Dual-level L4 ? ? L1 tailcap ? ?

[rlhess]

I started playing with my L6 and noted that the KL6 went into "moon" mode when run on 6V. That got me thinking about limiting the current into the KL4 on my L4.

I did a quick test and a 36 ohm resistor limits the current to 85 mA and the light output is about 45 cd.

Is there a resistor in the L1 tailcap? Does anyone know its value? Will it fit on the L4?

Why wouldn't a two-stage tailcap work with the L4?

I might want to go lower than 36 ohms, but that was a first try. 80mA gives a very long run time, probably close to 10 hours. Perhaps a different compromise would be useful.

Going to 18 ohms provides slightly more than 100cd output and about 160mA current draw. This should provide > 5 hrs and would be adequate for many tasks.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[CM]

Richard, there is a ~10 ohm resistor in the tailcaps of the L1 and A2. Tailcaps will not fit on the L4 unfortunately. We need one of the modders here modify an L4 clickie (or even the LOTC on the E2e) with the same scheme used on the two stage L1/A2 tailcaps. This would work great for that much sought after (yet never achieved) dual beam L4.

CM

 

[paulr]

The L1 circuit is more complicated like that and the L1 tailcap won't control the L4 like you're hoping. It may not even fit mechanically. Remember that the L1 and L4 both use step-up regulators. Putting a resistor in line with the battery can have weird effects as the regulator tries to compensate.

What you really want is an Arc LS5, or a new model of Surefire if and when they release it.