I want a 500 lumen SF M3, what do i need?

[defusion]

Well, the title says it all.
I want to get a SF M3 up to 500 lumens, but i don't know what goes together properly, and i don't want to go ahead and buy stuff that doesnt fit.

I'd also like to hear the same about the M4, as i fear the M3 might be a bit lacking in the runtime department, when running at 500 lumen.

Edit: i forgot to add, i need it to be rechargeable

 

[bwaites]

Both will have relatively short runtimes, at 500 lumens it takes A LOT of juice. You can run the M21 lamp assembly in an M3T with 2 of AW's protected 17500 cells, but your run time will be 10-15 minutes tops.

In the M4, you could run 17650's but would only pick up another 5 minutes or so.

Bill

 

[defusion]

I know runtime will be short, but i've already got normal lights with long runtime's
this is supposed to be the pocket-wonder, 500 lumen from something you could fit in your palm

btw, doesn't the MN21 fit in the standard M3?

 

[Flash_Gordon]

btw, doesn't the MN21 fit in the standard M3?

No, the MN21 will fit only in the TurboHeads.

Mark

 

[Paul5M]

4.9Amps!
It can't be done safely with current prtected cell, maybe next year

 

[mdocod]

bore it out, and run the standard M3 HOLA on a pair of 18500s.

Believe it or not, the M3 is already pretty CLOSE to 500 BULB lumens(not torch lumens) on a fresh set of good size Li-Ion rechargable cells driving the HOLA.

The M6 HOLA is closer to 1000 BULB lumens on rechargeables, but you need a bigger host to run safely.

Surefire de-rates their lamps to an average output during the runtime on primary cells. Li-Ion cells push the HOLA lamps harder than primaries, and hold brighter through the discharge. And since you can recharge after each use, you can always be running in that nice fresh-off-charger brightness.

To get 500 "Surefire" Lumens you need to shoot for ~700-800 Torch Lumens, or over 1000 bulb lumens. Or ~35W pushing 3300K on a hotwire.

 

[defusion]

Alright, the M3 is hard to get up to 500 lumen, so how about the M4?
can that one be done safely?

 

[Paladin]

M3 + Turbo Head + A19 extension + N62 lamp = 500 lumens. No problema. Run time sucks.

Or you can get a 2,000,000 cp spotlight from Target, it said something over 1000 lumens "certifed", for around $30.

Paladin

 

[Owen]

Well, it's going to mean basically buying a whole new light, and I know that's not what you wanted, but you could get a Leef C-M 2x18650 body from lighthound.com, and a KT4 turbohead, and use a MN21 in it with unprotected 18650s. That would also let you run your M3 head on the 2x18650 body, and the turbo on the M3 with the appropriate lamps.

A less expensive way, especially if you don't have to have the shock isolation of the KT4, would be to buy a Leef 2x18650 C-C body, a KT 1 or 2 turbohead, and run the MN21 in that(I just ordered a KT2 and MN21 to try on my Leef C-C body a few minutes ago...). This combo would be under $200 shipped total if you buy the head and lamp from OpticsHQ with their membership and CPF discount-see the dealers forum stickie thread for that. That doesn't include another tailcap, but you'd save about $60-70 over going with the KT4, and have a lighter, slightly more compact light with the same output.

edit: some of the guys around here have bored M4s to take 18mm cells, and that would be the simplest option if you already have one.

 

[Strauss]

A less expensive way, especially if you don't have to have the shock isolation of the KT4, would be to buy a Leef 2x18650 C-C body, a KT 1 or 2 turbohead, and run the MN21 in that(I just ordered a KT2 and MN21 to try on my Leef C-C body a few minutes ago...). This combo would be under $200 shipped total if you buy the head and lamp from OpticsHQ with their membership and CPF discount-see the dealers forum stickie thread for that. That doesn't include another tailcap, but you'd save about $60-70 over going with the KT4, and have a lighter, slightly more compact light with the same output.

I am going this route also. Currently, I just have a 9P(P90) running on 2 x17500's. I ordered a KT2 head for it almost 2 weeks ago, where I was informed that they were temporarily out of stock ....should be getting it within the next week or two(hopefully!). I ordered an MN16 lamp for the KT2 to serve as a HOLA for the stock bodied set-up.

