SAVAGESAM
Newly Enlightened
Hello I am new here and looking for suggestions on how to go about upgrading my SF G3. I'm thinking about the CREE LED upgrade. Hit me with your suggestions/advice. P.S. the flashlight MUST stay non-conductive. TIA
Help me mod my SF G3...
- Thread starter SAVAGESAM
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You can get a simple cree dropin, the brightest at the moment in the BOG Q5, the problem is that they can get hot if you run it for a long period but in short bursts it will be ok.
http://www.bugoutgearusa.com/crq5drmo.html
http://www.bugoutgearusa.com/crq5drmo.html
cat
Enlightened
Have you tried the P-91, EO-9, HO-9 ?
I'm looking for a holster for my G3 - and google hasn't helped.
I'm looking for a holster for my G3 - and google hasn't helped.
SAVAGESAM
Newly Enlightened
P-91 is the ultra high output for the G3? If so I have heard of it (had it on order till I heard about the cree led) but don't like the idea of the diminished run time. Although I usually use mine for about five minutes at a time. Also I have the V-70 (polymer) holster and like it fine.
RyanA
Flashlight Enthusiast
Try a lumens factory d 26 9v ho 380 lumen or sf p91 with 2 aw 17500 rechargable li-ion's. Incan is good because heat build up because of lack of heatsinking in a non-metal bodied flashlight shouldn't affect the bulbs performance.
RyanA
Flashlight Enthusiast
You can find most of that stuff including chargers at lighthound.com
flash_bang
Enlightened
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2006
- Messages
- 720
as far as holsters go, try blackhawk's cqc holsters. They have a plastic spring in it so it won't scratch up your light. It works well for my G2+Z59+FM35 combo.
EDIT: here are some links:
http://www.lapolicegear.com/blcqccacolic.html
http://www.lapolicegear.com/blcfduraacbe.html
/END EDIT:
HAGO,
Flash
EDIT: here are some links:
http://www.lapolicegear.com/blcqccacolic.html
http://www.lapolicegear.com/blcfduraacbe.html
/END EDIT:
HAGO,
Flash
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mdocod
Flashaholic
Seems this happens EVERY time this question is asked. P91>17500s gets recommended.
P91 pulls 2.7A off li-ion cells.
17500s are rated ~1100mAH and 2C maximum current.
Assuming the cells actually delivered 1.1AH into a heavy load (which they don't) they would be safe up to 2.2 amp discharge rates. In reality, most 17500s deliver about 1.0AH into high drain rates, making the safe limit about 2 amps. The EO-9 is borderline safe for 17500s cells. the P91 is not considered a safe configuration with 17500 cells.
As for the original question:
I agree with RyanA on this one, I lean towards recommendations of keeping the the G2/G3 lights incan because they won't sink heat away from LED modules as well. Incandescent bulbs don't care about heat sinking so the G3 is a good platform for them. As for upgrading is concerned.... if you are sticking with primaries, you can run the P91, but like you say, the runtime is pretty bad. If you want to upgrade to rechargeable to help offset the runtime issue in costs (highly recommended if you use the light regularly) go with a HO-9 or EO-9 lamp from LumensFactory, the output of the HO-9 will be noticeably brighter, the EO-9 will look like a pretty decent "step" brighter. If you don't mind a strange looking light, you might consider adding a cell extender so you can run a pair of 17670 size li-ion cells which will boost capacity to ~1600mAH, meaning you can run anything up to a P91, or run something like the HO-9 or EO-9 with longer runtime.
leukos
Flashlight Enthusiast
Ripoffs CO-185 fits the G3 well if you use a filter: http://www.ripoffs.com/datasheets/co185/co185.html or the CO-94 if you don't: http://www.ripoffs.com/datasheets/co94/co94.html
junkfms
Newly Enlightened
cat - Try the link below. It's the one I am using.
http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/carfnbr/154/prrfnbr/265/V11-Quick-Detach
RyanA
Flashlight Enthusiast
Good to know, I just assumed 9v lamp sub 9v battery setup. I am aware there is less resistance than primarys, but I didn't know it made a difference. You think I'll be safe running my new Malkoff with 2 AW rcr123a's in a 6p, I am also considering AW 17500's in 9p? More for comfort, if I decide the 6p is too short a light.
SAVAGESAM
Newly Enlightened
Oh S*** I cancelled my order for the P91 because of the diminished run times. I thought an LED didn't make that much heat??? I am a truck driver and use my light EVERY morning but only for around five minutes at a time. I wanted the LED for the increase in run time and more light. I dont want to make my flashlight bigger, in fact, since i noticed the CREE LED works with the G2 and G3 and my holster will work with both also, I'm thinking about getting a G2. What do you mean about sticking with primaries??? Batteries??? I prefer the throw away over rechargeable. Thanks for the replies guys and don't stop. I'm eagerly learning this stuff.
About heat, it's a concern with the high-powered LED drop-ins, but only if you plan to leave the light on continuously for 15 minutes or more. The usage you describe (5 min. at a time in a G2) is fine and will not damage your LED. I speak from experience, as my normal set-up is a G2 with a Wolf Eyes high-output 4-mode drop-in (170 lumens on high). If I plan to leave the light on for quite a while, I just use the low or medium mode.
Primaries refer to non-rechargeable Lithiums. In an incan. bulb, waste heat mostly goes out the front of the head. In a high powered LED, waste heat builds up behind the LED. Metal bodies lights acts as a heat sink. My Tiablo, after 20 mins on is quite warm. A polymer bodied light doesn't conduct heat well, so after an 15+ min the LED may cut back output to prevent damage. Some of the newer G2Ls are shipping with metal bezels, which helps somewhat with heat.
Based on your usage, you should be fine with a G3 and Cree dropin, just pick one that hands at least up to 9V.
http://store.bugoutgearusa.com/cosoplcrmo.html
or the newest one with a Q5 bin Cree
http://store.bugoutgearusa.com/crq5drmo.html
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RyanA
Flashlight Enthusiast
A primary is basically a throw away battery, while convenient they can be very expensive in cr123a format especially if you don't have time to wait for bulk sets to come in the mail (in bulk batteries are usually $2 a piece) in some pharmacies and retail stores I've seen the prices as high as $9 for a single 123a, if you need to refill a g3 that's about the price of a new sf ho lamp. I'd seriously consider 2 3.7v rcr 123's in a 2 cell light with a 9v lamp, they'll quickly pay for themselves and the charger.
mdocod
Flashaholic
The malkoff should be fine, as it runs the LED at around an amp, so from a pair of RCR123s you should be pulling somewhere around 500-700ma depending on the state of charge and efficiency of the driver, so that's safe IMO.
The issue of safety pertains to how much load is on the cells, the P91 is the mother load of D26 lamps, scoring in near 20 watts of power consumed on li-ion cells, when dealing with high current lamps, one must pair the lamp with appropriate cells that can safely deliver the current, a pair of 17500s can deliver about 15W safely...
RyanA
Flashlight Enthusiast
Thanks I was totally backwards on that one, I thought you meant that 2 17500s would be over driving the lamp, when the lamp is really overloading the batteries, I have much to learn, and read. Thanks for all your help, and tolerating my nincompoopery.
RyanA
Flashlight Enthusiast
Darn low Li-ion discharge rates, I wonder if LiPo is ever going to make it into flashlights.
