Hi all,
Single cell 18650 side clicky flashlights have become somewhat of an interest of mine of late. Knowing next to nothing about them, I decided to order a few to monkey with and get a feel for the beasties. My most recent order to fasttech included a Convoy F6 (formerly Roche F6) and a Yupard golden side clicky light that cost a mere $4.20 with the BLF discount.
This is a thin shelled flashlight sporting and actual XP-E2, a hollow pill (read aluminum ring), and a next mode driver. The first thing my monkeying accomplished is shorting out the driver while trying to change the emitter. With the driver safely dead on my new flashlight it was time to make something worth-while.
The emitter was already changed to a Nichia 219c so the only thing left was to figure out a new driver. The original components were stripped from the original driver and the board was used as a contact plate/switch mount. A nanjg 101 AK-A1 1.4A liner driver flashed with four mode STAR momentary firmware takes care of the regulation side of things and just fits in above the original momentary switch. A little filing,wiring and jamming and we're back in business. The star jams into the pill tightly and a strip of soda can makes it tight to the inner body. Heat transfer is pretty good but I wouldn't make a hot rod out of it.
Total cost with light, emitter, and driver was about 11 bucks. Not bad for a side clicky beater light with nichia goodness and STAR firmware. Now that I've got my feet wet I can move on to the F6!
Brian