P7-KL4....Beamshots added

[1wrx7]

This thread need's a bump.... and there's a reason:D

About a month ago Dafabricata and I opened up 2 KL1 heads and 2 KL4 heads that I wanted to mod. The green KL4 got turned into a Three Eyed Mule... 3 bare Seoul P4's. I love this head. It's really useful for close up work. It just lacks throw of any kind. Then Tim decides to put a P7 into a KL4:tinfoil: So yesterday he put a P7 into the black KL4 that we opened up:party:

I see this light getting me to pocket a 2 cell light again. It will run on 1 RCR123 but I'm sure the runtime will suffer. I just ran it for 11 minutes straight on 2 123's and it only got warm:faint: It has a huge beam for such a small light. I wandered around my house last night lighting up everything. In my opinion this is a awsome upgrade if you have a KL4 that that you don't use anymore because of all of the new technology we're getting used to. Thanks Tim:nana:

 

[DaFABRICATA]

Here's 1WRX7's KL4 next to both of mine...
I Finally got the Black one open for the P7 mod. It was the Perfect upgrade to my M600 Scoutlight set-up.

 

[marcdilnutt]

That is great work, i have always loved the L4 and this really brings it up to date. What run time will you get before thermal shut down do you think? I ask because my L4 is currently mounted to my AR as a poor mans M600 and if i can get more output without damaging the run time i would be very interested.

 

[DaFABRICATA]

That is great work, i have always loved the L4 and this really brings it up to date. What run time will you get before thermal shut down do you think? I ask because my L4 is currently mounted to my AR as a poor mans M600 and if i can get more output without damaging the run time i would be very interested.

Thanks for the compliment!
I have never had a KL4 shut down from getting too hot.
That said, I have also not done any runtime tests, but would guess it gets slightly worse runtime than a stock KL4. I have used mine a ton since modding it and am very impressed with it. It is certainly a great upgrade for a scoutlight or handheld. I actually went on a nice walk in the woods tonight and ended up using it the most....and I had 5-6 other lights to choose from. Its pretty cool just how much light comes out of this little thing.:cool::twothumbs
If you are interested in a mod like this, send me a PM...:thumbsup:

 

[marcdilnutt]

I am very interested, but money is a bit of a problem at the moment. I could well be in touch with you in the future though. I cant pm at the moment because i am on my mobile, could you pm me with an approximate price please?

 

[photorob]

I'm interested in know whether or not this setup will run with one rechargable. Either it be a cr123a or 17670 or 18650. I have just about everyone of my lights running off rechargables so I'm guessing output would probably suffer due to no direct drive. I know you own a 18650 body or some rechargables. Is there any way you can give it a try

 

[dutchguy2]

I like this mod so much that I tried it for myself. I didn't used the original driver because I want to use it with one AW R123 or maybe a AW CR2 (I don't know if they exist and did not try this yet).

I used a 4x7135 board, so current regulated at 1.4A. (which is 2C for a AW R123 I believe).

The original KL4 heatsink is unchanged but potted in the head with thermal compound. I still have to run it for a longer period so don't know if it is sufficient but I think it will because the SSC P7 is underdriven.

I tested the current draw at the batterie and it is exactly 1.4A with a fresh AW R123. A Ultrafire R123 only delivers 1.25A.

I use a Aleph tailcap with resistor and therefore can use it on low aswell.

This lights rocks. I had a MJP Mega Extreme and believe that this modded KL4 on a SF E1L body and mentioned tailcap running of a AW R123 is as bright. The ME throws just a bit futher but the KL4 has more flood, it will light up my garden (size 20 x 50 Meters).

I guesstimate the runtime at 30 minutes at high and 90 minutes on low. Guessitmated lumen is ~400 (compared to my Milky X510 and the mentioned MJP ME).

Cheers,
Jos

 

[1wrx7]

This is a follow up to my last post. With fresh primaries this mod gets warm within 2 min. The 11 min. run was with partially depleted cells. I've been EDCing this light since I got it and I am still loving it:D Here's a couple of pics.

I carry the light with the E2D body and tailcap. I'll be adding some trits when they come in:devil:

 

[brighterisbetter]

:rock:

 

[Illum]

aha! I've been looking for such a business end comparison for awhile!
:thanks: for posting it:grin2:

 

[DaFABRICATA]

Heres a pic comparing what the KL4 looks like with a P7/ MC-E/ LUX V

 

[Stillphoto]

Heres a pic comparing what the KL4 looks like with a P7/ MC-E/ LUX V

Yes Please! Of coooourse I'd be happy to lift the burden of one of them off of your shoulders:crackup:

 

[Illum]

given the available comparison pics...I would still prefer to see the MC-E to be used more frequently than that of the P7...the massive LED paired with a rather shallow reflector will give the light pattern a floodlight at best.

say, how much did the MC-E mod cost? that might be the first thing I'm willing to invest for my trusty L4...not that its really in need of an upgrade. The LuxV is still impressive in the eyes of the general consumer around me ;)

 

[DaFABRICATA]

given the available comparison pics...I would still prefer to see the MC-E to be used more frequently than that of the P7...the massive LED paired with a rather shallow reflector will give the light pattern a floodlight at best.

say, how much did the MC-E mod cost? that might be the first thing I'm willing to invest for my trusty L4...not that its really in need of an upgrade. The LuxV is still impressive in the eyes of the general consumer around me ;)

Actually the P7 gives a better hot spot and more throw than the MC-E.

I figured it would be different, but after doing about 6 of these KL4s with P7's and 3 with MCEs....and all have had the same results as I listed above.:D

BTW....getting rid of that old LUX in favor of either P7 or MCE is a great step forward....just imagine what the "general consumer" would think then..:nana::poke:

 

[AaronM]

I've done a few KL4 MC-E mods myself and found the throw suffered, so I'm curious about the P7 option.
Do you have a pic of what you did to the back of the reflector?

 

[DaFABRICATA]

No pics but material has to be removed from behind the reflector to allow the phisical size of the P7 footprint to be raised up to the reflector opening.
If you have yours apart, you will see (depending on what KL4 you have) that there is a cutout for the LUX V. That area needs to be enlarged so the P7 can fit in there. Also take note to either cover the exposed aluminum or cover your leads so they do not short out when screwed together. It is a very tight fit when all is said and done. Also the P7 "Legs" need to be trimmed short to allow fitment.

Hope that all makes sense.

 

[AaronM]

Yes, your info helps.
One last thing: Do you know how thick the copper spacer under the emitter is?

Thanks.

 

[slaps]

DaFABRICATA was kind enought to perform this mod for me. Superior workmanship super fast
turn-around. Doesn't look like a mod at all. Looks as if SF had a P7 option on the KL4 head.
I'm running the P7-KL4 on an AW 17670 and the beam is very similar to a stock Lux V KL4 but
with much, much more output. Thank you DaFABRICATA!!!!

 

[DaFABRICATA]

slaps,

Happy to hear you are enjoying it!:twothumbs

 

[photorob]

I was considering to perform this mod to my KL4. I'm just affraid of commiting to the size of the p7. When the next generations of Leds come out I will be stuck with a large diameter hole in my reflector. I'm wondering if there is a migizmo reflector that compares that could be used in the future.