If anyone found my P60 write up interesting.... a little followup. I've been playing with this light for a couple of days now and have some impressions and observations.
The two main limitations of the P60 platform are small reflectors (lack of width and depth) that limit throw, and limited thermal management. The first I'm OK with, as I've found the light I do have has plenty of throw for my needs and usage patterns. The other, the poor heatsinking (well more limited thermal transfer between the dropin and the main body of the light) only seems to come into play for high power led's (more than a few watts, ex. an XM-L driven at 3 amps is drawing roughly 10 watts of power much of which is going to be turned into heat) run for more than a few minutes at a time. And I'm OK with that too, I only use the high settings intermittently (my ROP has had maybe an hour of runtime total since I built it, and it's served me well. I always use lower levels for lights that are going to be on a while.) I find I *like* the P60 platform.
I also like 18650 batteries, despite the fakery in labeling you have to avoid and the potential hazards of lithium chemistry. They're big enough to store a lot of energy (3-5 times as much as one of my prized AA eneloops) without being so big they make a light too big and heavy, and the high voltage makes high led output levels easier. And I've found that I *really* like rechargeable batteries in general.
BUT, the 502b host isn't entirely to my taste. It's serviceable, but a little too rough around the edges. Ex, the system to hold in the glass lens in front is crude and awkward. I had a fun time taking out the glass to clean it and then putting the glass back in and securing it. And the glass lens isn't actually
round, just approximately. Also, tailcap/switch type availability is limited. I think in the future if I ever find myself with an 'extra' P60 module lying around, I'll probably stick it in a 502b body and make a beater (the empty body is $5-6) but for lights I expect to use a bunch I'd go for a nicer body.
http://www.lighthound.com/Solarforce-L2 ... _2629.html
http://www.lighthound.com/Solar-Force-L ... _3473.html
Something like a Solarforce L2. Solarforce, while Chinese, is aimed at a higher quality level and price point than Ultrafire. Their L2 is a pretty well-regarded Surefire 6P clone, and actually superior in that the Solarforce is sized to take 18650's while the Surefire is not, it's 123a's only. Available for $12 with Type II anodyzing, and with Type III HA for $10 more than that. Most parts actually interchange with the Surefire, except for the (front) bezels. Ex, you can get different tailcaps with forward or reverse clickies, that tailstand, have 'strike' bezels, etc.
Now I just need a soldering iron, and to know how to use it.
(My actual soldering experience is painfully limited and very unhappy.)
Maybe we're just jaded, but your villainy is not particularly impressive. -Ennesby
If you know what you're doing, you're not learning anything. -Unknown
Sanity is the process by which you continually adjust your beliefs so they are predictively sound. -esr
I could see myself being a flashlight geek given time (which, sadly, I don't have enough of).
