I needed a torch in the beginning as our council bought in a stupid regulation that street lights turn off at midnight. This means, after midnight, you need a torch as it is so dark, you can not see ( I live in the UK, always cloudy lol).
Now-I have a convoy S2+ I use for my bike, and a tank 007 for my keyring-my mum liked it so much, I got her one with some eneloop batteries and charge them for her on my Nitecore or Efest chargers (Unlike their batteries, their chargers are actually great for MY needs. I am not insulting Efest here-they may be perfect for flashlights, and I even own some for my flashlights-it is just in my other hobby they are a brand well known to stay away from).
Seeing as it is annnoying removing my S2+ from my bike-should I get ANOTHER S2+, or is there a better flashlight now in that price range?
I will be ordering today, so any other torches of a similar spec/better spec in a close price range (I could spend about 10-15 dollars more, I’m in the UK and go by the pound but thought it would be easier to put dollars for most users here, as I gather most users are in the USA).
So-is the S2+ king for my needs? Or something else should I get? I already have a working S2+ and a spare S2+ body, so maybe something different would be nice if possible.
If you are looking for a reason to get another light, you are in the right place….
As you have a spare S2+ body, all you should need is a driver and emitter, so you could pick those up and another S2+ for minimal, then you have three!
The only other thing is the lights like the Eagle Eye X6R or the Manker Quinlan U11 that have a built in recharging port, so no more taking batteries out for charging!
The S2+ is a hard light to beat for what it is…. The BLF A6/ AstroLux S1 would be another choice, but once again, you have to think about if you want a different light/UI or stay with the same that works….
I think I will get another S2+ as it works, and I like the life of the 18650’s I use and the brightness on mid, I get about 4 hours from a 25R and that is perfect, even the lowest setting is good for some times.
I only use the highest setting to see to the end of long, dark alleys at night, the rest is on MID. It’s quite funny when car drivers see a torch so small lighting up the road, that looks the same as their car headlights lol.
If I got a emitter and bin, is it hard to do? As due to the brain damage I am not as good as I used to be. I do simple PC repairs, but not much more than that.
Also-I forgot what a driver is. Would it not work to just get the emitter and screw it in? Or is there more involved?
So, if I got another torch, plus the Emitter-do I just screw it in and away I go? Or is there more involved? If there is, I will just keep the empty one as a spare casing, I have already customized mine buy making the middle gray, and the bottom and top cap black :).
The emitter and driver have to be installed in the light… the S2+ uses the reflector and LED spacer to hold the LED on its board down onto the Pill. The emitter is put in the back of the pill and secured with some solder or the ring if that works… To me the solder is better as you have a solid contact with the pill. The driver regulates the battery energy into the different modes for you to use, low, medium, high, etc….
If you can solder, you should be ok to do this. If not, just get the extra torch (I feel so British calling it that…LOL) and you are good to go.
I am sure 3tronics can get you set up, but for an example, I am linking to a driver and emitter below.
If I may ask, what are the key differences between the S2, S2+, and S6?
Checking the FastTech specs, the biggest thing I see is that the S2 uses an XM-L emitter, while the S2+ and S6 use the XM-L2. Otherwise, the lights all seem to be similar tube lights. All have OP reflectors. Obviously, I am missing something...
S2 and S6 are nearly identical, same pill, same reflector. Distinctions seem to be a cosmetically different tube and no markings on the S6. There are aftermarket smooth reflectors available for these that give a little more throw.
S2+ has a shorter reflector and a longer pill. The deeper pill cavity makes it easier to fit the driver together with the emitter wires. Possibly it also has better heat transfer to the body and provides a larger thermal mass attached to the emitter. The tail cap has left-hand thread for the retaining ring. Overall the S2+ is ~4mm shorter than the S2 or S6.
In spite of the FastTech listings the S2 also comes with XM-L2 emitters, unless you are unlucky enough to stumble on very old stock.
Buy from Simon’s Aliex store. You get to specify exactly which driver/emitter combination you want. After the 15% BLF discount prices are similar to the big vendors. Stick with 3* or 4* 7135 drivers if you do not want the driver soldered to the pill.
Even better, buy the hosts (or for the OP, re-use the broken S2) and get separate drivers and emitter boards to suit your preferences. FET 1*7135 drivers are great if you can get or build those. Single-sided, can take a good spring, efficient low modes and power to go when you need it.
They all seem to take both protected and unprotected cells without issue lengthwise. The 3* and 4* 7135 driver boards have a more compliant driver-side spring which protects the cell against bumps and should allow more flexibility regarding cell length. Diameter-wise some protected cells will not fit or will be a tight fit in the S2 or S2+, due to the double-wrapping of the cell. S6 inside diameter is ~0.3mm larger.
I have two S2+ lights from Simon… My favorite is a T6-3B, but I also have a U2-1A that is used around the house.
It’s hard not to love this model and design; it fills many needs all at once. Plus, at only about $14-16 it’s easy to acquire more and more of them as you go.
