brightnorm
Flashaholic
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2001
- Messages
- 7,161
For the past week and a half I've been carrying my M6 (500L) everyday in order to see how often it can be used for brief periods before losing significant brightness. I've never thought of the M6 as an EDC light (and still don't, at least for civilians) but the Blackhawk pouch makes it remarkably comfortable and convenient.
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In the past ten days I've used it literally dozens of times for periods ranging from about 5 seconds up to about 30 seconds. I didn't write up the length of the burns nor count their number, but I believe that the above figures are at least reasonably accurate.
I was very surprised to find that at the end of that 10 day period there was little if any discernable dimming. Unfortunately I don't have another M6 with fresh batteries to compare it with, and I wasn't about to reload with six more Surefire 123's. BTW, I originally loaded the M6 with fresh, late-date Surefires measured at a minimum of 3.20v each. I believe that attention to voltage makes a difference.
Another interesting (to me, at least) observation was that when I conducted similar tests with my Asp Triad/Taclite and my SF 6P/G2 with P61's they didn't fare quite as well as the M6; they became observably (but not excessively) dimmer.
I think that the battery drain would be quite similar (proportionally), so what would account for that difference? (assuming I didn't somehow unknowingly skew the test).
Aside from all this testing and measuring I was struck once again by the M6's unusual combination of sheer power, remarkably small size (really not much bigger than an ordinary 2-D flashlight), and genuine physical beauty. It really is a masterpiece of function and design.
Best regards,
Brightnorm
PS PK, did you design the M6?
.
web page
In the past ten days I've used it literally dozens of times for periods ranging from about 5 seconds up to about 30 seconds. I didn't write up the length of the burns nor count their number, but I believe that the above figures are at least reasonably accurate.
I was very surprised to find that at the end of that 10 day period there was little if any discernable dimming. Unfortunately I don't have another M6 with fresh batteries to compare it with, and I wasn't about to reload with six more Surefire 123's. BTW, I originally loaded the M6 with fresh, late-date Surefires measured at a minimum of 3.20v each. I believe that attention to voltage makes a difference.
Another interesting (to me, at least) observation was that when I conducted similar tests with my Asp Triad/Taclite and my SF 6P/G2 with P61's they didn't fare quite as well as the M6; they became observably (but not excessively) dimmer.
I think that the battery drain would be quite similar (proportionally), so what would account for that difference? (assuming I didn't somehow unknowingly skew the test).
Aside from all this testing and measuring I was struck once again by the M6's unusual combination of sheer power, remarkably small size (really not much bigger than an ordinary 2-D flashlight), and genuine physical beauty. It really is a masterpiece of function and design.
Best regards,
Brightnorm
PS PK, did you design the M6?
.