measured on a LG HG2.
It is possible. I have builded several 190k c8s xpg2 . Meadured with a luxmeter with lowest readings( out of 3 others ).
If we are totaly hornest that cant be made with every s2 s4 emitter
My meter always goes high when the battery gets low - dunno, just how it always worked - happened/fooled me many times. Funny, cause it's close to being somewhat believable, so probably in the same 10% range or so. Then looking carefully, I see the low batt symbol -- ughhhh -- just another mod, not a super mod 
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I’m really impressed with the XP-G2 builds but does anyone have solid info about the recently announced XP-G3?