I plan to run this set-up for a bit(MN16 HOLA/N2 LOLA) on a pair of AW 17500's to get a good feel for it. Once I am ready for more output, I am gonna get the Leef 2x18650 body, a Z49 tailcap, and an MN21 to go with the AW 18650's I already have. Should be a bright set-up! It will be a fun shootout with my Mini-HID :naughty:

 

[defusion]

Well, it's going to mean basically buying a whole new light, and I know that's not what you wanted, but you could get a Leef C-M 2x18650 body from lighthound.com, and a KT4 turbohead, and use a MN21 in it with unprotected 18650s. That would also let you run your M3 head on the 2x18650 body, and the turbo on the M3 with the appropriate lamps.

A less expensive way, especially if you don't have to have the shock isolation of the KT4, would be to buy a Leef 2x18650 C-C body, a KT 1 or 2 turbohead, and run the MN21 in that(I just ordered a KT2 and MN21 to try on my Leef C-C body a few minutes ago...). This combo would be under $200 shipped total if you buy the head and lamp from OpticsHQ with their membership and CPF discount-see the dealers forum stickie thread for that. That doesn't include another tailcap, but you'd save about $60-70 over going with the KT4, and have a lighter, slightly more compact light with the same output.

edit: some of the guys around here have bored M4s to take 18mm cells, and that would be the simplest option if you already have one.

actually, i don't have either light yet.
But if i understand correctly, this is a list of what i need to make a complete light:
- leefbody 2x18650
- one of the turboheads
- a set of batteries (2x high current protected 18650, totaling approx 7.4 volt)
- MN21 bulb (usualy 9v, but it should work just fine with 7.4?)
- a fitting tailcap switch (z48?)

am i missing anything?

 

[Size15's]

KT4 not KT-4!
Sorry but putting dashes in the wrong place really bugs me
(perhaps more than "HAII" even!)

 

[brunt_sp]

actually, i don't have either light yet.
But if i understand correctly, this is a list of what i need to make a complete light:
- leefbody 2x18650
- one of the turboheads
- a set of batteries (2x high current protected 18650, totaling approx 7.4 volt)
- MN21 bulb (usualy 9v, but it should work just fine with 7.4?)
- a fitting tailcap switch (z48?)

am i missing anything?

My set up is identical but I found even the new protected 18650s from AW would not light up the MN21 even trying double clicking. You need unprotected 18650s that AW also sells.

 

[leukos]

You could have Milkyspit mod the M3 head with about 5 Seoul LEDs and you would have about 500 lumens.

 

[defusion]

You could have Milkyspit mod the M3 head with about 5 Seoul LEDs and you would have about 500 lumens.

i had already sent him a PM, awaiting a response.
I am open for options, and the LED route is actually what i looked at first.

btw, i was wondering, will a 2x 17500 setup + standard M3 head with MN11 bulb fit and work? i'm just exploring the idea of a more modular light setup, and wasn't sure about how the MN11 would respond to 7.2v, if it would even work. And how about the standard M10?

 

[65535]

3 seouls at 1 amp will do it. or crees. I am going for crees myself.

chck this out http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=126093

 

[defusion]

I'm now thinking about a completely modular setup, with a total of 3 heads, and 3 possible body/battery configurations. might even get a 2nd tailcap so i can make 2 complete lights at all times.

heads:
- standard M3 head with either bulb
- KT4 with either the MN20 or MN21 bulb
- a led version of the KT4 with 500 lumen

body's:
- standard M3 (with either 2x 18650 with A19 extension, or 2x17500 without the extension)
- leefbody 2x18650

tailcaps:
- standard M3
- z48

think i better go get a calculator and see how much this would set me back! maybe lose the regular KT4 and leefbody for now.

 

[65535]

That woul set you back over 1K

 

[Owen]

KT4 not KT-4!
Sorry but putting dashes in the wrong place really bugs me
(perhaps more than "HAII" even!)

I'm sure you meant to put a comma after "sorry", and a period at the end of your sentence.
Sorry, but improper punctuation really bugs me

 

[Size15's]

What if I wasn't really sorry? :naughty: