M4 with 3 x 18650's???

[Manzerick]

hey Folks,


I'm not very good with batteries yet and need to get some expert opinions



I have the Surefire M4 with 2 A19 extenders to hold 3 x Pila 600s's. I do have access to a CNC now and would be able to get it turned to accept the 18650 (thanks for the idea Milky!!) and was wondering if I could do the following:

1) use a "beefed" up bulb like the HOLA for the M6 with this config?

2) if not, what would be the best hotwire solution?

3) I'm crazy and just keep it as is :lolsign"


ANyhelp is greatly appreciated!!!



Thank You,


Ken

 

[Manzerick]

Also - Any Lumens factory stuff would be fine

 

[wrathothebunny]

I would advise against sticking 2 A19 extenders on an M4, which is already the longest flashlight in SureFire's lineup. As you would typically grip the M4 at the rear where the tactical switch is located, the heavy front bezel will be exerting an enormous amount of torque on your hand/wrist - leading to fatigue. Instead, I would run the M4 on 2X17670s, or 2X18650s if bored out, and the 9V SureFire HOLA MN16 or the LumensFactory EO-M3T. The former should be a little brighter as you would be moderately over-volting it, but it would, of course, reduce the life from 30 hours to perhaps 5-15.

 

[Manzerick]

TY WOTB!!!

I already have the A19's with my 3 x 600s's and believe it feels alright because it is now about Ultra Stinger sized. As always, if un-needed, i would love to get rid of them.


Would I be able to power the M6 HOLA(or somethingl ike it) with 3 18650's or would it INSTA- ?


As always, thank you in advance!!!

I would advise against sticking 2 A19 extenders on an M4, which is already the longest flashlight in SureFire's lineup. As you would typically grip the M4 at the rear where the tactical switch is located, the heavy front bezel will be exerting an enormous amount of torque on your hand/wrist - leading to fatigue. Instead, I would run the M4 on 2X17670s, or 2X18670s if bored out, and the 9V SureFire HOLA MN16 or the LumensFactory EO-M3T. The former should be a little brighter as you would be moderately over-volting it, but it would, of course, reduce the life from 30 hours to perhaps 10-15.

 

[wrathothebunny]

TY WOTB!!!

I already have the A19's with my 3 x 600s's and believe it feels alright because it is now about Ultra Stinger sized. As always, if un-needed, i would love to get rid of them.

I understand you already have the two A19s, but the size of your extended M4 as it relates to the Ultra-Stinger is irrelevant, as the Ultra-Stingers have Mag-Lite style switches by the bezel, and your M4 has a rear tailcap switch. Be that as it may, you may want to invest in a clicky if you are going to stick with this setup, as keeping your thumb on that tailcap switch while holding that light level has got to be taxing. If it's not, well, then more power to you I guess.

In any case, the M6's HOLA lamp is 9 Volts - which more accurately would only be drawing about 7 Volts off of the 6 CR123s. So 3.7V X 3 would be 11.1 Volts, which really should be paired with a 13 Volt lamp. Needless to say, you would flash the HOLA in an instant. I suppose you could run the M6 HOLA on 2 unprotected high-capacity 18650s, but I don't know that your M4 could dissipate all that heat that effectively, and it would definitely be hard on your cells when drawing 4.9 Amps - AND COULD BE EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS. Anyway, I hope this info helps.

 

[Manzerick]

It does help!! Thank You!



Do you know of any 13V bulbs that would work with a assumed 3 x 18650 set-up? On a side note, do you think me running the 600s's could have problems?


Thank You!

 

[wrathothebunny]

There has been some buzz here at CPF that LumensFactory might be releasing a 13V M-Series lamp assembly for such a setup. Till then, you might want to look into the many 9V options and run off of two 18650s. Also, I don't see any problems with your using the 600s's. Just try to limit current draw to roughly 1.5 X capacity as a general rule. Pila's 600s's have a capacity of 1500 mah, so 1.5 X 1500 would be 2.25 amps - but I would say you shouldn't sweat running a 2.4 amp bulb, and even SureFire's MN16 M3T HOLA would probably be fine at 2.65 Amps, though this latter setup would be running your cells a little hard.

