●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-● [Comparison Beamshots added !!]

[bombelman]

●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-● [Comparison Beamshots added !!]

Finaly got my KL4 head open...
Never know it had 3 parts that screw into eachother.

The 2 bottom parts house the driver board and heatsink the LuxV sits on.
I removed the emitter and was going to install a Cree Emitter.
Since the Cree sits up higher, I added a small solder-blob
on the bottom center part of the emitter before epoxying it to the heatsink.

I did not have to isolate the top-contacts of the Cree since the bottom
of the KL4 reflector (housing) is annodized !! :rock:

The metal ring on the Cree emitter fits EXACTLY into the reflector-opening !
No modding needed at all ! And the focus is great !
The emitter just sits all the way up into the reflector.

I ran a runtime-test last nice, but stupid me, I did not check
the time the run started...
But what I did was turn it on on my desk next to a KL1 head, which I
had also modded, but with SSC and reflector.
Both lights had the same battery, and both came fresh from the Charger.
(AW RCR123)
Both lights ran very hot after a while.
The ran for at least an hour, but not sure of this.

The KL1 SSC shut off earlier also, while the KL4 head kept running,
and later at a reduced output...
Not sure if the boards are the same or how they work.
KL4 did used to drive a LuxV, but I think it's auto-sensing...

Perfect centering...

Those skull will some day take over the world !!! :naughty:

 

[DaFABRICATA]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

I want that body soooo bad!
No, not yours......

The flashlights body!

 

[CM]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

How's the beam of the Cree with the shallow KL4 reflector?

 

[waynejitsu]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

I would love to have a brighter KL4

 

[bombelman]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

How's the beam of the Cree with the shallow KL4 reflector?

It's not floody at all !!
It has a hotspot that is tighter then the SSC behing the SSC-reflector...

Compared to the old KL4 with LuxV it is brighter, runs longer, and does not get hot within 5 mins unattended... (Does after a 30mins...)

Battery-tube is Arc LS CR2 on an ArcLS-to-Eseries adaptor...

Cheers ! :rock:

 

[Kelvino]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

Fantastic Mod bombleman, could you show us some beamshots. Also congrats on the nice KL4 body.

 

[kenster]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

Very cool and I would love to see some beamshots as well! :rock:

You stated the head is 3 pieces. Does the head have to be opened all the way into three pieces to change the emitter to a Cree? I have opened an older style KL1 but not a KL4. :thinking: Not yet anyway!

Thanks,
Ken

 

[louie]

Re: ?-?-? KL4 head + Cree P4 ?-?-?

Good mod - I'm looking to improve my KL4 since I consider it nearly useless after SSC-ing my HDS. The HDS now has the same amount of light, yet doesn't get nearly as hot and runs far longer on a Battery Station RCR123 (49 minutes to first stepdown vs. 27 mins). I put a new Lux V into the KL4 and it's still green. I'll see about posting takeapart photos; it's pretty easy once the glue is broken.

I put SSCs into my gen 1 KL1s and they run about 85 minutes on the Batt Station RCR123.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

Would you please measure the battery current after 10 minutes or so on a fresh battery? Interesting that the KL4 with Cree would be regulating.

Bill

 

[Clickie]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

I think that might be the coolest flashlight I've ever seen! Got a source on that LS-2-E Series adapter or is it one of the old McGizmo ones?

 

[Groundhog66]

Re: ?-?-? KL4 head + Cree P4 ?-?-?

I'll take it :goodjob:

 

[bombelman]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

I have to check the thread where I bought the LS-2-E adapter.
I think D-speck, but I could be mistaking.

To change the emitter, you only need to open the 2 bottom parts.
The top part is the bezel that keeps the Reflector, Lens and seal into place.

I have NO IDEA how the regulation works or if it does it all...
I either have this KL4 on this CR2 config (since it's quite "Efficient" now),
but my other option is the VG FB1 with clip in my side-pocket...

Beamshots will follow after dinner.

 

[schiesz]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

I love the looks of that combo!

schiesz

 

[larryk]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

Great mod, I like it. I've read somewhere here on CPF that you can not put a Cree or Seoul LED in a KL5 head because the voltage would be to high. Wouldn't the KL4 head have the same board and over voltage ?

 

[bombelman]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

Wouldn't the KL4 head have the same board and over voltage ?

Maybe yes, maybe no.
The fact is this Cree XR-E in this KL4 ran for like an hour.
It did not even get hot in 25mins, the way the LuxV does in 5~10mins...
(Laying flat on my desk).

Could it be an auto-sensing circuit for both voltage and current ?!
Maybe chimo can chime in ?
(Would pics of the board help ?)

 

[yaesumofo]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

George please contact me ASAP!!!
Multiple e-mails unanswered!!!
Cool light.
Yaesumofo

 

[Chao]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

:goodjob: very cool and beautiful, I like it!

 

[bombelman]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

Beamshots !!
My wall is green, so don't look at the color, hehe...
Distance is about 12ft.
In the pics the KL1 spot looks to be 20% bigger.
But could be the KL1 DOES collaminate more, since the emitter dome
is smaller then the Cree dome combined with the metal ring.

Camera Exposure the same for both shots f/2.8 1/60th of a sec. (1600ASA)

BTW, this mod is doable with every KL4. It's not easy, but it's not hard either.
You need the right tools and equipment...

For those who like my body (hehe) sorry, not for sale...
But hey ! The VG-FB1 is nice too !!

KL4 & Cree XR-E & Stock Reflector (stippled)

KL1 Gen3 & SSC P4 H-bin & Smooth reflector.

 

[supes]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

That makes the KL4 look smashing! Yes, I LOVE your body! :laughing: I need one.

Now, I'm wishing someone would make these kind of bodies for the KL4. This puts the pocket rocket to a whole new level. Very nice man! :rock:

The tint of the LED on the green wall is still white. Cool! And an actually different wall color other then white, amazing! That would kill those white-wall hunter dudes... :hahaha:

 

[ICUDoc]

Re: ●-●-● KL4 head + Cree P4 ●-●-●

Great body- I never thought those bits would go together- waht a cute little EDC!
(I AM keeping an eye out for that skull, bombelman!)