Stepping up current on KL4?
- Thread starter Bushman
- Start date
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Bushman,
If you increase the current in the KL4 while running the stock 5W, there's gonna be a lot more heat. You may not be able to hold the light in extended runs. Besides, boosting the current with such a small reflector, probably won't get you the performance boost that you're looking for.
I've boosted the current in KL4's modded with 1W and 3W luxeons, but that was only to bring them in spec as the stock KL4 only puts out like 660mA. I usually go with right around 900mA with a 3W. It makes for a nice light. Going to 900 with the 5W won't get you a whole big noticeable increase in light, but you will notice the increase in heat.
If you increase the current in the KL4 while running the stock 5W, there's gonna be a lot more heat. You may not be able to hold the light in extended runs. Besides, boosting the current with such a small reflector, probably won't get you the performance boost that you're looking for.
I've boosted the current in KL4's modded with 1W and 3W luxeons, but that was only to bring them in spec as the stock KL4 only puts out like 660mA. I usually go with right around 900mA with a 3W. It makes for a nice light. Going to 900 with the 5W won't get you a whole big noticeable increase in light, but you will notice the increase in heat.
Quickbeam
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yea! What new L4 !?!?!?!?! FESS UP!
I'd echo Chop's opinion. You can boost it to whatever current is desired but it now becomes an intermittent use light. I find I use the L4 a lot less since it does generate so much heat and when I use a light bigger than an Arc, it's usually because I need to keep it on for extended periods. Modding the L4 circuit is a fairly straightforward task you can do yourself if you have a good soldering iron and the right sense resistors.
Now, Charlie, what quickbeam said. Fess up!!! Been drinking some Mai Tais with PK again ?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Now, Charlie, what quickbeam said. Fess up!!! Been drinking some Mai Tais with PK again ?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
To follow up on my above post, I'd also have to say that the stock KL4 is pretty darned bright, for it's size anyway. If you want more throw, I'd say, just get into a PR based head. That's the way to get some real throw.
You could mod the KL4 with a 3W, and many have, to get a good boost in throw, but you'd also have to consider the cost. By the time that you add the cost of the KL4 to the cost of the mod, you could easily have gotten into a PR based head that the KL4 couldn't even dream of keeping up with on its best day.
I've messed with a lot of lights and have killed more than my share of luxeons driving the hell out of them trying to get a significant increase in performance. What I've found is that the best way to increase performance is to increase the size of the reflector.
Every one of the lights that I've built around PR's, including turned down PR's, running at 667mA outperform my modded KL4 running at close to 1A.
Lights are kind of like cars. With a car you can add a free flow exhaust, a bigger throttle body, chip it, and put in a cam with more lift to get some increased performance, but the only way to REALLY get increased performance is with a super charger or turbo charger. A bigger reflector is like a turbo charger, only for lights.
OK, I'm rambling, I'll stop now.
You could mod the KL4 with a 3W, and many have, to get a good boost in throw, but you'd also have to consider the cost. By the time that you add the cost of the KL4 to the cost of the mod, you could easily have gotten into a PR based head that the KL4 couldn't even dream of keeping up with on its best day.
I've messed with a lot of lights and have killed more than my share of luxeons driving the hell out of them trying to get a significant increase in performance. What I've found is that the best way to increase performance is to increase the size of the reflector.
Every one of the lights that I've built around PR's, including turned down PR's, running at 667mA outperform my modded KL4 running at close to 1A.
Lights are kind of like cars. With a car you can add a free flow exhaust, a bigger throttle body, chip it, and put in a cam with more lift to get some increased performance, but the only way to REALLY get increased performance is with a super charger or turbo charger. A bigger reflector is like a turbo charger, only for lights.
OK, I'm rambling, I'll stop now.
IlluminatingBikr
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2003
- Messages
- 2,320
[ QUOTE ]
Quickbeam said:
Yea! What new L4 !?!?!?!?! FESS UP!
[/ QUOTE ]
Come on Mr. Bulk. Spill it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif
Quickbeam said:
Yea! What new L4 !?!?!?!?! FESS UP!
[/ QUOTE ]
Come on Mr. Bulk. Spill it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif
