Surefire G2 with a TIR lens?

[crizyal]

I have a G2 that I fitted with a EO-9 and AW IMR rcr123s. I was wondering if anybody has fitted an optic to this light. I would like to extend the throw some. I did a search and didn't find what I was looking for. I was thinking along the lines of a TIR from Surefire that would fit the G2 bezel. Does this exist?

 

[Linger]

Optic's pair with leds, they don't work with incan (not sure what you meant referencing the Lumen's Factory eo-9 but it definately won't work with your TIR).
Optics aren't really the way to extend throw. (true there are exceptions and some great examples of aspheric lens used with LED's, Packhorse's modified dive lights are among the farthest throwing led lights.) Generally optics are great for the beam patterns they can provide, for example a long-reaching well balanced center beam with a bit of spill diffusing out.
For throw, generally much simpler / easier to use a deep reflector. For example, FM has a turbo head that fits with p60 modules (your SF G2 included) and that would deliver about all the module has to offer.
Optics find a lot of use in headlamps, less in hand torches.

 

[crizyal]

I guess I thought that some of the incandescent Surefires had TIR lenses also. I am grateful for the (new to me) information. My only point with the EO-9 was to explain exactly what I was using (might make a difference in what options are available). I will check out that FM head. Any more ideas are welcome. Thank you! lovecpf

 

[Dioni]

Definitely TIR, or asphericals, wont work with incans. For the incans, more throw = bigger reflectors [SMO principally] :thumbsup:

 

[mdocod]

MalkOff LED drop-ins (SF compatible) use a TIR type optical focusing. You would need either the M60L or an aluminum bezel to run the M61.

Eric

 

[Chrontius]

I've seen some work with incans and TIR, but mostly as a "wow light" for starting fires with. Making them focus nicely may not be possible.

 

[Linger]

mostly as a "wow light" for starting fires with.

was that fire inside or outside the torch

 

[csa]

Optics aren't really the way to extend throw. (true there are exceptions and some great examples of aspheric lens used with LED's, Packhorse's modified dive lights are among the farthest throwing led lights.)

This is a bit misleading. What you really mean to say is that the current crop of TIR optics aren't designed to provide quite the same extreme levels of throw as some ridiculous reflector designs, and that custom manufacturing a bespoke TIR optic is a lot more trouble than custom manufacturing a reflector. There's nothing different about the fundamental physics of changing the direction of the light.

 

[mdocod]

I just had a an idea:

Your best bet for extending the throw while maintaining the incandescent aspect of the light would be to increase the size of the reflector. The D36 head and a D36 lamp come to mind as probably the cheapest route to a true noticeable upgrade in the throw department. If you don't mind the heft/price of a 2.5" turbo-head the KT2 would be a perfect addition.

More powerful bulbs don't always throw better within the same size reflector compared to lower wattage bulbs There are many factors to consider. In my testing, The SR-9 out-throws the HO-9, The HO-9 out-throws the EO-9, but then, the IMR-9 out-throws all of the D26 lamps from LF (about 10% better in throw than the SR-9), but the beam pattern is very wide by comparison (brute force over-coming focus with lumens here). The D36 line of lamps however, all test within about 10% of each-other when peak-lux figures in the center of the beam are compared. (In other words, the SR-9L throws just about as good as a IMR-13, the IMR-13 reaches out the same distance but covers a much wider area all at once with illumination)

While the IMR16340s are capable of running upwards of 3 amps and more, they really only do it impressively for a couple minutes. For practical runtime and a more consistent and impressive performance through the run, using IMR16340s to drive lamps in the 1.2-1.5A range works best.

Eric

 

[Linger]

There's nothing different about the fundamental physics of changing the direction of the light.

+1 CSA, thank-you for elaborating. An additional contribution to the optic/reflector comments:
Lumen loss- reflectors lose some on the one surface reflection, optics may have losses at each surface transmission and some internal absorption.