Help with first turbohead purchase-Updated Pics

[Analog]

Is the 9P available with turbohead at time of purchase, instead of as an accessory?
Looking for this package: 3xCR123, incan, beam cover, lanyard, turbohead with tight beam, Lumens Factory Lamp option.

Can anyone share opinions on performance differences between SF 9P w/KT2 and SF M3T?

 

[Kestrel]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Can anyone share opinions on performance differences between SF 9P w/KT2 and SF M3T?

I have the SureFire KT2-BK turbohead, it has wonderful flexibility. The -BK is great because it matches a lot of the black SureFire / SolarForce / FiveMega stuff perfectly - the SF HA-natural finish is harder to match, fewer hosts have the same HA finish.

I have had a lot of fun trying it out on the following bodies:

• SolarForce 1xCR123 body
• SureFire 6P
• SureFire C3
• FM 2xC body (C-thread head)
• FM 3xC body (same)

Although I don't have an M3T, my opinion is that while it would be a great configuration, you don't have nearly as much LEGO flexibility with respect to the turbohead on different hosts - you're limited to the much-less-common M-threaded 'Millennium'-type bodies. :shrug:

 

[jp2515]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

As far as I know the KT turboheads are still classified as accessories/add ons so they are sold separately from the light. You might find a package similar to what you are looking for at the Marketplace.

As for the rest of the items, the beam cover and the lanyards, Surefire does not make a beam cover for the KT heads but they do make one for the M3T (F24)

 

[TriChrome]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

On Surefire's website it lists the KT2 Turbohead takes a MN15 lamp; and although it doesn't list it, I assume it can then also take the MN16 lamp as well.

Since the M3T takes both those same lamps, and has the same diameter reflector, I assume they would perform nearly identical to each other.

 

[Justin Case]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

I've observed variations in the OP reflector finish across the SF TurboHead line. Even within the same TH (e.g., KT1/KT2), I've observed reflector finish differences. The result is that I've measured different 1 meter hot spot lux values for different THs.

Here are photos of some of the different SF TurboHead textures I've seen.

SRTH

KT1/KT2 (coarse)

KT1/KT2 (fine)

KT4

Size15's old post on the lamps and batteries for the SF TurboHeads also covers some of these reflector texture differences.

In order of decreasing 1 meter hot spot lux using an LED tower (YMMV for an incandescent tower):

1. SRTH
2. KT1/KT2 TH with a fairly coarse-scale OP finish
3. KT1/KT2 with a fine-scale, moderately deep valleyed OP finish
4. KT4 that came with the M6, with a fine-scale, but perhaps deeper valleyed OP finish than the fine-scale KT1/KT2.

However, besides reflector finish, the TH LED focus point also might vary due to variations in machining. But that is not something that I've even attempted to measure for my varioius THs.

I suppose eventually I should do the following:

- Test the TRTH, SRTH, KT1/KT2, and KT4 THs

- Conduct a more thorough LED tower test
- Test two different towers that should otherwise be identical (e.g., two different SSC P4 AW towers), assuming that my handiwork has some degree of repeatability
- Test some other towers to examine any sensitivity to type of LED: I can test XP-G and MC-E based towers

- Repeat the test using some SureFire incandescent lamps
- I have MN15, MN20, and N62 lamps available

Also, there are differences in KT1/KT2 vs KT4 heat sinking performance. It probably doesn't matter for incandescents, but I think it does matter for LEDs.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Is the 9P available with turbohead at time of purchase, instead of as an accessory?
Looking for this package: 3xCR123, incan, beam cover, lanyard, turbohead with tight beam, Lumens Factory Lamp option.

SF Turboheads are sold as accessories. The only SF which ships stock with a Turbohead are the Combat Millennium Series (M3T, M4 and M6).

Can anyone share opinions on performance differences between SF 9P w/KT2 and SF M3T?

There is no difference at all.
It all depends on which lamp assembly or set of batteries you choose to run...

 

[tx101]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Instead of the 9P body, why not go for a cheaper Solarforce body
with a cell extender ...... guilt free lumens and 18650 friendly

Just my 2 cents

 

[Linger]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

then there's FM's turbo head which will accept any p60 drop-in (or not, some early purchasers reported fit issues)

Or the new solarforce masterpiece which may or may not accept p60 drop-ins.

Concern with SF turbohead is that it requires totally different drop-in towers than other d26 drop-ins.

 

[Justin Case]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

then there's FM's turbo head which will accept any p60 drop-in (or not, some early purchasers reported fit issues)

Or the new solarforce masterpiece which may or may not accept p60 drop-ins.

Concern with SF turbohead is that it requires totally different drop-in towers than other d26 drop-ins.

At least for the incandescent side, not one of my P-series lamp assemblies (LAs) fit into either of my two FiveMega Deep Turbo C heads, which is what I assume is the product you are referring to. After about 10 minutes of hand filing, I got a P61 to fit. But there really wasn't much, if any, improvement in the beam. On the one hand, the filament was nicely imaged so that the 1 meter hot spot measurement was greatly increased. But because the filament was imaged, the hot spot size was tiny, so it didn't have much, if any, functional utility. And farther out, the beam quality suffered greatly.

