Convoy S2+ Violet Review

everydaysurvivalgear · 2018-08-21T13:05:53.000Z

Convoy S2+ Review

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Hey folks today we will be reviewing the Convoy S2+ a light that every man and his dog has. So why review the S2+ you may ask? This S2+ is purple well technically its violet so we can’t say it has that purple swag now. I have not seen to many reviews on the newer colored S2+ line up! Wait can we still use the term colored?

The Convoy S2+ has grown up to be a very versatile light from a basic EDC to a triple/quad output monster. The S2+ is now available in a range of different setups I own 4 other Convoy S2+.
The S2+ I am reviewing is the original style S2+ with a XML2 in a NW 5000k tint and a 3amp Nangj driver. Super simple set up yet versatile now with the new addition of standing out of the crowd being available in the newer purple, orange, cyan.

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The S2+ was sent to me by Fasttech they stock all the new and old S2+ variants. In fact Fasttech stock 382 Convoy lights in total wow. Plus Fasttech also stock the Convoy light tail caps and drivers and glass lenses for the S2. As you can see I have bought heaps of S2 parts from Fasttech.
Use ‘SAVINGS’ for 5% off
Purchase link

Few tips for newbies if you are going to mod the S2+ you are buying and change the driver buy the S2+ with less 7135 because they come with retaining rings. Also the tail cap and the driver on these are reverse threads. Happy modding!

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What is included ?

Convoy S2+ violet

Lanyard

Tumble weed? (No tumble weed actually included )

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Build
The build quality of these new Convoy S2+ is awesome its a step above the original which was already a very decent light. I would say overall the build quality on this purple S2+ is on par with the clear S2. The clear S2 is as good if not better then most brand name flashlights on the market build quality wise.

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The purple finish on mine looks perfect no marks or scratched at all. No scuffs on the light or even on the metal switch. The anodizing seems very thick and has held up well while I have been EDCing this light. The threads are very well cut and every thing fits in place well and works well overall. Typical S2+ just purple well violet.
My lens did have some ones grubby finger prints on it lol.

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Size Specs

Diameter: 24mm

Length: 118mm

Weight: 91 grams (without the battery)

LED: 16mm

Driver: 17mm

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As with all Convoy lights there is no waterproofing specs well a general IPX6 but I would say this S2+ is fairly water tight. The tail cap setup has a with a rubber piece that helps keep water out and the S2+ has all the o-rings in the right places. Water should be no worries for these lights.

Design

Design wise not to much to say except its a colored twist on a family favorite? All of these newer color S2+ come with a metal switches as stock. The newer metal switch looks nice being none anodized I prefer the this plain metal switch over the switch that came on the clear S2+ this one is much more blingy.

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Depending on what model you order some have a tail cap light and AR coated glass and some don’t. The price reflects the difference so its up to you.
There is not really that much you could do to change the S2+ it has same cutouts and same Knurling pattern as the original which is fine it has worked well for a long time.

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Performance

You can buy the new S2+ in many variants my S2+ is the stock standard set up that we have been using for years.
This S2+ has a Cree XML2 T6-3B which is a NW emitter (5000k) best choice between tint and output I think. This S2+ is also using an OP style reflector so throw will not spectacular but you get a super nice and even floody beam.
Driver setup is standard the S2+ is using a 3amp Nanjg style driver. If you want more power you try your luck at stacking 7135s I suck at this lol.

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You can get the coloured S2+ in many variants of tints and output power but 3amp is the max.

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These Nangj style drivers or I should say 7135 drivers because this driver is branded Convoy are good drivers. They features a lot of options for such a cheap driver. This driver has the typical mode selects. You can chose from either the 5 modes or the 3 mode groups. I think you can get the S2+ with Biscotti firmware if that is more up your alley.
Two things that have changed from the original Nanjg driver is the longer spring on the driver side I would probably prefer the smaller stock spring. I had a NCR18650b in this S2+ and it fit but it doesn’t really like the longer spring. Also there are no stars to solder to select mode groups.

This S2+ has a standard alloy LED board unlike the SMO variant that gets the DTP copper board but you are paying less for this light.

