SF M6 Guardian - Battery brand?

[Big Bad]

I've found some posts about battery problems with a SF M-6 and am not sure what the final verdict was. With a HOLA (M21) can I use any brand of primary lithium, just certain ones or just Surfire brand?

I know this is probably some place around here, but couldn't find a conclusive thread.

 

[DaFABRICATA]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

The only problem I have had with the MN21 is using NEW FRESH batteries, I have insta-flashed a few because of the initial high current. Maybe try depleting the batteries a little bit to aviod this....just a thought.

 

[Big Bad]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

The only problem I have had with the MN21 is using NEW FRESH batteries, I have insta-flashed a few because of the initial high current. Maybe try depleting the batteries a little bit to aviod this....just a thought.

Thanks, I've got a couple boxes of Battery Juntion cells that are about a year old, and my worries are that they may not handle the high drain. Just to protect the LA I can run them for few minutes with the mn20 LA, but it sounds like there are no warnings about battery failure with specific brands on this then?

 

[LED61]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

Big Bad, for best results use only Duracell or Surefire batteries with the MN21. Any CR 123 regardless of brand will get very hot while powering this lamp. Current is around 4.9 amps or 2.45 per stack--maximum stress limit for any CR 123. Try not running the lamp for more than 5 minute runs at a time and preferably flash only. If you go into flash only mode, you can use any brand of 123 provided they are all in good shape.

If you must run your M6 continuously use the MN20 with any brand of battery.

 

[Big Bad]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

Big Bad, for best results use only Duracell or Surefire batteries with the MN21. Any CR 123 regardless of brand will get very hot while powering this lamp. Current is around 4.9 amps or 2.45 per stack--maximum stress limit for any CR 123. Try not running the lamp for more than 5 minute runs at a time and preferably flash only. If you go into flash only mode, you can use any brand of 123 provided they are all in good shape.

If you must run your M6 continuously use the MN20 with any brand of battery.

Thanks, that was what I was looking for. The light is for tactical, so short bursts is about all I've got planned fot it.

 

[jumpstat]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

A safe bet would be to use Surefire SF123 batts. They run hot with the MN21.......

 

[Illum]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

I think your talking about seery's thread comparing different brands of cells for runtime in the M6

as that turned out Duracells on par with surefire and Titanium cells lagged far behind on runtime and had a couple "thermal Shutdowns" during the runtimes:shakehead

 

[DM51]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

There are a few brands which have performed well in SilverFox's tests, the Surefire SF123A being one of them and I believe Duracell, Panasonic and the new Battery Station ones also being good. You would have to look in the thread to see the details.

Bear in mind cells can vary from one batch to the next, even if they are the same brand, so never mix them up.

The Surefire warranty is in theory voided if there is a venting incident where cells other than their own SF brand ones have been used.

 

[Illum]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

The Surefire warranty is in theory voided if there is a venting incident where cells other than their own SF brand ones have been used.

oo:
I didn't know this...:candle:

 

[mwaldron]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

The Surefire warranty is in theory voided if there is a venting incident where cells other than their own SF brand ones have been used.

Most other reputable cells have a replacement policy where they will repair/replace the light if their cells damage it. Good luck convincing them what your M6 is worth though. I had Energizer cells leak in one of my Eternalights and it wouldn't work after cleaning, they sent me a $25 check because that was "a generous estimate" of the value of a flashlight.

 

[LED61]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

There are a few brands which have performed well in SilverFox's tests, the Surefire SF123A being one of them and I believe Duracell, Panasonic and the new Battery Station ones also being good. You would have to look in the thread to see the details.

Bear in mind cells can vary from one batch to the next, even if they are the same brand, so never mix them up.

The Surefire warranty is in theory voided if there is a venting incident where cells other than their own SF brand ones have been used.

A technician at Surefire over the phone once told me that they also back up warranty with Duracells. I guess it is because Duracells were used by Surefire to test the M6 before their own brand batteries came about.

That being said, I've also heard of other venting incidents involving other cells(neither Duracell nor Surefire), and other surefire flashlights, where Surefire backed up warranty and replaced the light. if I recall correctly it involved an incident with the old Batterystation batteries made in China before their good current batteries, and Surefire replaced the flashlight.

 

[DM51]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

... an incident with Batterystation batteries and Surefire replaced the flashlight.

IIRC this incident involved a Surefire M6 and Battery Station batteries as you say, however these were the old stock cells which had been sourced from overseas. These cells had been found to be unsatisfactory and were not stocked any more - USA made ones were (and still are) the new stock. Battery Station nevertheless stepped up to the plate and it was they who replaced the light, not Surefire.

I think that is reasonably correct, but other members may be able to point out any inaccuracies and if so I will be happy to edit this post.

 

[LED61]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

Yes DM, you are correct. To be very specific in no time was my post intented to put down Battery Station´s new cells which have nothing to do with the old. I will correct my post.

 

[Big Bad]

I'm starting to think that with a cost difference of less than three bucks per reload, it't cheap insurance to use Surefire batteries only in my M6 over anything else.

I'm a gun guy and I hate to see people spend big bucks on a weapon and then shove the cheaperst crud ammo in it. The result is often poor performance and poor reliability. Seems to hold true here as well.

 

[JNewell]

Don't think bad factory ammo, think bad handloads. kB! :thumbsdow

 

[LED61]

Don't think bad factory ammo, think bad handloads. kB! :thumbsdow

There is a lot of truth to this line of thinking. Maybe you are implying it is more important to stick in the MB20 6 new well charged cells of a same brand regardless of the brand used?

 

[Tempest UK]

I will add to the recommendations of SF123a or other reputable American manufactured batteries for use in the M6.

Do you really want to risk ruining a $400 light for the sake of saving a few dollars on cheap batteries?

Regards,
Tempest

 

[zipplet]

For what it is worth, in surefire manuals they tend to state that panasonic and duracell cells are, to quote 'acceptable' for use in surefire lights. Ofcourse SF123A is what they recommend.

 

[Patriot]

Re: SF M6 Guard Batt brand?

IIRC this incident involved a Surefire M6 and Battery Station batteries as you say, however these were the old stock cells which had been sourced from overseas. These cells had been found to be unsatisfactory and were not stocked any more - USA made ones were (and still are) the new stock. Battery Station nevertheless stepped up to the plate and it was they who replaced the light, not Surefire.

I think that is reasonably correct, but other members may be able to point out any inaccuracies and if so I will be happy to edit this post.

Perfectly correct. They were battery station "yellow bands." Made in China and sporting a yellow band across the top of a blue battery.