Malkoff XP-G 260 OTF lumens 2~3D Mag drop-ins...

[Swedpat]

Mjolnir,

You need to cut the reflector to get the correct beam. Otherwise Malkoff offer pre-cutted reflectors.

Regards, Patric

 

[Mjolnir]

Mjolnir,

You need to cut the reflector to get the correct beam. Otherwise Malkoff offer pre-cutted reflectors.

Regards, Patric

I understand that the reflector cam has to be cut off... What I am talking about has nothing to do with the reflector cam. Even when the hotspot is optimally focused, it has a darker area in the center that has a slightly different tint. No way that I focus seems to produce a hotspot that is as smooth as that in the original SSC P4 dropin that I had.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

I understand that the reflector cam has to be cut off... What I am talking about has nothing to do with the reflector cam. Even when the hotspot is optimally focused, it has a darker area in the center that has a slightly different tint. No way that I focus seems to produce a hotspot that is as smooth as that in the original SSC P4 dropin that I had.

How far do you notice the darker area/different tint?

Bill

 

[Mjolnir]

Do you mean "at what range do I not notice the dark spot?"
If I look closely, I can still notice a slight difference in brightness regardless of how far away the hotspot is (even at 60-70 feet away). It is kind of strange... I can't focus it away. It isn't a traditional "donut," but more of an area with some artifacts and slightly less brightness. It is almost like there is a dim spot on the LED die itself, but there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the LED from what I can see.

 

[bobo383]

I just got one of these jewels for my 3D Mag and love it. I cut the reflector cam off short with only about 1/8 remaining below the parabola of the reflector. I can't get a really tight ceiling pattern with it as the reflector and emitter are not centered exactly with each other, but in actual outside use this is not an issue. There's plenty of light. I've found I can actually crank the Mag head down a little and get a slightly wider hotspot with no hole in the center for closer work. I'm happy!

 

[bobo383]

I had my first issue the other day, when my 3D would not reliably light up the drop-in with one click of the switch. Click a couple times, or work the tailcap back & forth and it would light up fine but then dim afterwards. Thinking I had contact or switch issues, I disassembled the mag and cleaned everything with DeOxIt. Still no difference. Then, feeling like a dummy, I dug out my Fluke, measured the batts, and found out why. With no load each Duracell had 1.49 volts, but dropped quick and current through the tailcap was 1500 mA with the light on. I put in new Duracells, current dropped to 800mA, and the twitchy on/off issues went away. This being my first Malkoff I don't know if this is normal but now that I know what to look for it doesn't bug me much.

Is this how y'all's Malkoffs behave when the batts go down?

BTW, two of the tired cells went into my Husky 2D to replace the cheesy cells it came with. They work in that light just fine (for now).

 

[FroggyTaco]

That's how my P4 Malkoff drop in acted when the batteries were tired! Sounds pretty normal in the sense that it is only seeing 2/3 normal voltage.

 

[Bullman]

I had my first issue the other day, when my 3D would not reliably light up the drop-in with one click of the switch. Click a couple times, or work the tailcap back & forth and it would light up fine but then dim afterwards. Thinking I had contact or switch issues, I disassembled the mag and cleaned everything with DeOxIt. Still no difference. Then, feeling like a dummy, I dug out my Fluke, measured the batts, and found out why. With no load each Duracell had 1.49 volts, but dropped quick and current through the tailcap was 1500 mA with the light on. I put in new Duracells, current dropped to 800mA, and the twitchy on/off issues went away. This being my first Malkoff I don't know if this is normal but now that I know what to look for it doesn't bug me much.

Is this how y'all's Malkoffs behave when the batts go down?

BTW, two of the tired cells went into my Husky 2D to replace the cheesy cells it came with. They work in that light just fine (for now).

I was having similar troubles, but with fresh batteries. I sent mine back to Gene, he thought I might have some power supply problems, sometimes it would come on, sometimes not at all, sometimes very dim. I guess we shall see. Right now I am without a back up light.

 

[Mjolnir]

I had a similar problem with 2 different modules. The light will turn on very dimly (so the LED just glows), but if I press the switch a few times in quick succession it will become brighter, but still nowhere near as bright as the light is supposed to be.
I thought I was just supremely unlucky and got the only 2 modules with issues, but apparently not.

 

[ionizedsky]

I was having similar troubles, but with fresh batteries. I sent mine back to Gene, he thought I might have some power supply problems, sometimes it would come on, sometimes not at all, sometimes very dim. I guess we shall see. Right now I am without a back up light.

What no other flashlight for backup... Sounds like a good excuse to buy something new:naughty:

 

[bobo383]

My problem came back with the fresh batts as well, and I played with it in several other mags till it finally quit altogether. Couldn't even light it off with a 4.5 volt power supply direct to the terminals. I'm sure Mr. Malkoff will take care of it.

 

[Mjolnir]

I tried mine in another maglite as well as directly hooked up to a single lithium ion cell, and it still did it (both the original and the replacement module). I'm thinking that there must be some issue with the driver that is being used; perhaps some are defective.

 

[Bullman]

Since this was the first run of XP-G upgrades, maybe we got some with glitches in it, and we have to iron out the problems for everyone else.

 

[Bullman]

What no other flashlight for backup... Sounds like a good excuse to buy something new:naughty:

Well, I have my main car light, which is a Streamlight ultrastinger, I was getting to where I liked my Maglight better. then I carry a Strion on my belt, but I like a light that says "hello, I am from the government and I am here to help" . Right in the middle of a shotgun purchase now, so a new light is out of the question, but as soon as I get back in the flow of working some overtime and having some extra dough, I might be looking for something interesting.

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

Back in stock!!!! 😀

 

[bobo383]

Since this was the first run of XP-G upgrades, maybe we got some with glitches in it, and we have to iron out the problems for everyone else.

Your thoughts were right on, Bullman. Mr. Malkoff called me to explain how some modules in 3D applications were burning out their drivers due to the low Vf of the XP-G compared to previous emitters. He made changes to the driver and tested it out on 4D successfully before offering any more for sale.

I just got my replacement. He encouraged me to wear it out and see if there were any more issues.

That's really good customer service. You can tell the man is passionate about his work.

 

[zwerky]

i recently become a huge fan of malkoff's work and his drop-ins, so i snapped up one of his 2-3D drop-ins when they became available a few days ago. my question is, i already have one of those LED 3D maglites, i imagine i can still use the malkoff drop-in, but how do i go about removing the existing led on the maglite? or do i have to go and get an old school incandescent 3D?

:thinking:

 

[kaj]

Back in stock!!!! 😀

I just checked and the website shows they (C & D Mag) are sold out !

 

[Arnulf]

I just checked and the website shows they (C & D Mag) are sold out !

Yep.....I can see a product being out of stock for a week...2 weeks...but its been a month or 2.....this is ridicules.

 

[JamisonM]

i recently become a huge fan of malkoff's work and his drop-ins, so i snapped up one of his 2-3D drop-ins when they became available a few days ago. my question is, i already have one of those LED 3D maglites, i imagine i can still use the malkoff drop-in, but how do i go about removing the existing led on the maglite? or do i have to go and get an old school incandescent 3D?

:thinking:

If your 3D maglite is one of the newer rebel maglites, then you're going to have some issues installing Gene's drop-in. These drop-ins are made to work with the regular incandescent and the older luxeon III maglites and won't fit in the newer rebel maglites. If that isn't what you have, all you have to do is unscrew the bulb retainer and take the LED drop-in out. Screw it back on and install Gene's drop-in.

Yep.....I can see a product being out of stock for a week...2 weeks...but its been a month or 2.....this is ridicules.

Gene works hard on his drop-ins. If you don't like that they are popular and not mass produced then stop complaining and learn the skills to make your own. Everything you need to know is on these boards.