I am searching the internet about a C8 and an extension tube for it, but many of the threads(screw part) are different. And I live in Europe where shipping from china tends to be months long, and if I experiment with threads a year will pass with ease. So my question is this:
Where can I find a cheap C8 clone with an extension tube that fits? I plan to bypass the driver, so the driver does not matter. And I plan to change the emitter with a XHP50 or XHP70 perhaps depending on availability.
I chose the C8 because of the reflector which gives a good throw and does not waste any of the power of the led. And the extension tube is the cheapest and perhaps best way of driving XHP to the ragged edge.
Price of a C8 or host is under 10$, and the extension ~5$, and an emiter 13$ so all in all under 30$.
Maybe you have a better budget suggestion for a ultra cheap thrower featuring XHP35/50/70.
P.S. I was looking for the XHP35 as a small emiter size led, but it is driven only by 4x18650 at +12V. Hosts with 2 series batteries are scarse, but with 4 are almost nonexistant or not cheap at all.
The C8 with a xhp50/70 direct drive on 2 18650 cells will not have enough heat dissipation for that, but if 1 minute runtime before overheating does it for you all is fine. I do suggest using a C12 instead, will not have enough surface area either but at least a bit more than the C8. Example with OP reflector (you want OP for xhp50/70): http://www.kaidomain.com/p/S023744.UltraFire-C12-Cree-XP-L-V5-1A-1400-Lumens-3-Mode-OP-LED-Flashlight
Also, IMO, that large a die from the xhp won’t be quite as good in the throw dept with a reflector the size of the C8’s. I would think it’d be quite floody and reach farther purely on the merits of outright lumens.
Okay then, if you say so. I already have the 1405, and the XHP70 is destened for it. I was inspired by this post UF-1405 XHP-70 retina burner. The C12 has some problems with battery length, so perhaps C8 XP-L HI with FET driver is your suggestion as I see. I might go that way.
XHP50 should in theory have the same die size as XML 5x5. The XHP70 is larger than that. I would go with the XHP35 in a heartbeat but that cannot be powered from 2 cells. There is no 6V version of that die, yet. Extremely dissapointing for me. That is a die that can go completely parralel on 3V but they decided a 12V option should be the only choice.
You want a good and economic thrower XHP35? I did it this way:
As host I chose a Ultrafire LZZ F13 (22 mm. diameter original driver.)
Then I bought this Driver: (22 mm. Diameter)
and then this XHP35 HI:
You have to use a good 26650 or a 18650 IMR, only changes the driver and the LED, no other changes.
(Add also a proper “Insulation Gaskets”)
That is amazing. I havent seen XHP35 driver before. Thank you. Very nice suggestion, and if you have a review or a comparison of some kind it would be sublime.
I hope in the near future more drivers will be produced for driving 6 and 12V lights. (at much more volts 8 and 16V at least) It is nice indeed, but the emiter is capable of so much more than 12V, in the area of 18V directly driven with pencil sharp factory dedomed…
Djozz is on the money i built up a convoy c8 with 2x 18650 and xhp50 got hot real quick
Pulled around 7a so ive gone back to 2x18350.and will prob go back again to a xpl hi
As the c8 reflector isnt that good with the xhp50.and i guess thats what the host was designed for.i had to rethread the tube to suit as coulnt find 1 to fit
Djozz is a wise man, when he speaks it usually is solid.
Yet an extension tube for a C8 sounds interesting!
(BTW you know of the S50 from Thorfire? User X3 sells one and man oh man what a sweet light that is with maybe the best cooling design I know.
Thank you guys. Very nice suggestions. Perhaps I would have made a mistake with xhp50.
I tracked this for a few days, and it really is the best C8 there is, in my oppinion. Very little modding required, and yesterday was 20$, today is on sale for 16.5$. I got it. I will see if 3.5A is okay. If not, a FET driver will be put in and massive wires. I hope I won’t destroy the switch.
Here is what the Thorfire C8 with THIS FET driver (guppydrv firmware) and a dedomed XM-L2 U4 1A on Noctigon , spring bypassed with 20awg Turginy wire at both ends , and 4.89 amps at start , looks like at 140 yards (barn) and at 500 yards (2 Far trees side by side).
For the price it seems like a good deal, but i would suggest DTP board for the led and AR coated lens as a first upgrade and then if u want more power go for a FET +1 driver with bistro firmware, should be over 100000cd easily if paired with nice battery (30Q, 25R, VTC5 etc…)
I am thinking of building an XHP50 light based on the Supfire L3 chassis. It already came with an extra tube and will run 26650’s. Given the beam pattern with a single XM-L2, I think it will do ok with the XHP50. It is also a fairly solid light with an integrated shelf for the LED. I just hope it can get rid of enough heat. A hard driven XM-L2 0D dedome does not hardly even warm it up. Currently running a single cell and Mountain 22mm FET.
