Diameter 26 mm: I want more power. Beamshots

[Icebreak]

I modded a Cold Steel Brute a few years ago. I've been meaning to show this proof of concept for a while. Maybe it's proof it's a bad idea but I still like the idea.

D26 is a good form factor for me. I can stuff these sized lights in pockets and other places. They are easy to deploy rapidly. I want more power. I didn't get FiveMega's D26 but it looks good. My "Brute66" has a ground down Pelican PM6 27mm OP reflector in it. It runs a Welch Allyn WA01166 off of 11 2/3 AA 750 mAh NiMh cells. Here's some comparison shots. Forgive me. I'm still learning. The focus and exposure were locked. It was set to Day Light.

Distance: 135' or 45 yds

Malkoff M60 on 2 RCR123 Li-Ions

SF P91 on 3 CR 123 primaries

Lumens Factory D36 EO9L

Brute66

Same shots poorly cropped:


Malkoff M60 on 2 RCR123 Li-Ions

SF P91 on 3 CR 123 primaries

Lumens Factory D36 EO9L

Brute66

There are a couple of problems with the concept of going this strong on a tiny light. The WA1166 is pushing a lot of spill which is nice but it sure doesn't punch like a big OEM Mag reflector. Also, even though that Pelican 27mm OP is a wonderful parabolic design it is not as efficient as a larger reflector. Heat can be a problem within a few minutes. The Brute66 handles it just fine but lesser masses would be challenged. The 1166 using relatively low amps is a plus for runtime but a minus for battery size as you can see. Still, I would like to have a Z3 to Z4 sized light that would pump out a ton of light, easily carried and easily deployed. I think it can be done if the right lamp/battery combination can be identified. What do you think? Is it doable?

Z3 P91, Brute66, 6P Malkoff M60 all lit up with the side spill from a ROP. Notice the dirt looks like dirt and the grass looks like grass.

Bonus critter eyeshine shot taken on another day using lower exposure settings. This is a Z3 with a P91. I don't know the critter's first name but I'm sure it begins with an "R".

 

[lasercrazy]

Bonus critter eyeshine shot taken on another day using lower exposure settings. This is a Z3 with a P91. I don't know the critter's first name but I'm sure it begins with an "R".

Looks like a racoon.

 

[Bimmerboy]

My "Brute66"

Cool mod, and excellent name!

Get your kicks with Brute66... hehe.

 

[Icebreak]

Thanks, Bimmerboy.

I'd like a much more powerful incan than a P91 in a form no larger than 12P or Z4. 9P or Z3 would be preferable. The Welch Allyn WA01166 may not be the right lamp because it requires a lot of volts. I'm thinking it may be viable because it's a 11.6v 1.97a lamp so the power source only needs to deliver about 2.15 Amps and 12.5/13.2 Volts. I know that FiveMega and others have had success using three Pilas. So the high voltage would require some length but the low Amps would give good runtime. It's a 700 lm lamp overdriven it's about 900 lumens. In this tiny 26mm reflector I'm guessing it's about 450 "SureFire" torch lumens.

The plan is to get mdcod to tell me what cells I need and then convince everybody to ask FiveMega to do his magic and make an 1166 lamp assembly in a 26mm format that fits in the correct SureFire "C" sized host.

I have little hope that the plan will be successful because I think most folks that would use a 9P plus a single cell extension might want to go ahead and use a 36mm reflector because the 26mm is losing so much punch. I wish folks could see how bright this sucker is in person.

Here's some more shots hunting down a white wall. I left my EO-9L at the office.

6P Malkoff M60

Z3 P91

Brute66

Here's some parts. The original reflector and bezel and reflector is on the left the Pelican PM6 bezel and ground down 27mm reflector are on the right.

 

[DM51]

Have you looked at Fivemega's D26 bi-pin socket/reflector? You can run the FM1794 bulb in this, giving you huge output - greater than a P91 and approaching that of a WA1111 - all in a D26 size head (6P or 9P).

He makes a 2x18500 or 2x18650 body to go with it for extra capacity. The FM1794 draws 3A, so cell capacity should be >1500mAh, ie 18500 or larger.

Just substitute the body for a 6P or 9P one, pop in the reflector/socket with the bulb of your choice and away you go. Spectacular!

 

[Icebreak]

Thanks, DM51. I remember you mentioning that in another thread. I had some concern due to a few members reporting failures in Bimmerboy's thread.

Looking at cernobila's thread, it's difficult for me to tell if it's close to the WA1166 in lumens.

Finally got it done; Wanted to compare the above light/lamp combinations. As a base I used the trusty WE M90 with 2x 18650 and LF EO-9L lamp....compared with two of my 2x C Li-ion lights.....The BigLeef 2x C with P91 lamp as well as the FM1794 lamp in the same light.....Also the FM Prince 2x C with WA1111 lamp and two reflectors, the standard and the large.

The subject is a water cooling tower on the roof of the building across the road. The distance is about 94 yards and the exposure on the night shots is 2 seconds at f4.8 at 100 ASA....I am located on the 7th floor of the Korman building.

btw, all the cells were charged by a Pila IBC charger to between 4.17 - 4.19V.


WE/EO-9L

BigLeef/P91

BigLeef/FM1794

But reading the sales thread again it appears that the lamps are similar wattage. I need to give this another once over. Considering your description of the FM A2 Strion was mild compared to my description I'm going to guess that "spectacular" must be pretty darn good.

Thanks for the re-point.