I need a host to build a flashlight mod, but am having trouble finding a viable one. Any recommendations are welcome.
I have a 20mm triple parallel LED star on hand with 20mm triple TIR optic. I also have 3x Nichia 219 High CRI LEDs and a 3.04 amp Nangj 105c driver. If I find a host with sufficient room I might add additional 7135 chips to the driver.
I’m looking for a host to put this in. I prefer small pocket rockets for EDC use. So preferably as small as possible, but with a clicky switch. Runtime isn’t necessary so having good thermal management isn’t needed. I’d likely only use the light at max in short bursts.
So what I’m looking for in the host:
Should be small and compact. Preferably no crenelations, but if necessary, I can remove the crenelations. I prefer flat tubes without bulging heads as they fit in the pocket better.
Must fit 20 mm star and optic.
Must fit 17 mm driver
Aluminum body.
clicky switch.
Battery size: one 18350, 16340, or 14500. (I will use AW IMR cells. Host only needs to fit one of these battery types). Single cell only.
Edit:- sorry, what I needed to add was, you have to use a one sided board, like a 1.5a nanjg then stack the chips on the other side there is room to get 4 or 8 in there though I was planning on foing the same build myself.
Thanks for the suggestion. However, this isn’t quite what I’m looking for. The t2 you linked is an 18650 light and as such, is larger than I’m looking for. Also, it appears to have a stainless steel head. I prefer aluminum for the lighter weight and better thermal management. A steel bezel ring is ok, but I wouldn’t want the whole head to be steel.
Thank you for the suggestion though. Any other suggestions?
The head is polished alu if I remember right. And most 18650 edc s have a 19mm lense, the t2 is 21mm your other option is a cut down minimag with a match mod on it.
Oh well. I still have some pieces leftover of an old Sipik SK58 clone. Perhaps I can mod it to work. I’ve modded the SK58 in the past and am very familiar with it. I know from experience that if I file it down a Nanjg 105c driver will fit, though I probably won’t have room to add extra 7135 chips.
if I file down the top of the pill, or perhaps fill it in with a metal plug, then a 20mm star and TIR should fit. I’d then need to remove the aspheric lense from the bezel ring. It’s glued in, so could be hard to remove. Might try using thermal shock to break the glue by alternating it between a pot of boiling and a pot of freezing water. The final step would be to glue the sliding bezel to the body with thermal epoxy. The original SK58 is a zoomie, but with this mod it would no longer zoom.
With a 3.04 amp driver in parallel I should get 1 amp per emitter. What would be the difference in lumens between using Nichia 219 4500k 92 CRI vs. using Cree XP-G2 neutral 5,000k?
I know at higher currents the XPG2 dramatically outperforms the Nichia in output, but I’m not sure about at just 1 amp.
True but if you think a little “out of the box” on many 18650 straight tube flashlights pill can be adapted to accommodate 20mm stars with a little bit of effort and some tools…
There was a deal at Freidmans a while ago for 2 Coast lights: a 4x LR 44 and a AA light with tail clicky. The head and bezel on the AA had glued threads that came free with heat applied and the space behind the bezel was 20mm Dia x 25 mm deep. This might be the host you need.
your other option is a cut down minimag with a match mod on it. 