Hello, please bear with me, I am new new and I just want to understand.
What is the difference in output between a single LED flashlight, and another one that has, let’s say, three LEDs?
And if, as I would imagine, the single LED with a reflector would throw more, what if it had a TIR 60° lens instead?
What would the difference in output be between a TIR 60° and a 3 LED flashlight, please?
And of course, the 3-LED one will be probably more power-hungry, as it has to feed three emitters and not just one, am I right? There will be modes and for this reason it may not be 3× more hungry, but overall, it would just be.
I own just a Convoy C8 but I want a flashlight that it is more pocketable, cylindrical (not with a big head like mine), for general use, that can be illuminating a room without turning the light on, walk at night for a quick drop at the toilet without switching on all the lights that disrupt my sleep, checking the chickens at night in moon mode, working on the car, etc.
Multi emitter setups are usually more efficient at the same brightness levels. I see that you want something like Skilhunt H200V2(red and white) as a headlamp or a EC200(white only)/EC200S Red/UV
Convoy has a great model with good mode spacing and low moonlight — M21B LHP73B but it’s barely smaller than C8. You can also try S2+ or T2/T5 but they don’t have any drivers with low moonlight that I know about.
Thanks MineHack,
Silkhunt flashlights are, unfortunately, out of budget
You are right, the M21B is very much in C8 territory in terms of size, would maybe an S21E (the Andúril one) be better for me?
Perhaps it has a lower moon mode because of its UI, and, as far as I know, the possibility to play with reflector/TIR
In 14500, which I’d honestly prefer, I think the T2 is the same as T3, just different grip pattern, while the T3 looks to be the same as the T5 but with a shorter bezel because of the TIR lens. Their 1% mode will still be plenty bright though, I think.
Thanks
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A T3 will illuminate a small room yet is small enough to fit in the watch pocket of a pair of jeans. I use mine for the uses you mentioned and it’s fine. At under $20 US with a Li-Ion battery and delivery it’s affordable too.
I’m not sure what th difference is between the T2 and T3, the Convoy website doesn’t describe their products very well. The T3 gets mentioned a lot more and that’s why I bought it. I use it the most because it gives me the light I want in a size that easily fits in a pocket and my hand with great battery life. Plus it doesn’t use Anduril!
Most often the power supplied by the driver is just divided by the emitters, as LEDs are more efficient at lower drive currents, this results in slight improvements to runtimes at comparible outputs, though the difference will likely only be noticeable if you measure it, and not by eye.
Equally, a triple emitter light with corresponding more powerful driver will be capable of much higher output for brief periods, as you can then drive 3x LEDs near their maximum limits.
The downside of multiple LED lights is the throw is strongly impacted, reducing the distance the light can “throw”.
T2/T3 are the same light up to cosmetic differences.
I don’t think Simon sells heads as that constitutes most of the manufacturing cost in a light. I also don’t like the T5 TIRs, even the 20deg is too floody for my taste. I like the S2+ TIRs, so I sanded a couple of them to reduce diameter and fit into the T3.
In that case you might as well grab a T5. The T5 TIRs won’t fit in an existing T2/T3 due to being 4mm too short.
I initially used sandpaper but now just use a dremel tool with a sanding tip to go around the perimeter. I picked different lenses for different emitters, but look out for 20mm TIRs, and ensure the footprint (3535 vs 5050) matches your emitter.
Pick either clear narrow TIRs if you want throw, or beaded TIRs if you want flood. Wide TIRs in clear or matte finish make unusable beams with horrible artifacts.
I personally recommend 15 clear, 20 bead, or 60 bead for 5050 emitters, or 5/10deg clear, 15 and higher bead for 3535 emitters. These TIRs produce a usable beam without weird artifacts or crazy tint shift.
I’ve just asked Simon if he could sell me a T2 with a T5 head. In the end T2, T3 and T5 all cost the same, a T2 gets modified, a T5 becomes a T3 and everyone lived happy thereafter.
Oh, wait. There is the model name on the tube!
Well, let’s see what he says.
If not, I will get the T2 and follow your route with the S2+ TIR lenses I don’t have a lathe, but I do have a dremel
I actually wouldn’t mind a bigger diameter TIR lens, the T5’s lens looks small
Yes, and this route intrigues me.
How do these S-body TIR lenses work on an T-body?
Are they narrower, more throwy? I mean, I would imagine so, by your comments.
That is what the T5 is for. It comes w a 60 degree beaded Tir lens..
I like 30° beaded, the narrower angle will help the battery last longer. But more narrow than 30° creates more radial artifacts around the outer edge of the beam.
Ask Simon to sell you some correct size beaded Tir that fit the T5, in a few different angles. So you can experiment and find which angle you prefer.
The S2+ TIRs have options for throwier beams than T5 TIRs, and even the floody options have better tint blending in my experience. They have the same height as a T2/3 reflector so introduces no dimensional issues other than diameter.
The reviewer is not me, but I agree with their points! The glass lens is a bit thin/loose and messes with waterproofing; I’ve laser-cut my my own lenses with thicker acrylic.
Thanks a lot, as Simon said he can’t do it, so I will follow your route. I will buy various lenses to try. Instinctively I like the honeycomb ones, so for sure I will give a try to a few angles. Then also a few of the others, the clear ones look like the ones of the Emisar DA1K, will try a couple of them too. Frost gives me the idea of dull, but who knows… one of that too. Not convinced on the stripey ones, I have such a lens on my bike light and it produces a rectangular beam. I think it’s not so good on a flashlight that is a perfect cylinder, unless, as in my case, it is fixed on a bicylcle.
How so, please?
And happy new year!
Thanks for your guys help, it’s really appreciated
Thanks 
