willrx
Enlightened
Question for the Surefire folks. Just tested a new G3 w/P91 LA against a Brinkmann Maxfire LX w/P61 that I installed. Both had new batteries. The P61 beam seems whiter and tighter. Are my eyes playing tricks? :thinking:
Eyes playing tricks? SF G3 not as bright?
- Thread starter willrx
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carrot
Flashaholic
Maybe you are going crazy? 
How about trying it outside and comparing throw? Usually higher outputs become more readily apparent when you see how well/far the beam projects to distant objects.
How about trying it outside and comparing throw? Usually higher outputs become more readily apparent when you see how well/far the beam projects to distant objects.
willrx
Enlightened
Maybe you are going crazy?
How about trying it outside and comparing throw? Usually higher outputs become more readily apparent when you see how well/far the beam projects to distant objects.
Thanks carrot, I was getting ready to
and go buy more Maxfire's from Target. I'll try it out like you suggested and post results. Any more encouraging thoughts? The G3 is my first Surefire.
Maybe the batteries are in different charge states?
souptree
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2005
- Messages
- 1,175
Try a ceiling bounce test. Shine each light at the ceiling in turn, and look down at the room, not up at the ceiling, to get an idea of comparative brightness without the actual beam shape skewing your opinion. It should be pretty obvious which one is actually putting out more light.
willrx
Enlightened
Here again, more insight-thank you! :thumbsup: I'll try that. I guess my reaction to the shape of the beam is overshadowing actual light output. Makes sense. Thank you.
Paul5M
Newly Enlightened
No, your eyes are fine!
It's the G3's Pyrex lens
The Pyrex lens has some tint on it, that's why your beam is not as white as it should be with ordinary glass lens
DM51
Flashaholic
A P91 should hammer a P61 in any comparison - the difference should be immediately obvious in any test you do. You say you are using new batts, but the P91 is tough on them and if they aren't good quality cells that could be the cause of any yellowish color in the beam.
Are you sure you aren't comparing your light to a Fenix P1D-CE?:naughty:
willrx
Enlightened
Ok, did some night testing. Swapped over the P61 to a G2Z and began shining. The P61 does in fact have a tighter/whiter hotspot but the P91 in the G3 does put out more overall light-like a wall of light instead of a concentrated beam. Both lights were using the brand new SF batteries that came with the lights. Is the P91 supposed to look like this?
willrx
Enlightened
Had an idea. Any chance the reflector/bulb combo focus is off a little? It's an SF P91 so I doubt it.
I had a P60 once that was out of focus. It had a donut in the center of the beam. Surefire replaced it with just a phone call.
You might have a low or dead cell mixed in with two good cells or maybe you just have some bad or depleted cells. You might try a couple of different cell changes. Meaning you might want to try two completely different sets of cells.
Did you clean all electrical contacts? I use rubbing alcohol, cotton balls & Q-Tips to clean all threads and battery contacts.
You might have a defective lamp.
Please keep up posted on your progress! This might help a few others with similar problems or it might help others with the trobleshooting process.
You might have a low or dead cell mixed in with two good cells or maybe you just have some bad or depleted cells. You might try a couple of different cell changes. Meaning you might want to try two completely different sets of cells.
Did you clean all electrical contacts? I use rubbing alcohol, cotton balls & Q-Tips to clean all threads and battery contacts.
You might have a defective lamp.
Please keep up posted on your progress! This might help a few others with similar problems or it might help others with the trobleshooting process.
willrx
Enlightened
Hoghead,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Which electrical contacts are in question and possibly need cleaning?
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Which electrical contacts are in question and possibly need cleaning?
BoomerSooner
Newly Enlightened
The P91 will indeed kick the P61's butt. All of the suggestions sound good. If the batteries are new, I'm thinking bad lamp. I have had different P61's and P91's that have different beam shapes within each, that do effect the way the light output looks. I can see where you might think one is not as much as another but, none of my P61's could have been mistaken for P91's regardless of beam shape.
Good luck, let us know what you find.
Good luck, let us know what you find.
willrx
Enlightened
Electrically, if I swap head and tail from the G2Z would that rule out a problem? I am going to return this P91, BTW.
Since this is a G3 with a nitrolon body just clean the tail end of the body where it makes contact with the tailcap and the other end of the metal sleeve where it makes contact with the spring of the lamp assembly. Also clean the inside of the tailcap and the springs on the rear of the lamp
assembly.
If you have tried two or more sets of cells I suspect you have a faulty lamp. If you are in the U.S. call Surefire and they will probably send you a new lamp assembly for free.
I don't see how changing the head would do anything for you, but the G2Z tailcap would tell you if the tailcap was the problem. You could also try your G3 tailcap on your G2Z.
You could also test for a faulty tailcap by taking a piece of wire like a paper clip and touch one end to the metal sleeve at the tail end of the light and the other end to the negative end of the battery.
These lights are so simple and reliable that you are probably looking at a battery or lamp issue. It's usually the batteries.
If you got your light at a brick & mortar store you might be able to exchange your lamp assembly where you bought your light. If you call Surefire they won't have you return it, at least I haven't had to return any.
mdocod
Flashaholic
high current lamps seem to quickly cause the points of electrical contact in a flashlight to oxidize and corrode and stuff... I have to clean up contacts most frequently on my more powerful lights. If the G3 has been in your arsenal awhile, and the P61 and the maxfire are both relatively new, then there could be a pretty dramatic difference in the quality of the connections.
willrx
Enlightened
I returned the P91 to the store where it was purchased and bought another. This one does seem brighter but still not quite as focused or tight as the P61. Then I started thinking.. Surefire probably does not design LA's with CPF and laserbeam throw in mind. They are designed to be used in tactical situations. The P91 does put out more overall light just different than a P61 (or the one that I have anyway). That being said, my overall impression thus far is that like any other LA they are designed for a particular use-probably not standing around comparing beamshots.
I have ordered a LF EO-9 from Lighthound and AW 17500's to feed it. I'll post more opinions when they arrive. Thanks for all the very constructive input. Still having fun you know.:thumbsup:
DM51
Flashaholic
Paul_in_Maryland uses the P91 with 2 x 18650s in a WE Sniper + 2-cell extender. He says he prefers the P91 to the EO-9 because of its great flood beam, even though the EO-9 has better throw. When you get your EO-9 you will be able to compare them. But you will be pushing 17500s quite hard with either of these LAs.
