Several firsts today:
- First time using solder paste
- First time “properly” reflowing a single-emitter
- First time reflowing a multi-emitter setup
- First time slicing a dome
I removed the 4x 219B’s from my Astrolux S41S board and cleaned off the old solder. I then applied solder paste and seated four Cree XP-L2 V5 4000K on the board. A little gas and frying pan… voila! While I was at it, I did the same with a spare 16mm Noctigon. I had a bit of extra solder paste that collected on the sides, but I didn’t bother removing it as I knew it wouldn’t matter underneath the optic. Instead, I concentrating on making sure all 4 were pushed down tightly (using a drinking glass).
The domes on the XP-L2’s were too large to properly fit in the stock optic, so I sliced them quite low. Reassembled everything, and wow… this is the warmest light I own. Wall hunting with it isn’t pretty, but I imagine they’ll look great outside. I can’t wait for (1) nighttime to come, and (2) the long tube for the S41S to come in.
I also took the XP-L2 on the 16mm Noctigon and replaced the cool white XP-L HI emitter in my EDC S2 with a smooth reflector. It’s definitely not the nicest beam, but not terrible. But putting it side by side with a 5000K 219C (also in a S2 with smooth reflector) makes me cringe when wall hunting; the 219C is so much nicer to look at. I’ll see how the compare outside tonight.
Stock S41S board with 219B’s:
After reflowing the XP-L2’s but before slicing domes:
After the dome slicing:
S41S beamshot (it looks much warmer in real life):
S2 beamshot: