Is the KL2 regulated?

[jtivat]

I was looking at SF's web site and it says that the KL1 and KL3 are but says nothing about the KL2.

 

[McGizmo]

The KL2 has a single component that I believe is called a (faulty brain synapses.......)Oh yeah, current limiter. The good news is that this device safely controls the current to the LED's. The bad news is that I believe this devise acts like a smart resistor but does take the over voltage at the rated current and bleeds this power off as heat. This probably explains why Size 15's mentioned that his KL2 gets hotter than his KL1 and KL3. I believe this light was the the first in the KL series to be developed and there was market pressure (military) to get this light out ASAP. Perhaps had there ben more time, an even more efficient constant current driver would have been visited. To get the most bang for your buck from this light, 2 cells and a dummy would be preferable to using 3 cells.

Another issue for us non LEO or military flashlight users to consider is the fact that the KLx are designed for gun mount systems as well as simple flashlights. PK pointed out to me the other eve that the KL3 has mass and surface area not just to bleed the heat generated by the LED but also to protect the LED from the intense heat generated by a rapidly firing gun it may be attached to. Duh! I never thought of that! Here we use our hands to aid in cooling the flashlights. In a gun mount, the light is attached to a detrimental heat source!

- Don

 

[jtivat]

Great explanation Thanks.

 

[jtivat]

So it sounds like running it on my M6 with six batteries would be a waste. Should I then run it with only three or could I use up six dead batteries in it?

 

[this_is_nascar]

Originally posted by jtivat:
So it sounds like running it on my M6 with six batteries would be a waste. Should I then run it with only three or could I use up six dead batteries in it?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">In my opinion, the LED head on the M6 is pretty much blasphamy (spelling?). Don't do it. Let the M6 shine like it's supposed to.

 

[McGizmo]

Originally posted by jtivat:
So it sounds like running it on my M6 with six batteries would be a waste. Should I then run it with only three or could I use up six dead batteries in it?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">JT,
It's a real bummer, IMHO, that we don't have more structure with this forum as the question you have asked was asked and answered in the past by folks who had the answers and were willing to take the time to respond. You have to wonder if the answers don't get shorter in each answering until some don't bother to post a reply :-(

I think you would be good on 6 dead batteries and you can also use just three but you need to put the three in the correct positions within the carrier. I do tend to agree with Nascar that this is borderline sacreligious and I think the KL2 on the M6 body looks like a pinhead

But hey, what you do in the privacy of your own home among consenting adults...........

 

[grift]

Jt,
here is the link to running the M6 on just 3 batterires. Sean seems full of knowledge and help doesnt he

M6 w/just 3 123's