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Output and modes

High: 1000 lumens at 1 hour

Medium: 400 lumens at 2.5 hours

Low: 50 lumens at 20 hours

Throw: 100m

Driver features

Reverse polarity protection

Memory mode

Constant Current driver

5 modes

Low voltage warning

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Overall
Overall the new S2+ is awesome and every one needs at least one! The S2+ is such a great light and loved dearly by the modding community for many reasons. These new colours make the S2+ stick out and shine super unique looks to an old family favorite.

All photos taken at ISO800
This new phone has more setting that i am learning so please bare with me.

Low mode
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Medium mode
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High mode
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Extra wide shot on high
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Tree 100m
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S2+ shootout

Left violet S2+ and Right side S2+ with Nichia 219c
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Left violet S2+ and Right clear S2+ SMO and XPL-HI
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Left violet S2+ and Right BLF A6 in direct drive i think mine is a 5D tint?
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Hope you enjoyed the review

Thanks for taking the time to read

Regards Chris

DavidEF · 2018-08-21T13:36:02.000Z

Nice! I like the color. Thanks for doing this review.

everydaysurvivalgear · 2018-08-21T19:22:18.000Z

Thanks mate!
Yea it sure is a looker, I might get the set i think they look awesome this colour is probably my favorite.

TBone · 2018-08-21T20:14:11.000Z

This host needs a violet LED…

DavidEF · 2018-08-21T21:26:07.000Z

TBone:

This host needs a violet LED…

Or a triple composed of a 400nm UV and a violet and a deep blue?

Cereal_killer · 2018-08-21T21:53:21.000Z

DavidEF:

TBone:

This host needs a violet LED…

Or a triple composed of a 400nm UV and a violet and a deep blue?

Does PMMA pass 400nm UV?

I’ve been thinking about incorporating a 365nm emitter into a triple build, I was gonna try to find a tiny reflector the size of one of the TIR’s in a carlco and drill it out but if it passes 400nm I might as well just do that.

DavidEF · 2018-08-21T23:06:12.000Z

I’m pretty sure I’ve read multiple times around here that pmma will NOT pass 365nm but will pass 400nm just fine. I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve been involved in a few UV LED threads, and a few other threads where UV was mentioned. Remember too that some things that will fluoresce with 400nm will not be affected by 365nm and also the other way around. So, if you have a specific thing or substance you want to “light up” using UV to fluoresce, you should check to see what wavelength will be the most effective.

P.S. There are some (Ledil?) optics that are not pmma and do pass 365nm UV. Or so I’ve read.

gravelmonkey · 2018-08-22T00:34:42.000Z

Cereal_killer:

DavidEF:

TBone:

This host needs a violet LED…

Or a triple composed of a 400nm UV and a violet and a deep blue?

Does PMMA pass 400nm UV?

I’ve been thinking about incorporating a 365nm emitter into a triple build, I was gonna try to find a tiny reflector the size of one of the TIR’s in a carlco and drill it out but if it passes 400nm I might as well just do that.

That’s some precision engineering! Ive wanted a triple purple S2+ for a while now, might give it a go with a cylindrical spacer the length and space of an optical. It would be a mule beam but that’s not such a bad thing with UV.

SKV89 · 2018-08-22T01:08:34.000Z

My wife likes the purple too. I put in a triple 219B 4000k for her.

everydaysurvivalgear · 2018-08-22T07:32:29.000Z

Yea i got one of the new high CRI SST20 triples i will use in here.

d_t_a · 2018-08-22T09:23:33.000Z

I’ve measured the tailcap current and these (XM-L2 7135x8) variants are 2.8A (8x 350mA = 2.80A instead of 8x 380mA = 3.04A).

I’ve also ordered the new metallic color, and they seem to be similar design as the older S2+ except for the metallic tailswitch (which is on the previous red/green/blue, but not the black/grey which use rubber buttons).

However, the new colors (purple/orange/cyan) body tube didn’t seem to use the reversible clip position that’s present on the Clear Silver and the Desert Sand. (in the Desert Sand and Clear Silver S2+ body tubes, the pocket clip can be positioned near the tail or near the head since both have the same “depression” (what’s the correct term?) for the pocket clip to hold onto.

Additionally, I notice that the colored S2+ come with a nicer quality adjustable lanyard strap, compared to the older black/grey S2+ (which comes with a basic non-adjustable lanyard strap). The Clear Silver and Desert Sand S2+ also come with the same higher-quality adjustable lanyard strap, but their package also includes the pocket clip (the pocket clip is not included in the other colored packages).

