M3-CB: Brighter Bulb & Better, Rechargable Battery?

[Gordov2]

Is there a bulb out there that will give me more than 220 lumens and a rechargeable battery (ies) that will work with my Surefire M3-CB?

 

[brunt_sp]

I assume you have the standard M3 as opposed to the M3 turbohead. If you don't want to get the KT4 turbohead then I'm not aware of any bulbs that are brighter than the MN11 at the moment. However Lumens Factory are thinking about producing their versions of lamp assemblies for M series heads so perhaps they will do something more powerful than the MN11.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=155111

Your M3 body will accept 17500 rechargeables but ideally 18500s should be used. These would require the body being bored out but I understand the M3 body is thin in places. CPF member Leef produces a 1 X 18650 body and is thinking about making a 1 X 123 extender so the combination would accept the two 18500s. Another longer alternative would be Leef's 2 X 18650 C to M body. Both are available at Lighthound.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gordov2]

Yes, I have the standard, crenelated bezel head. Not the turbo head on my M3-CB.

 

[nobody]

If you can live with a one cell extender, put one on and drop in 2 AW 17670 Li-ion rechargeables for that MN11.

 

[defusion]

I run my surefire m3 on AW 17500-type rechargeable batteries. the MN10 is the only configuration that works well at this time. The MN11 used to much current (it won't always go on, so you need to double-tap the tailswitch), so larger batteries are needed for safe operation. You can either use an extender and run 17670 batteries, or make the body wider so it will accept 18500 batteries. As said, you can also run another body specificaly made for 18500's so you don't need to run into the possibility of destroying your nice M3 body.

Another option could be to wait for something in between the MN10 and MN11 from lumensfactory, so you can still run them on 17500's and be able to do it safely.

you can get the batteries here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=140362

cell extenders and custom body's are available trough www.lighthound.com

 

[Strauss]

I suggest getting the cell extender and a pair of 17670's. That should give you plenty of juice for that MN11, as I run that set-up with the MN16 on a turbohead with great results.

 

[Gordov2]

Thanks for the replies!

The problem is I can't go any longer on the tube. It's already too long, really. If I don't use a different body, if I'm understanding correctly, my only option would be to bore out the M3 body? 'Cause that's something I personally could not do.

And also, how would boring out the tube affect the integrity of the light body?

If it IS safe to bore out the body, who does this type of work?

Any thoughts?

 

[defusion]

Thanks for the replies!

The problem is I can't go any longer on the tube. It's already too long, really. If I don't use a different body, if I'm understanding correctly, my only option would be to bore out the M3 body? 'Cause that's something I personally could not do.

And also, how would boring out the tube affect the integrity of the light body?

If it IS safe to bore out the body, who does this type of work?

Any thoughts?

The light should be fine IF bored out properly. it will ofcourse be less strong then it would be stock, so i wouldn't plan on running over it with a tank or anything

If your life doesn't depend on your light being bulletproof, and you can live with the possibility of the boring out going horibly wrong, i'd go with the boring out option.

If your life does depend on it, i'd go with a leefbody 2x18500 with C to M head converter (he doesn't make 2x18500 with a M head), or a 1x18650 body + an extender that accepts 18mm cells. This does remove the looks of the M3 though, so i just kept mine stock. I don't need 200+ lumen anyway.
If your going to run a turbohead, i'd just get an extender, as it wont fit your pockets anymore anyway.

 

[Gordov2]

Here we go!

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=155111

 

[brunt_sp]

Can't wait until mid-May.