M61 models over time

[RWT1405]

So the M61 was 260 lumens around year 2020

No

In the attached picture, from the link shared, you can see the progression of the M61

08/2010 = 260 Lumens

07/2014 = 325 Lumens

02/2019 = 450 Lumens

 

[DE73]

No

In the attached picture, from the link shared, you can see the progression of the M61

08/2010 = 260 Lumens

07/2014 = 325 Lumens

02/2019 = 450 Lumens

And the price has dropped from 69usd 2010 to 46usd 2023. That's quite a lot especially if you take inflation into account.

 

[thermal guy]

That's a very good point. Hell, other light companies have Almost doubled in price

 

[340pd]

I don't know how old but just dug out a spare M61 219b v2 w/225 Lumens.
Beautiful creamy tint with a hint of pink. Sounds like I am describing a glass of wine.

 

[Alaskantinbender]

I have acquired several of the older M61 drop-ins myself.
What about voltage limitations for them?

 

[thermal guy]

I believe all the M61 had a high limit of 9 volts.

 

[Alaskantinbender]

I believe all the M61 had a high limit of 9 volts.

Thank you, good to know.

 

[DE73]

Anyone know if it's safe to use an old M61 in a plastic light like Surefire G2? The M61 is from around 2010 so it's 260 lumens.

 

[Alaskantinbender]

I picked up an older M61-SHO from E bay. Interestingly enough it won't run on a single 3.7 cell but is very happy on two. Is this one of the many variations on the driver?

 

[Kestrel]

Anyone know if it's safe to use an old M61 in a plastic light like Surefire G2? The M61 is from around 2010 so it's 260 lumens.

My apologies for the late response, I hadn't seen your post the first time around.

I believe Gene has said that the original M61's were ok in a Nitrolon host /only if/ an aluminum head/bezel assembly was used. I'm guessing that the slight additional metal-to-metal connection on the very front helped get a little more of the heat out of there.
I do not know any guidance on the modern M61, however - and would be curious, as I'm starting to mess with a modern SST-20 M61 in a Nitrolon host. Only using a single 16650 cell, so I have should have a little bit of a safety margin. Certainly not going to do long hot runs however.

For borderline heat applications, my choice is to use 1x LiIon rather than 2x LiIon/CR123. I seem to recall Gene saying the first ~third of the orig.M61 run would be regulated on a single 18650, whereas the last two thirds would be gradually declining output. I always thought this aspect might help just enough if heat was near max.

Edit: I was curious so I emailed Malkoff; Gene said that the thermal load of the M61 should be roughly the same across its generations.