TBone · 2018-08-23T16:20:32.000Z

DavidEF:

I’m pretty sure I’ve read multiple times around here that pmma will NOT pass 365nm but will pass 400nm just fine.

Here is a diagram (second one).

emarkd · 2018-08-23T11:57:33.000Z

I built a Dragon setup in my Purple, with LH351d primaries and 365nm UV secondaries. Like others have said, the UV doesn’t pass through the optic at all. So I turned it into a mule setup with dual-channel white + UV, and added a purple tailcap “ring”. I do really like this purple. Wish the optic would’ve worked out, but mules are neat too.

By the way in that pic of the lighted emitters, the Samsungs aren’t powered - they’re reacting to the UV from the secondaries.

bmengineer · 2018-08-23T12:38:33.000Z

emarkd:

I built a Dragon setup in my Purple, with LH351d primaries and 365nm UV secondaries. Like others have said, the UV doesn’t pass through the optic at all. So I turned it into a mule setup with dual-channel white + UV, and added a purple tailcap “ring”. I do really like this purple. Wish the optic would’ve worked out, but mules are neat too.

By the way in that pic of the lighted emitters, the Samsungs aren’t powered - they’re reacting to the UV from the secondaries.

Looks amazing. What did you use for the ring in the tail?

emarkd · 2018-08-23T13:06:33.000Z

bmengineer:

Looks amazing. What did you use for the ring in the tail?

Its a 6-led ring board mounted above the switch, with true purple LEDs. They’re inefficient as hell though, to be honest, so I’m not sure I’d recommend using them. They’re drawing several mA and still aren’t very bright, orders of magnitude less efficient than green or blue LEDs. But its a purple host, I needed a purple ring

That said, I bought some other “purple” LEDs with a phosphor layer, not a single-wavelength emitter. They’re not nearly so vibrant purple, more of a pinky-lavendery color, but they also look nice in these lights and are much more efficient. I may swap some into this light just to make it more shelf-stable.

DavidEF · 2018-08-23T19:34:27.000Z

emarkd:

I built a Dragon setup in my Purple, with LH351d primaries and 365nm UV secondaries. Like others have said, the UV doesn’t pass through the optic at all. So I turned it into a mule setup with dual-channel white + UV, and added a purple tailcap “ring”. I do really like this purple. Wish the optic would’ve worked out, but mules are neat too.

By the way in that pic of the lighted emitters, the Samsungs aren’t powered - they’re reacting to the UV from the secondaries.

I wonder if it would work to use an optic drilled out just above the UV LEDs so they have an open hole to shine through, but the white emitters would still have TIR. That way, the whites also might not fluoresce while UV is lit, if the optic material stops the UV from hitting the white emitters.

emarkd · 2018-08-23T23:28:29.000Z

DavidEF:

I wonder if it would work to use an optic drilled out just above the UV LEDs so they have an open hole to shine through, but the white emitters would still have TIR. That way, the whites also might not fluoresce while UV is lit, if the optic material stops the UV from hitting the white emitters.

I’ve been experimenting some with things like that and really haven’t hit on anything great yet. The UV emitters are really floody as you’d expect, so any holes drilled only pass a very small amount of UV, most of its still trapped under the polycarb. I found some UV-pass fiber optic cable and cut some up trying to build some sort of…tunnel for the UV to pass through, but its tiny and in very tight quarters, so my experimenting so far has been underwhelming. Its not an easy problem, really just needs some reflectors

Meelo · 2018-11-13T05:07:20.000Z

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1653/10002364/9656149
“Cree XM-L2 HI T6-4C ”

whats the HI?

higher cri?

d_t_a · 2018-11-13T05:34:44.000Z

Meelo:

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1653/10002364/9656149
“Cree XM-L2 HI T6-4C ”

whats the HI?

higher cri?

A typo most likely. Should just be XM-L2 T6-4C. The Convoys with XPL-Hi are usually U6-4B or U6-4C.

everydaysurvivalgear · 2018-11-13T05:40:05.000Z

Yea its a typo i told Fasttech to fix it but i don’t know what happen.