Modding a SureFire M4

[marcspar]

I have a SureFire M4 that I find I never use anymore since I've become addicted to leds...

Is there a drop in luxeon module available that would work in my 4 cell SureFire?

Has anyone out there worked on modding a M4 or want to? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks in advance,

Marc

 

[kakster]

CPF'er katokichi makes a superb drop-in that works with the SF turboheads:

Katokichi's Luxeon Turbohead Module

You can also run the KL6 head on your M4, if you can find one for sale seperately.

 

[Mr HG]

I'd really like to have one of those for my millenium T-heads...

 

[Kiu]

I am interesting in throw of Lux3 in Katokichi's Luxeon Turbohead Module instead of 5W:D

 

[GutWrench]

yo, has anyone had any luck finding this drop in unit?

 

[Chop]

I've been working on an M4 mod for quite sometime. Does anyone have any idea on how this thing dissipates heat. I mean, it's just a LA replacement and the only metal it comes in contact with is the reflector with minimal contact with the body through the negative contact spring. Contact with the reflector won't do anything for the heat because it rides on a piece of foam and has very little direct contact with the head itself.

 

[wasabe64]

Chop,

It's still a challenge, here's my attempt at it.

Link

I made the module as bulky as possible for thermal mass, it works well for a LuxIII, but more mass would be better for a LuxV. The module is wide enough for intermittent contact with the throat of the flashlight (hardly ideal), but not enought to wedge the module in the light.

 

[GutWrench]

The pictures in the linked thread are broken...

 

[wasabe64]

Strange, when I open the post, the pics don't show, but after I edit the post, they reappear.

The completed module in the turbohead. The outer spring came from a PM6 LA.

At 10' Left - M4 w. MN60 LA ..... Right - M4 w. Luxeon III module (my camera totally screwed up the colour, the incan is yellow, the Luxeon module is very white to the naked eye)

At 10': Left - McLux PR w. DB917 TV1J .... Right - M4 Module w. DB1000 TV0J

At 5': Left - McLux PR w. DB917 TV1J .... Right - M4 Module w. DB1000 TV0J

 

[kakster]

[ QUOTE ]
Chop said:
I've been working on an M4 mod for quite sometime. Does anyone have any idea on how this thing dissipates heat. I mean, it's just a LA replacement and the only metal it comes in contact with is the reflector with minimal contact with the body through the negative contact spring. Contact with the reflector won't do anything for the heat because it rides on a piece of foam and has very little direct contact with the head itself.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did a runtime test on the M6. It was running in regulation for about 2.5hrs, with a further 6hrs 'moonmode' that was at least as bright as my stock KL6. During this time, the outside didnt get very warm at all, while the module itself and the reflector were too hot to touch.

That being said, the module is still working fine, with no measurable drop in lux. My first module is about half a day shy of reaching the 100hr mark.

 

[GutWrench]

So does anyone sell these? I am very interested in this...

 

[wasabe64]

I'll defer to Katokichi or Chop (besides, Chop is in your vicinity).

 

[GutWrench]

Yo Chop!

 

[Chop]

GutWrench,

If you quite pointing that, Glock is it, at me, I'll think about it. The lack of thermal pathway uneases me though. It can't be good. If the "pill" isn't frying, where's the heat going? Through the spring to the batteries? My Pilas wouldn't like that very much. No, I think the pill should be made with a much wider and possibly thicker skirt to make contact with the body somehow.

I'll need to chech how deeply the body screws into the threads. There might be room for a threaded pill that you could screw into the back of the head.

 

[wasabe64]

Chop,

The bulkier version actually nests in the throat of the light. If you machine the body angle a bit more to conform to the throat of the M4, there would be more thermal contact. You don't have to be too precise, the shock isolation foam acts as a flexible bushing for pressing the module against the throat of the light and taking up some of the tolerances. There is also contact through the outer spring to the body of the flashlight, it does not make contact with the batteries.

If you don't swap out the module all of the time, you could also add thermal compound to improve contact.

 

[Kiu]

Hi GutWrench,

Have you read about this ?
Still have some in stock. Complete module setup is possible on request.

wasabe64,
Yes, I agreed the bulky version with a suitable body angle could make a much better thermal contact. But I offen switch it with the original LA. So I think the sloped version seems too ugly to me & different to keep it when not use. By the slim version module, we can hold it in the SC2 nicely.
I had done a long run test with the 5W module too. It is just fine. So, Lux3 should has no problem at all with lesser heat release.

 

[McGizmo]

If I may add my 2 cents, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif . The ground spring is not necessary although much cleaner in mechanical function; thermal issues aside. I believe having the Al rear of the module contact the battery tube provides a much better thermal path. Further, if thermal relief is of concern, the reflector can be bored out significantly and the pedestal can be of much larger diameter and mass; all to the benefit of the LED. Certainly this suggestion entails more work and precludes going back to the Incan.

 

[GutWrench]

Let me ask this before we go any further...will there be enough run time gained with a mod like this to be worth while? What about a loss of throw distance? Its very important that I keep the throw as that’s the whole reason I got the M4 in the first place… /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

 

[wasabe64]

Great suggestions Don, that eliminates the need to find the correct-sized spring and resolves the heat isolation issue properly.

GW, the great thing about these modules is that you can use the same set of batteries a lot longer than the 60/20 minutes without worrying about shortening the life of a bulb.

After building the LuxIII module, I realised that the 4x123 M4 may be overkill for a LuxIII in terms of size vs. performance especialy since the MN60 still produces more light. The runtime using a rev2 DB 1000/LuxIII would be around 90-100 minutes in regulation (guestimation).

IMHO, a LuxV version would be a better mod for an M4, again in terms of size vs. performance. The LuxIII is still a great mod for my M3T, but if you want the same or better performance along with the runtime, use a LuxV.

 

[GutWrench]

so whos gonna build me this and how much? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif