Olight M2X-UT mod or replace With Convoy C8

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

Picked up a Olight M2X-UT with 18650 extension and case a while back.

My main use for this light is identifying animals (deer,coon,beaver,skunks,loons,owls etc) while walking Red or on a night drive.
I am not counting on this light for food, Just enjoy counting critters on my walks.
Also gets some use for route finding on night hikes.
It is used on MAX 90 percent of the time in a tactical fashion.
It gets used 4-5 nights a week.

Things I like: Great throw. Length of light. Run time on Max OK for my uses. Forward clicky. UI though mostly on Max

Thinks I don’t like. TINT-greenish and too cool. I notice glare from particles in air. Head size not well suited for back pocket.
Tail Cap. I despise the 4 legs that allows tail standing. Gives trouble with gloves.

What I want. I want a warmer tinted thrower. I feel warmer tint will help with identification. Easy to operate forward click switch. Ability to lock a mode, or even a single mode. 45-60 minute run time. Slightly easier to back pocket carry.

I am not sure a LED change would be worth it considering the other things I don’t like.

Could I get close to what I am looking for with a Convoy C8 mod? Or are these in different leagues ?

I guess I could build a C8 and see if I like it. Then sell the M2X.

What would you guys do ? Any other lights suggestions ?

Chad

2

http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=60_106&product_id=596

I would try to replace LED with XP-L HI 4000K link above, for 7$ think you get nice results :bigsmile:

3
  • Head/reflector size is what gives the throw. You can get a smaller head size like a C8, but you will cut down the throw a bit too.
  • Particles/glare will be cut down some by a warmer tint, but not totally. THere isn’t much you can do about that
  • Tailcap/gloves: I haven’t seen a C8 with an open tailcap, they are usually completely surrounded by metal
  • Switch: You could swap the switch to a forward/tactical in almost any light.
  • Modes: It’s easy to do a single mode driver. “locking in” a mode is a little more difficult. I have a light that always starts on the first mode, and technically has 4 modes. However, the first 3 modes are all the same mode, and it has a fast reset back to the first mode. So it feels like a single-mode light unless I really want that 4th mode.
4

NikolasS

Thanks for the link, I have made a few orders from there.
Would this be a direct replacement ?? I found a thread where someone used a 32mm Notigon.

Pilot Dog

Yeah, I understand I would loose throw going to smaller C8 head.
Tailcap/goves. I have noticed the Convoy M2 tail cap is much easier to use with gloves.
Not sure if they would swap.
I could get a driver with guppydrv It has a %100 mode group.

I used to have a Aspherical lense light that threw well, but very blue.

I have not studied the LUX numbers much. How many lux would be needed to identify
a deer at 400 yards, smaller critters at 300 yards?

5

Looks like it would be a easy to swap to Notigon mcpcb. Would a smaller mcpcb make any difference ?

Guess I could dremel off the tail cap flanges,legs.

6

I use M2x on my Steur 300 Magnum rifle:
U3 2A dedomed running at 5.8 amps with a fresh battery, the tint is like 4000k and kinda pinky, perfect for hunting and bad weather, and of the eyes of course
A driver swap: i use 26mm fet DD driver, this make the flashlgith jump up to arround 250 000 cds( from 160)
The runtime with Sony VTC5 is like 40 minutes on max, the modes you can pick whatever youlike since that driver is easy prgorammable

This way, with the 20x optical zoom i can clearly point out if its a jackal or a fox at arround 700-750 meters, with a 8x scope i presume it would be like 500

7

32mm would be better for sure, don’t know what’s the size of stock one,but 20mm would also do the job since this light is not driven too hard…
Main problem would be the centering ring witch is too big for XP-L hi

8

Mitko could a C8 be modded to close to the stock MX2?

9

A hard driven C8( its arround 145k cds, or on average 110k) could easy light up a deer at 400 of your yards, even at 400 meters)

Yes , C8 could be modded to arround 175k cds( 130k on average, considering the battery drop), 10% more than default M2X, you just have to use XPG2 emitter and a fed dd driver, this way the C* beam profile is vitrualy the same as M2X one yet the size is 50% smaller, the weight is like 100 grams less

10

I believe I have XP-L Hi in it now. Its smaller then my XML’s

11

Yeah it has HI now, just swap it- lately they started using cool white tints: nasty, especialy for hunting
The best would be probably U4 1A but the shipping for 5 emitters from Australia to me is 75 USD…. to the US it could be cheaper though

12

Says 164,000 CD and 810 meter throw. On my M2X case.

I am getting 60,000 lux at 1 meter. On stock M2X

Is there s simple way to convert LUX to CD to Distance.

13

Here you are m8

Yet, 1m is quite s short distance for high cd torches, try testing it at at least 3m.
1m result is usualy misleading , 5 meters is perfect though.

14

LOL, I had that page up on another tab. I will see how it does at 5 meters.

I think I just need to Mod the M2X and Build a C8 and see which one I like best.

If the convoy M2 tail cap will go in the C8 I think I will like it better.

Thanks everyone for you input.

15

Measured out 5 meters. Shined light on DrMeter moved around to highest number…
number was 44 on the x100 setting entered 4400 distance 5 M
results 110000cd

Seams like long ways from the 164000 on the box. Maybe they used 2-18650’s

Anyways, if 110000cd is meeting my distance need, a C8 should also get that.

Time to do some more C8 research.

EDIT- Just tried 2 IMR 16340 cells and got 182500cd

16

Anyone have an Idea on what would give more throw at the same drive levels.

A XP-L Hi or a XP-G2 with dome on ??

Not ready to attempt a dedome on the XP-G2

Short walk with Red tonight in the snow. M2X and C8 in back pocket. The M2X kept creeping up out of my pocket. The C8 stayed put.

17

Set up a lux to beam distance station in the basement today.

Used 5 meters. M2X-UT is close to specs . Stock C8 close to what I would of guessed.

some of my flood type lights are way lower then what’s advertised.

Should I be getting a reading closer to the Meter for these type lights ?

Guess it doesn’t really matter. I can still compare between lights.

18

Took the stock C8 out tonight with Red. It is cold 14f , had thicker gloves than normal.
The reverse click switch was usable with end of thumb, but I wish it had a grip ring.

Anyone use grip rings on C8s ? Any home maid grip rings ?

19

I have tried a dome on xpg2 s2 1d and got max 150 kcd on a 18650 measured at 6m converted to 1m. On the std green xpl olight factory in house dedomed led i got between 150-175kcd.
The factory dedome xpl has now been replaced with a XPL V3 Hi intensity reflowed onto the factory copper pcb which i get around 180kcd and 1000 lumen with 2 x 18350,s and most importantly a white tint.
I have another one that i have put a XPG2 S3 1C dedomed on a 32mm noctigon copper pcb and run 2x 18350,s for 330kcd which is my favourite and punchs approx 900 lumens,

20

Thanks Old Mate, I may have to give the Olight a shot. I think I can get enough out of the C8 that it may replace the Olight with 18650.

I would attempt a dedome on XP-G2, I just cant stand any greens. My Olight has greens.