How are people marking their P60 drop ins to distinguish which is which? I have a number of drop ins from different vendors and many of them don’t have any markings to tell me their spec’s. So I want to mark them. I tried using a permanent ink marker (sharpie) but over time the heat bakes off the markings. I thought I could engrave the brass section on the side with an dremel tool. But is there an easier way to keep track of these? Thanks
I don’t have enough for this to be a problem, but solarforce uses actual labels (from a label maker) and color codes them.
I only have 3 drop-ins from different manufacturers and thankfully they’re different in color and appearance.
In your case, engraving would be a nice option.
I have struggled with this for a while now. Sharpie does not stay on and I have about 15 home built dropins and maybe 6 commercial dropins. Can’t use the normal thermal printer labels, they will turn black in a hurry. Love the Solarforce metal film, but have no way to print those.
I have been using a dremel tool with a diamond tip bit. unfortunately it is very crude because the space is so small and my hand shakes when i try to engrave but I put XML2 then the max volts 8.4 or 4.2. Takes up the whole side of the brass base. But since I have a dozen of these drop ins it helps to keep them straight.
I use a label printer, or you could just print a small label on paper and stick that under clear adhesive tape.
Just have enough hosts for the drop ins and chuck the rubbish drop ins (or sell them). 
Then maybe keep a spreadsheet list of what is in each torch.
At the end of the day, the only real thing you need to know is if it’s only 4.2v. But I don’t run anything that doesn’t work on an 18650 really, so not an issue for me.
Being serious, it’s easy to count the number of modes a light has. And LEDs are pretty easy to ID without turning them on. Even NW and CW. And even drivers are pretty easy to spot, e.g. A Qlite looks totally different to a BLF X6 driver.
You have a better eye and knowledge than I do. I have about 12 L2 style flashlights mostly L2M’s but a few Solarforce L2Ps and L2Ts then I play mix and match with the parts so I never know what parts will end up where… I do keep a spreadsheet but I really can’t tell a XM-L T6 from a XM-L U2 from a XM-L2 U2. I can tell them apart from the XP-L Hi V2s that aren’t domed. So I need to mark them.
XM-L2 is easy to ID vs an XM-L. But I too couldn’t tell you what bin a LED is.
But I guess, does it really matter if it’s a T6 or a U2? I know when buying you might want to know, but once you’ve got it, the difference is somewhat meaningless.
What about creating a cheat sheet and just marking the drop-ins with roman numerals using a carbide scribe? The simple straight lines of the roman numerals might make things easier.
you beat me to it.
exactly how and why i do it.