Hello all. I’ve got a question, Does anyone have the amp draws on the single mode dropins using a single 3.7v battery I’m looking at the xm-l 0.8-4.2v, 3-6v, 3-8.4v and the new 2.7-9v U2. I had ordered a 3-6v dropin and was sent a 3-8.4v instead and it only draws 0.7 amps off a panasonic 3100mah cell. I was getting 1.8 amps on the 0.8-4.2v dropin. Before I start ordering blindly I was hoping for some hard data. So far I’ve had great luck with Solarforce. Thank you.
You're going to love it here, texas shooter!
If you want a custom drop in contact E1320 by pm
You can buy a nice 3 mode from Manafont
If you want a budget U2 1A drop in try ali express. Mine hit 3.3a
I’ve been putting flashlights together for a few people around where I work, to date about 40 of them. Most are done on SolarForce host with xm-l’s either single mode or 3 mode. All the 3 mode ones are from Intl-Outdoors usually the 2.5 amp nw model on the single mode its been all SolarForce. After over a year of this none of the single mode ones have ever failed or the Intl-Outdoor’s ones. I have stuck to the 3-6v models and have good balance of brightness and runtimes with a 18650 or a pair of 123’s. This last order they substituted 3-8.4v and the 18650 was quite a bit dimmer. Now I’m looking at their new U2 2.7-9v single mode. I’m really just trying to get a good idea of what to expect. Why these lights aren’t more mainsteam I don’t know. So what I’m really trying to make is a good current chart of the SolarForce dropins. Since none of my lights are going to hard core light junkies it’s strictly single cell lights on the rechargables.
Welcome, Shooter!
Welcome to the forum Texas Shooter. edc is right on the money with that advice. I had a new (<1 hour) Solarforce drop in take a crap on me and after talking with E1320, it appears that the drop ins are one place that Solarforce comes up short. Apparently, he fixes a lot of them.
Oh, and raccon city, I’ve just recently learned that someone stole your username and are using it in some movies. MAN! Am I up on pop culture or what?
What can I say, I don’t get out much.
Welcome texas shooter!
Just checked my M3 which is using the same U2 pill as the P60s
High = 2A
Med = .72A
Low = .10A
Edit: on a Panasonic 3100 at 4.15v
And yes the XML drop-in drivers are crap just replaced my second one yesterday! 
Don't get me wrong love me some Solarforce but the drop-ins are lacking in quality!
The corners of my mouth are usually pretty green from all the Solarforce Koolaid I drink but my luck with their modules has been pretty dang awful. Two of my four single mode XM-L drop-ins have failed, I roasted an SST-50 (my fault, kinda) sent it to E to be fixed, got it back and fried it again 20 minutes later. (Erik said something about a fool being born, or something to that effect so, probably my fault too)
And the rest of my working Solarforce modules (XM-L's, a P7 and an 8.4 volt XM-L) are so softly driven that I never use them.
I have an R5 drop-in that puts every Solarforce XM-L module I have to bed early with no dinner and a bright red bottom.
Among the best flashlight manufacturers in the business. Won't even consider buying a Solarforce drop-in again.
forgotthequestionFoy
Those bastards! ;)
The fifth film in the series (Resident Evil: Retribution) is scheduled to be released on September 14, 2012.
I don't frequent the theater very often, but I might have to catch this zombie flick. :evil:
SF drop ins are lame. I would have said that earlier but I thought Foy might make me drink the Koolaid.
edit: I should say the 4.2 -8.4v xml drop ins I have are under driven.
The only SF drop-in I own or have any experience with is their low voltage .8-4.2vdc xp-g. Not sure if I just got a good one, but it performs outstandingly. Which is why just last night I tore it apart to swap out the emitter for an xp-g 2 :)
Match, any idea how much current it feeds to the LED? Thinking of trying the Match mini-mag mod with one (make my first one simple and then move on to others).
-Garry
Hi Edc,
Which drop in from Manafont? I have a Solarforce on order, will need a drop in.
thanks,
merk
I'm sure he means the famous Ultrafire 3 mode (Low-Med-High) drop-in found here and review here. Note, be sure to wrap this sucker in aluminum or copper foil for better heat transfer (see last page on review thread).
I have this drop-in in a fake L2 wrapped in thick copper foil and love it (probably my most used light).
-Garry
I have two SolarForce drop-ins [XRE & XPG] both were regular 6V max models. Neither was driven hard, SolarForce [like other larger makers] doesn’t want to toast drop-ins so they limit the drive amps. It really is that simple.
As far as the 8.4V drivers, as has been pointed out in other recent threads, drivers working above 3.7/4.2V are buck circuits. They limit both the Vf and A so the LEd doesnt go POOF. Using a buck circuit w/ a single battery means less output at 4.2V. If you want greater output in a L2 package you’d have to try RCR 16340s or IMR 18350s.
I have some Solarforce dropins passed to others.
They have been working but as said, not suitable if high output is needed.
I have changed to Intl-O dropins.
For a cheapo, a Manafont one.
Welcome to the family, Texas Shooter! Man, you texans are taking over BLF but that's sure not a bad thing.
Id recommend the Ultrafire drop-in from manafont or the one from I-O.
Garry, I see wrapping an aluminum and brass pill with copper a bit like adding a forged & hardened steel link to the middle of a mild steel chain. You won't gain anything useful with the copper as all the rest is aluminum. If the entire drop in was copper then I'd have a different opinion.
Won't the copper pull the heat from the drop-in to the body? Isn't it better than no thermal contact (or less contact)?
-Garry
Man, that chick is hot! I can’t remember the last time I was in a movie theater. I’ve never seen any of those movies, but I did just see a trailer for that movie Retribution where the protagonist gave a summation of the series which is where I figured out the Racoon City connection.