I need a little comparisons and opinions on popular budget throwers...

[Wrathbringer27]

Hi I have a few questions regarding these light models. I wanna know how these lights perform stock and the level of moddability of each light… I would really appreciate throw numbers!! I’m currently looking at HD2010, Courui 2010, Yezl Y3 and Convoy X3. Which ones will give more power stock? Which will have more throw stock? Which will have an easier host to mod? Thanks guys!!

[unknown00101]

Here’s Tom’s mods on the Yezl (62kcd, 900lm Stock)

Yezl Y3 - a picture breakdown

Update 10/04/14: some highlights found in this thread: Post #96 is ROD911's impressions of a simple emitter swap to MT-G2 using stock driver, stock amps (post #114 is beamshots I can't view?) Post #118 - some useful info on resistors Post #126 - R100 result with a MT-G2, UCLp lens Post #144 - details on DMM wire leads used to measure amps Post #145 - aoeu's impressions/results on MT-G2, and grinding down the head (pic posted at post #184) Post #166 - details on the MaxToch 26 MCPCB used in a Y…

Quote from Tom:

I got several Y3’s and several HD2010’s and one Courui bought recently from Kaidomain. See post #128 in this thread. Basically, the Courui stock out throws the Y3 and HD2010. Thinking roughly 45-50 kcd for the HD2010’s, 50-60 kcd for the Y3, and I measured ~75 kcd for the Courui stock. All stock #’s. The Courui did better than what I thought, but as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I believe they made minor mods from the earlier versions. Of course all these lights are subject to the Chinese lottery – you may get a good one, may get a bad one. HD2010’s are XML T6, while the Y3 andCourui are XM-L2. The HD2010’s are basically direct drive so high amps (for the good ones), but the Y3 and Courui throw as good or better at much lower amps – better cell life, less heat, etc.

Tom’s thread on the X3 (36kcd, 666lm stock)

XinTD X3 - a close-up look (Updated with mod details)

I'm not sure if anyone has mod'ed one yet, but I started on a mod to change out the emitter/star to possibly U2 1A or 1C on a copper star, boosting up amps to 4.5A, and custom programming the driver to modes I want. I felt compelled to post what I found so far. Update 08/18/13: See post #5 for details of the mod and the test results! Here's the product listing: http://intl-outdoor.com/xintd-x3-xml2-3aa-flashlight-p-739.html Here's a review in progress: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/20211 …

Usually just search the name of the flashlight you’re looking for, followed by “kcd” or “cd” and you’ll get some good info.

[pilotdog68]

Throw is largely a factor of reflector diameter. I absolutely love the X3, but it isn’t in the same class as the others. Which is easier to mod? I have no idea. I have a Courui, and the hardest part was getting the emitter centered and isolating the leads from the aluminum reflector. Courui or uf-1405/1504 are the top budget throwers (after mods) in my book.

[Rod911]

I’ve got all of them except the HD2010. To answer your questions:

Which ones will give more power stock? Yezl Y3 looks the brightest via ceiling bounce test, but doesn’t throw as far as Courui at stock. The Y3 does come stock with annoying (for me) PWM compared to the other two I have.

Which will have more throw stock? Courui

Which will have an easier host to mod? I’ve only modded the Courui and tried to mod the Y3. I wasn’t able to mod my Y3 because the retaining rings were just impossible to remove (both from driver side and springs, so no braided springs for me). However, the Y3, if you can’t access the driver, the LED is easily accessible and the driver can also drive an MT-G2 if you prefer to swap it out over the XM-L2. I didn’t have any real issues with modding my Courui (thread here ).

[Wrathbringer27]

@Rod911

I’ve got all of them except the HD2010. To answer your questions:

Which ones will give more power stock? Yezl Y3 looks the brightest via ceiling bounce test, but doesn’t throw as far as Courui at stock. The Y3 does come stock with annoying (for me) PWM compared to the other two I have.

Which will have more throw stock? Courui

Which will have an easier host to mod? I’ve only modded the Courui and tried to mod the Y3. I wasn’t able to mod my Y3 because the retaining rings were just impossible to remove (both from driver side and springs, so no braided springs for me). However, the Y3, if you can’t access the driver, the LED is easily accessible and the driver can also drive an MT-G2 if you prefer to swap it out over the XM-L2. I didn’t have any real issues with modding my Courui (thread here ).

I see… I would want to mod if not for my poor soldering skills… I have fried 2 emitters while soldering the last time and I’m kind of afraid to do it again