Need a little IMR-M3 advice please

[Ray1968]

For my first IMR setup, here's what I'm wanting to do:

M3 head (Z46) on a Leef 2 x 18650 body using the LF IMR-M3 assembly and two of AW's IMR 18650s. No problem with that is there?

My next question is in regards to the tail cap. I currently use this light with an MN11 and LiIon 18650s with one of RPM's custom tail caps (non-twisty). I've read that IMR cells can be brutal on non-twisty tail caps. I absolutely DO NOT want to burn up RPM's tail cap. It is by far my favorite tail cap for this setup. I'd rather burn up my Surefire SW02.

So, knowing that I'm not going to get my hands on an SW01 (I'll pay top dollar if anyone's selling), what are my options for a tail cap?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[mdocod]

theoretical current spiking on a cold filament is higher on LiMn cells of similar size as compared with LiCo cells. The MN11 you are familiar with runs at ~2.7A on regular 18650s. The IMR-M3 will be ~2.3-2.4A on IMR18650s. So the actual running current will be slightly lower.

Going from 2xAW protected 18650s driving an MN11 to a pair of IMR18650s driving an IMR-9 is a move sideways for the most part. Just want to be clear you won't be breaking any new ground or seeing any increase in output or runtime.

-Eric

 

[Ray1968]

The IMR-M3 is rated at 500 lumens. Shouldn't that be a little over 100 more lumens than the MN11?

And yes, I know I'm not breaking new ground, but since I already have all the pieces it would be an easy and cheap first step into IMR cells.

 

[mdocod]

The MN11 achieves over 500 bulb lumen on a fresh pair of 18650 size LiCo cells.

[edit in]
If it were me, I would pick up the IMR-M3 to see if you like the beam shape better (LF usually does a better job than SF in this department). If you do, then use the IMR-M3 bulb, you don't even technically need the IMR cells if you don't want. The cells you are using to drive your MN11 will drive the IMR-M3 just fine IMO.