help me decide

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

I’ve been wanting to get into the 18650 game. I’ve had a fenix pd30 q5 for the last 4 years and been running tenergy rcr123a’s 900mah. those are going dead and I’d rather get a higher capacity battery. I’ve been looking at the Edc 18650 from intl-outdoor

EDC 18650 XP-G2 R5 / XM-L U2 910/450lm Flashlight

and this L2

Solarforce L2 BLK Flashlight with ITC 880 Lumens U2 XM-L 5 mode led Bulb

I’m looking for a light around $25-30 max using 18650 battery that has a low mode around 50lm and a high over 250. I really light my pd30 q5 but don’t like rcr123 capacity and stacking and don’t want to be buying primaries all the time. . any help would be appreciated

2

If go for a convoy s_ with whatever your favorite LED is with a qlite at an output that suits you best
For me it’s a s2 xml2 u2 1a @ 3A
These are great tube lights and well within your budget
Check out www.mtnelectronics.com
You’ll get the light much faster than ordering from iOS

BTW welcome to the forum

3

I second the Convoy S-series lights. I have the S2 and love it! Mine recently went through my snowblower and survived! The standard "Nanjg" 2 mode driver would suit you fine too (levels of 5%, 40%, 100%). Either driver will also give you low voltage protection.

-Garry

4

I
Convoy S2 Flashlight Host CONVYS2-HOST 1 $9.11 $9.11
QLITE REV.A 7135*8 3.04A LED DRIVER QLITE 1 $4.20 $4.20
CREE XM-L2 T6 3C LED on Noctigon 16mm MCPCB XM16-XML23C

which adhesive or compound should I uses to mount the led on the heat sink? and will regular solder work? this is my first build

5

I ordered these parts. what kind of output should I expect? I ordered the driver in stock form:
Convoy S2 Flashlight host
QLITE REV.A 7135*8 3.04A LED DRIVER
CREE XM-L2 T6 3C LED on Noctigon 16mm MCPCB

6

Expect output to blow your mind away and far exceed your expectations!

Just watch running it on high for more than a couple minutes.

Regular solder? You are talking electrical solder, right? Yes, most should work fine. Soldering the driver to the pill may take a few tries. Most people will recommend Arctic Alumina thermal pastes / compounds. Anything decent quality should work ok. Just be sure to spread it thin and not put a thick glob down.

-Garry

7

Roughly 1100 lumens with a nice smooth beam. Should be a nice flashlight.

8

yes I was planning on using the arctic alumina to mount the led on the pill and then solder the driver’s edges on the underneath in a couple of places. am I correct in using the arctic adhesive? if there is anything I am missing, please let me know. thank u guys!

9

Sounds good to me! Just make sure to keep it well centered.

-Garry

10

thanks!