Pelican M6

Reaper

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 14, 2002
Messages
393
Has anyone purchased, handled or have any experience with the Pelican M6 yet? According to the ad I just read, the run-time is 1.25hrs for two CR123 batts., tail switch and a lamp of 108 lumens for a life of 220hrs. Of course it comes with a holster and batteries. I'm trying to figure out if this would be a better buy than a similar size and power light from Surefire. One thing in it's favor already is the lower price but I don't know about the quality since it's so new. I've been thinking I need a REALLY bright medium size light.
 
I checked it out today. It's very nice. Beam was perfect. Focus adjustment was tight so it would probably hold it's focus well. Brightness was there, it beat my E2O. It was a little heavier than a 6P, but not too much so. It's a good light as far as I could tell from a 5 minute demo.
 
Okay, here's the obvious question: Pelican got 25% more runtime, while adding around 80% more total output than the P60 (or, comparing to the P61, 10% less brightness at 300% additional total runtime). The numbers just don't add up, unless Surefire's technology is positively last-generation, and Pelican has come through with some new technology.

I'd been guessing that maybe Pelican would have used a non-textured reflector, which might account for 10% more brightness but would have left a sloppy, splotchy beam. But if the beam is Surefire quality, then I just don't get it ... something's not adding up, or Pelican's technology is way ahead of Surefire's.

Joe
 
I think they may not be adhering to any standard for "runtime". The CPF de facto "runtime" measurement is 50% of the initial brightness. I know Kriana uses 50% to rate their Krill lamps.
 
Didn't Ken Good hint at a more efficient Strategos lamp? Perhaps Pelican has gone in that direction. I may be mis-remembering, but wasn't a more efficient high pressure lamp mentioned somewhere?

Brightnorm
 
the M3's lamps are already more efficient than the P90's lamp used in the C3, 9P, etc so it might not be too far off.
 
It was hard to tell in a lit area. But it did seem as bright as my E2. The M6 had a tighter spot. Someone will have to get their hands one and do a full test to verify the specs.
 
http://www.uwgb.edu/nevermab/flash.htm

If everyone checks the above link, the P60 LA has a efficacy of 60 lumens/5.3 watts = 11.35 lumens/watt.

If you look at http://www.carleylamps.com/halogen.asp and look at the first lamp in the list, lamp #885 @ 5.6 watts @ 9 Candlepower, we get (9x12.57)/5.6 watts = 20 lumens/watt.

Surefire's LAs are rather inefficient if you consider that higher wattage lamps of around 15 watts give a efficacy of 25 lumens/watt to 27 lumens/watt if overdriven. Bulb #851 on the same page is an example.

Let's take P91, according to brock's flashlight page, it's 14.6 watts. 200 lumens? That means 13.69 lumens/watt. Maybe they reduce filament temperature to prevent easy breakage if the filament temperature is too high.

If we have a proper lamp for the 3 cell surefires, maintaining it at 14.6 watts (let's take 15 watts instead) and a lamp efficacy of 20 lumens/watt, we get 300 lumens.

Surefire Lamps are not as efficient some competitors. I don't understand why.

*Edited thanks to Stingray pointing out the error*
 
Thanks for the correction.. was thinking of something else.. would correct it now..
 
Originally posted by Joe Talmadge:
Okay, here's the obvious question: Pelican got 25% more runtime, while adding around 80% more total output than the P60 (or, comparing to the P61, 10% less brightness at 300% additional total runtime). The numbers just don't add up, unless Surefire's technology is positively last-generation, and Pelican has come through with some new technology.

I'd been guessing that maybe Pelican would have used a non-textured reflector, which might account for 10% more brightness but would have left a sloppy, splotchy beam. But if the beam is Surefire quality, then I just don't get it ... something's not adding up, or Pelican's technology is way ahead of Surefire's.

Joe
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I totally agree something is not right. I work in the A/V industry and video projectors have a standard for measuring there brightness called "ANSI Lumens". However there are three companies that sell projectors that are identical and OEMed by the same company yet they all claim different ANSI Lumen ratings
confused.gif
. What I am saying is there is no standard for measuring flashlights so these exaggerated claims do not surprise me.
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Just an update...I have two M6's shipping to me on the 25th of Feb...Should have them in my grubby little paws by the end of the month...Should have a mini-overview done by March...

--dan
 
http://www.qmuniforms.com/police/S69750.html#S69750
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http://www.pentagondefense.com/pem6lifl.html
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They should work on the website.

http://eppescorner.safeshopper.com/1/282.htm?144
http://eppescorner.safeshopper.com/1/cat1.htm?404

We don't process an order
and tie up someone's money
if we don't have the
merchandise to ship.
**************************
**************************
M6 Lithium
--------------------
The newest addition to the
Black Knight® Series is the
M6 Lithium.

This new light is sure to be
a vital asset to the
Law Enforcement market with
it's extreme brightness and
durable construction to
withstand rugged conditions
while out in the field.

The M6 is packaged with a
free Cordura® holster and
2-CR123 Lithium batteries.
Colors:Black and Silver
Catalog #2320.
*** AVAILABLE:
February 25, 2003.
 
I would say them M6 was almost identical to the Surefire P-60, which is a tad brighter then the E2's.

As far as lamp efficiency of Surefire lamps, remember a lot of the loss, especially on the high power lamps is in the batteries themselves, they get pretty darn hot.

Again I would bet it would almost match the P60 for runtime. The focusing option might come in handy, and the adjustment did seem pretty tight so it should stay where you left it. It has the nicest beam of any 2 cell lights on par with the Surefires. Impressive in my book.
 
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