FM stated that "That's not the best setup you have and you won't get maximum throw.
These deep turbo heads make perfect parabola match with D26 or G4 Sunlight socket/reflector while P61 has slightly different focal length."

However, his sales thread says the following: "It will also work with P7 dropin, stock P90/91 and... Result will be long throw with smaller but bright hot sopt (sic)."

Thus, I made the apparently incorrect assumption that other SF P-series LAs would also "work".

The Deep Turbo C clearly does not work with a stock R30, R60, P60, or P61 LA. All of those LAs need filing to fit. I don't have any P90 or P91 LAs, but I would be very surprised if they fit without needing any filing. I would also be surprised if they have a different reflector shape than the other P-series LAs, such that the P90 and P91 "work" better.

Lumens Factory has plenty of high-output incandescent towers for SF TurboHeads, supplementing what SureFire offers. And there is FiveMega's bi-pin adapter as well, which opens up the world of the Welch-Allyn bulbs. So I'm not sure what the issue is just because a TurboHead tower has a different form factor than a D26 drop-in. If the OP were interested in LED towers for an SF TH, then the different form factor would be more of an issue in terms of ready availability and variety. But there are plenty of LED tower kits still available from Netkidz and AW, so one can easily either build an LED tower or have one built. You just can't Paypal funds to Lighthound, DX, or KD to get an LED tower. That's all.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Instead of the 9P body, why not go for a cheaper Solarforce body
with a cell extender ...... guilt free lumens and 18650 friendly

Just my 2 cents

I got Leef Bodies for my 18mm fix. LOL

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

then there's FM's turbo head which will accept any p60 drop-in (or not, some early purchasers reported fit issues)

Or the new solarforce masterpiece which may or may not accept p60 drop-ins.

Concern with SF turbohead is that it requires totally different drop-in towers than other d26 drop-ins.

And thank God for that! D26 drop-ins suck for throw. :thumbsdow

 

[Linger]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

lol. Well there ya go! So YYMV that d26 form factor may be curse or bennefit.

Outdoors Fanatic, have you used smooth d26 as well as the standard OP? SMO provides notable increase with those other lights, be interesting if anyone tries a d26 max throw and hacks an SMO reflector onto a lumensfactory LA.

 

[Analog]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Lots of good experience and knowledge, thank you.
The 9P body possibly 18mm bored, KT2 turbohead, MN15, Z49 tailcap. Physcial balance, light performance of lumens/runtime & beam, and long-term system support are the 3 primary factors. Still uncertain about AW batteries, but a solid rechargable system is important as well. The lumens/runtime performance requirement is based on standard LA not highest lumens possible. Also close to 60min. runtime. And application performance is for a good throw with some spill, I don't want a scalpel.

Need to figure out the LA battery combination and start buying parts. Trying to buy once......hahaha

 

[nzgunnie]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=161536

This contains a vast amount of reading on lamp and cell combinations.

AW cells are certainly the way to go.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Lots of good experience and knowledge, thank you.
The 9P body possibly 18mm bored, KT2 turbohead, MN15, Z49 tailcap. Physcial balance, light performance of lumens/runtime & beam, and long-term system support are the 3 primary factors. Still uncertain about AW batteries, but a solid rechargable system is important as well. The lumens/runtime performance requirement is based on standard LA not highest lumens possible. Also close to 60min. runtime. And application performance is for a good throw with some spill, I don't want a scalpel.

Need to figure out the LA battery combination and start buying parts. Trying to buy once......hahaha

Let me try to help you saving some time... Go with the KT2, an FM body 2x18650 or a Leef Body 2x18650 + 2x AW 18650 cells and a Lumens Factory HO-M3T lamp assembly. Trust me, you will thank me later...

Cheers.

 

[Analog]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Let me try to help you saving some time... Go with the KT2, an FM body 2x18650 or a Leef Body 2x18650 + 2x AW 18650 cells and a Lumens Factory HO-M3T lamp assembly. Trust me, you will thank me later...

Cheers.

Thank you, nice outfit. Are tailcap options relevant to the electical function of the light?

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Thank you, nice outfit. Are tailcap options relevant to the electical function of the light?

Not relevant at all with the lamp assembly I've recommended to you.

 

[Analog]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Excellent customer service experience this morning with Casey(sp?) at Lighthound. Ordered the Leef 2x18650 HA Natural body, 2xAW18650 2200mah batteries, and LF HO-M3T LA's.

Need SF KT2-HA turbohead and a tailcap. Haven't decided the Z48, Z41, or Z58?

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

Excellent customer service experience this morning with Casey(sp?) at Lighthound. Ordered the Leef 2x18650 HA Natural body, 2xAW18650 2200mah batteries, and LF HO-M3T LA's.

Need SF KT2-HA turbohead and a tailcap. Haven't decided the Z48, Z41, or Z58?

You already have a Z41, right?

 

[Analog]

Re: Help with first turbohead purchase

No tailcap, lanyard, LA, extra bezel, etc.
This 'build' is ground-up, so I won't have a distracting box of leftover parts to make another light.