As a side note, most common setups running off of 3 Li-ion cells use 18500s to help keep length within reason. The A19s aren't the only extenders available for SureFire, and I believe that the A20 extender, when applied to a 4-Cell flashlight, does extend the length to about 150mm so as to accommodate 3 18500 cells (after boring out the inside). I would verify this information on your own, however. You can pick up an A20 from http://www.lpstactical.com/accessories.htm Of course, 3 cells won't do you any good until Lumens Factory releases a 13V M-Series bulb, assuming that they ever do.

 

[Manzerick]

THANK YOU AGAIN!!!


At this point, I'm going to stay with what I have and try to get my M4 "13V ready" in case the new bulb is released. This way, i can use it as is on 2 cells and be ready for the third.

Thank You!!!!

There has been some buzz here at CPF that LumensFactory might be releasing a 13V M-Series lamp assembly for such a setup. Till then, you might want to look into the many 9V options and run off of two 18650s. Also, I don't see any problems with your using the 600s's. Just try to limit current draw to roughly 1.5 X capacity as a general rule. Pila's 600s's have a capacity of 1500 mah, so 1.5 X 1500 would be 2.25 amps - but I would say you shouldn't sweat running a 2.4 amp bulb, and even SureFire's MN16 M3T HOLA would probably be fine at 2.65 Amps, though this latter setup would be running your cells a little hard.

As a side note, most common setups running off of 3 Li-ion cells use 18500s to help keep length within reason. The A19s aren't the only extenders available for SureFire, and I believe that the A20 extender, when applied to a 4-Cell flashlight, does extend the length to about 150mm so as to accommodate 3 18650 cells (after boring out the inside). I would verify this information on your own, however. You can pick up an A20 from http://www.lpstactical.com/accessories.htm Of course, 3 cells won't do you any good until Lumens Factory releases a 13V M-Series bulb, assuming that they ever do.

 

[Manzerick]

Hey Folks,

Would the 12V HO-M4A work with 3 x 18650's? it is rated at 12V.


Still trying to aviod a when possible LOL


Thank You!

 

[mdocod]

the M4 LOLA and HOLA can be driven on 3xli-ion, but the risk of instaflash is pretty high and the bulb life pretty low.... the LOLA would be more apt to tolerate it... The MN61 on3x18650s, by my calculations, is in the same ballpark as the M6 with a HOLA.

 

[Mark@LF]

Hi, everybody,

Your calls have been answered again.

We have designed brand new HO-M6R for M6 that is using 2 x 3 RCR123A 3.7V recharageable batteries. This lamp assembly can be used in M4 with 3 x 17500's or 3 x 17670's with extender also. The lamp specification is as follows:
13V
Designed voltage: 10.8V
Current: 2.1A
Brightness: 700 bulb lumens
Color temperature: 3350 K
Average Life: 30 Hours. (yes, it is 30 Hours.)

This lamp is not the same as EO-13, and is a brand new design with different filament.

Mark

 

[Manzerick]

HAIL HAIL!!!

Thank You!! I will have to warm up the 18650's

Hi, everybody,

Your calls have been answered again.

We have designed brand new HO-M6R for M6 that is using 2 x 3 RCR123A 3.7V recharageable batteries. This lamp assembly can be used in M4 with 3 x 17500's or 3 x 17670's with extender also. The lamp specification is as follows:
13V
Designed voltage: 10.8V
Current: 2.1A
Brightness: 700 bulb lumens
Color temperature: 3350 K
Average Life: 30 Hours. (yes, it is 30 Hours.)

This lamp is not the same as EO-13, and is a brand new design with different filament.

Mark

 

[senna94]

Kudos to Lumens Factory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the great news Mark!!!!!! We are all anxiously awaiting this lamp!!!!!!!!! This opens up a whole new world for the M6.

 

[SunStar]

Hi, everybody,

Your calls have been answered again.

We have designed brand new HO-M6R for M6 that is using 2 x 3 RCR123A 3.7V recharageable batteries. This lamp assembly can be used in M4 with 3 x 17500's or 3 x 17670's with extender also. The lamp specification is as follows:
13V
Designed voltage: 10.8V
Current: 2.1A
Brightness: 700 bulb lumens
Color temperature: 3350 K
Average Life: 30 Hours. (yes, it is 30 Hours.)

This lamp is not the same as EO-13, and is a brand new design with different filament.

Mark

Am I reading this right? We now have a rechargeable M6?

Have you compared the bulb output directly with the MN20 and MN21?

Intrigued - Sunstar

 

[the fuzz]

so that would mean ill need 2x extenders for my M3t to convert to the m6 bulb right ?