KL1 driver what to do...

[Darksky]

I have a KL1 (I think it's version 4) head and VB1 combo incoming. I do plan to make it into a KL1-R with a SSC and McR20. How good is the KL1 driver?
I want to add multi function to this light but run it mainly on primaries so the FluPic is out. I do have a FluPig (adds multi function to a dumb driver) and also a Piglet set to 550ma.
Assuming I can get the FluPig to work with the KL1 driver as I believe it's a Buck/Boost driver. Or should I replace it with the Piglet and if so would I be losing any milliamps to the LED?
I suppose to cut a long story short what's the output of the KL1 driver?

Eryk

 

[bombelman]

No idea on the output of the KL1.

Using a Piglet in the KL1 is doable, you would
need a way to "mount" the board in the head.

Whatever road you choose, modding will always be nice.
Go for the piglet. Not easy, but certainly doable.
Nice additional functions too !!

 

[ROK]

About 500mA to the LED.
It's a buck/boost circuit.
If you want KL1-R, you have to use SSC P4 and McR-20-S.

what's the output of the KL1 driver?

 

[Darksky]

Cheers Rok
So it looks like this could be a worthwhile mod with the Piglet
I have the SSC and reflector inbound.

Bombelman
Yep the modding is what makes it fun and I must admit I've always liked the look of the VB1+KL1/KL4 combo
altough this does break my rule of modding small cheap lights
as this one will be the most expensive one to date damn you CPF :laughing:
Hmm come to think of it I'm now 2/3 behind you in building one with a McLux-PR....

 

[bombelman]

Cheers Rok
So it looks like this could be a worthwhile mod with the Piglet
I have the SSC and reflector inbound.
Bombelman
Hmm come to think of it I'm now 2/3 behind you in building one with a McLux-PR....

Here are the challenges of modding the KL1 (or replacing it's board).
1) There is no ground going into the head walls.
2) Ground path goes from the top if the battery-tube to the board.
3) Pos [+] contact sits deeper into the battery tube (compared to [-] neg).

So, IF you would just epoxy (or solder ?) a board from the inside:
1) The bround path of the board should (be able to) touch the tube top.
2) The Pos [+] board contact should sit deeper in the battery-tube.
-a) Use maybe an e-can (or similar) type of can or
-b) Use a spring to come down on the battery [+] contact...

Other then this, the led-section is separate, so no custom machining
or grinding there. The SSC emitter is a direct replacement of the Lux.
IMS20 or those from Fred will fit and you'll have a tiny gap. (no big deal).


Oh, and regarding the PR head....
I just got back from vacation. It took me a while to get a hold of an
McR-27LT AND more then 1 year to find the PR-head itself !!! :shakehead
I've got all parts now. The PR will need boring to accomodate the 27LT
and then I can start assembling...
The Regular McR-27 is a stunner already, now this puppy will do
my neighbors no good... :nana:

Cheers ! :wave:

 

[gunga]

Bumping an old thread.

Just checking when one replaces the optic in the KL1, do you need to get a glass lense too?

If so, what size?

So is the McR20-s the best sized reflector for a KL1 mod?

Thanks!

:wave:

 

[Cuso]

Bumping an old thread.

Just checking when one replaces the optic in the KL1, do you need to get a glass lense too?

If so, what size?

So is the McR20-s the best sized reflector for a KL1 mod?

Thanks!

:wave:

Not necessarily , but most peeps replace the concave lens with a UCL. Mcr20-s its the ticket..But depending on the focus you want a "regular" McR20 will work too..

 

[gunga]

Hey thanks!

Know what size the UCL is? Does the shoppe have it or do I have to look somewhere else?

Also, what is the difference in focus beteen the seoul and lux reflectors when using an unshimmed seoul mod? (Lux reflector is $4 cheaper too).

I hope i can get the head open!


:devil:

 

[thegeek]

This thread answers most questions I had. I left the original lens in place as it is one thick *******. Don't know anything about the Lux reflector, but the McR-20-s gives a very nice beam with the U2SV0H that I used.

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=121944&page=3

 

[gunga]

Wow, that is an awesome thread! Thanks so much! I have the right lense at home (got a couple spares) and need to order a reflector. Hope I can get the light open. It's funny, I know I can get something else, but I just have this strange urge to mod...

:devil:

 

[gunga]

Thanks for the info. I just completed the Mod with a U2SVOH and McR20-s.

This is a little screamer now! I just need to get a McE2s so I have a low mode...

:naughty:

 

[Kanelight]

I did this mod with a USVOH and the original optics. The hotspot becomes wider/rounded and the light intensity multiplies. I was not having much success with Mcr20 in making sure that the KL1 head was tightly sealed against moisture so decided to go with tyros optic.

This thing throws a massive intense hotspot that lights up the woods at over 100 yards. Very impressive. A very functional mod which has become my main bump-in-the -night light.

 

[AvroArrow]

Kanelight,

A quick question if you don't mind. Did you shim up your SSC with a copper shim (the ones from the Sandwich Shoppe) to get that focus or did you just epoxy it into the heatsink as is? And is there any spill in the beam at all? I've got a gen4 (I think) KL1 that I just cracked open and wanted to try it with the stock optic and a USW0H that I've got sitting around. What I didn't like about the stock KL1's square beam was the almost complete lack of any side-spill light. And is the hotspot actually round after the mod or does it look like a rounded off square?

 

[gunga]

Hey Avro, you could just use Thermal compound. I used epoxy to isolate the base of my seoul (looks like the sink is anodized and doesn't need it anyways) then I used thermal compound.

I'm not sure I want to dismantle my setup to try the optic again, but I've done optic with seoul mods before.

It makes the beam round and broader, not square. I can't remember, but I don't think you gain much spill.

I;m gonna be doing a mod on a COast LED lenser optic light next week so can let you know the beam out of that.

BTW, I have never shimmed my seouls as I usually like the braoder, softer spot on all these mods.

Man, that McR20s casts a beautiful beam...

It should for $18!

 

[Darksky]

Here you go.
Still being used. A worthwhile mod.

KL1 Modding Reflector & Optic

Darksky

 

[AvroArrow]

Darksky,

Thanks for the link to those pictures, it looks like a beautiful round beam & hotspot with the stock KL1 optic and a SSC. May I assume that you did not shim up the SSC with a copper spacer to get that beam/focus? I'm going to have to find some time to complete my own mod so I'll have something that throws that nicely as well.

 

[gunga]

I don't believe a shim is needed AVro. Also, I used thermal compound (not epoxy) so shimming later is possible.

Do the mod, and we can compare to my McGizmoed goodness...


:wave:

 

[Darksky]

AvroArrow

No didn't need to shim the SSC when used with the optic or indeed with the reflector although I think I did shave a little bit off the reflector so I'd have no donut.
I must admit it is quite funny to see the reaction when somebody is using a minimag to look for something and then I come along