Need to Get a Convoy S Series for a Family Member....Which one should I pick and Battery Questions...

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hey all,

I have a Convoy S2+ that is my favorite light out of my miniscule stable. It is made very nice and it feels like a top rate light that you’d see priced at $150 in a fancy gun shop.

A family member that is NOT a flashlight guy needed to borrow a light today and I handed him my S2+. I told him about how to switch to the different modes of light and so forth. He came back in an hour and said “wow, what kind of light is this and can you get me one?”

So, I told him I’d get him one.

Here’s what I need to know. First, the battery issue. I have the 18650 cell PROTECTIVE in mine. I also have a charger and some non-protected 18650 cells too for my other lights that I use from time to time. I think it would be the best thing to go ahead and get him a PROTECTED 18650 cell for his light too. Would you all agree with that? If you have other options on that, feel free to let me know.

Now, as for which Convoy to pick. I have the S2+ and love it. I wish it had a longer throw, but it’s not that kind of light. I haven’t checked lately in what models are in the “S” line for Convoy. I also forgot where I bought it. I know I got it from a link here where they were having a special on them and I got it for like $16 or so.

This guy is a Contractor Supervisor and works in a BIG project now and he could use a light for quite a bit of time during the day. He might need 2 cells for his to make sure he always has one ready. I just don’t know what S series Convoy to get him.

Can you all help me decide and also give me a link to the best dealer and price on them, one that you all have confidence in please.

Thank you again for your time and help.

Nalajr

2

A ‘regular’ S2 (not the + version) has more throw. They’re good lights, as are the S4 (my personal favorite) and the S3, which is very high quality and about as floody as the S2+.
You can’t really go wrong with any of them, and all of mine will accommodate the green Panasonic 3400 mAh protected batteries.

If you have the choice, try for a neutral (3C or 4C) tint - you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy on the eyes a neutral tint is compared to the usual stark blue-white in most lights. International Outdoors has been offering Nichia 219B emitters in S3’s recently - they’re the nicest of the bunch, as far as I’m concerned. At $26 a pop they’re a steal.

3

I carry one of these every day , with this clip installed . I use these batteries .

Nice , warmish tint .

4

I usually EDC this Convoy S2 or this Convoy S6. If he needs to use it a lot during the day the 1.4A version will give him longer run times without really affecting perceived output. Personally I wouldn’t bother with protected batteries in these lights as they have low-voltage warning.

5

I have bought a few convoys from Simon at aliexpress and he has been a pleasure to deal with he also sells lots of accessories like a headband for them so that you can have them in your head. If you are gona get one for someone as a gift I would recommend that you get 4x 7135 so that it doesn’t get to hot if left on. And low voltage protection works well on them

http://m.aliexpress.com/item/32213136661.html

6

if you want it shipped from a US location to save time, mtn electronics is where I got my s2…. he also can put it together for a small fee. I used the qlite driver (stock form) $4, an XML-2 t6 3c led on a noctigon board $6.99ish and the s2 host which was about $9. shipping was about $2 and pretty fast

7

I’m going to give him my S2+ since he really likes it. That way I can just get me a new light to play around with….win all around!!

What is hard for me to grasp is that when you go to the links above at Fasttech you will see on the right side of the page, a list about a BLOCK LONG of all the different choices in these Convoy “S” series lights and others. How in the name of all that is good and holy is someone like me, that is a newbie at the technical stuff on these lights, supposed to pick a light from that melange?? It all literally looks like Chinese arithmetic to me.

How do I pick an S series for me from that list? What differences are there in all those?

I like the feel and machined look and feel of the S2+ I have and I would like to stay with that feature. It really feels like a much more expensive light than it is. I like how my S2+ will illuminate a wall in my house in the middle of the night. It’s a great light for checking the house at night when something goes BUMP. I want to keep that. I would however like to get an S series that has more throw than the S2+ I have. I took it outside last night and shined it on my fence to show him how well this light works and it has no problem illuminating a fence corner 50 yards away. I could easily ID a potential threat at that distance and likely farther away if needed. If there is an S series that has more of a throw AND all the other features I like in the S2+, what is it cause I want one.

Also, do protected cells need to be used in these S Series lights? I have one in it now but have other unprotected cells in my drawer that I use in other lights with no problems.

Please guys try to keep it as NON-Technical as you can with this stuff. I don’t know a thing about these innards and emitters and such and when I see it, I just move on and ignore it cause it may as well be written in Chinese. I understand both of those equally.

Thanks

Nalajr
Thanks

8

If you want more throw, I would recommend the s2. Be aware, though, that the overall beam is narrower than that of the s2+ because the s2 has a deeper reflector. It throws farther, but the spill is not as wide. I use unprotected cells in mine, the flashlights have low voltage warning, so you should be fine. Charging the cells before they are completely depleted will increase the long term life of the cell as well as insure you don’t over-discharge them, so that is something I’d recommend.

As far as all the jargon, I feel you, it took me quite a while to get all that figured out! The first thing listed is the model (s2, s3, etc.) then comes the bin and tint (U2-1b, t6-4c, etc.) The bin (U2, T6, etc.) is the relative brightness, don’t worry about that right now. The tint (1B, 3C, etc.) is the color of light, whether it is a blueish cool white, a tan-looking neutral white, or a yellow-ish warm light. The rule of thumb is that the higher the number, the warmer (closer to incandescent) the light emitted is. The letters indicate much smaller variations in tint, again don’t worry about that at this point. So a 1B tint will be cool white (blueish stereotypical LED light) a 3C tint will be neutral white, and a 7C tint will be warm white (yellowish incandescent-like light). There is no best tint, it is all preference. A lot of BLF members prefer Neutral white.

Finally, the third thing listed is the drive current, which controls brightness. Fasttech sells them ranging from 1050 mA to 2800 mA. I personally prefer higher current, because if the flashlight gets too hot or if I need a longer runtime, I can just switch to a lower mode, but if you are giving a light to someone less responsible who might turn the light on and then set it down and walk away, a lower current might be wise. With these floody S-series lights, there is not a lot of visible difference between, say, 1400mA and 2800 mA. The main perceptible difference is heat. Again, preference.

I hope that was helpful. Good luck in your search, and never be too shy to ask questions, that is the beauty of BLF!

9

Note that a “low voltage warning” is not the same as a “low voltage cutoff” — who listens to warnings, anyhow?

The “vent with flame” outcome is a low-likelihood but high-damage opportunity.

If you give the guy two li-ion batteries, he should understand that a “dead battery” is not a safe battery and will never be a safe battery.

10

Your best bet is just to buy directly from Simon. Shenzhen Convoy Electronics Co., Ltd

This will ensure that you get the most up to date product offering and get a light that accepts protected and unprotected batteries. You can also ask Simon any questions you like and he really does answer. For the S2, he does sell a smooth reflector that does fit and I am not sure it fits the S2+. Allegedly (and I have a couple on order) the smooth (smo) reflector increases throw but I have also read that it's minimal.

The S2 with the XM-L2 U2 1A is $14.00 (S2+ is $14.92)

Upgrade to 7138*8 (2.8A) is 88¢

SMO Reflector is 3 for $5.33 but you can ask if he would sell one OR

You could go to Richard (RMM) who is stateside and get a light with a qLite 3.04A installed with whatever modes you desire. As for assembly, last I knew he charged only $4.50 plus parts. That's a hell of a deal for custom configured light that you will get quickly.

11

Legolas and others….thank you!! That is good stuff. Now I don’t feel so ignorant when I come here and read some of the threads and posts. Still a rank NOVICE, but kind of a better informed RANK NOVICE…

Well I am giving him my S2+ since he likes it so much and he needs a light each day. I wouldn’t want to make him wait on getting one from China or other places.

That means I get to buy a new light for ME…the kind I want. WOOHOO!!

So, about all of you say I need to get the S2, so it looks like that’s what I am going to get. I really like the Convoy S2’s because they are made very nice and solid. They FEEL like a much more expensive light. I had a $60 Surefire and my S2+ felt every bit as good and rugged as that light.

Now all I have to do is decide on what style of S2 to get.

Bugsy36, that RMM link for “Richard” says that his S2 hosts are Out of Stock. I don’t mind ordering from China as long as it’s a reputable company. I’ve had no problems at all ordering lights from China. I have 6 of them that came from China and they all arrived pretty timely.

So, thank you all for your help and guidance. I am learning…slowly though. At least I’m not as dumb as I was yesterday!!

Have a great week everyone and an awesome Turkey Day!!

Nalajr

12

I believe mtn electronics is just on a holiday break—- not out of everything