Thor Cyclops 15MCP

[eagleswhite44]

I got this spotlight for Christmas and think I got a bad one. I charged it like the instructions said and when I went outside the next night was greatly disapointed. At half power the beam was weak and yellow. It looked like a maglite running out of power. On hight power the was a ok beam, not much brighter than my 3MCP Vector spotlight.

Am I expecting too much? Should I send it back and try again or return and put the money toward something else.

 

[Ra]

Hi eagleswhite,

This is a common problem! From factory, on low, the two filaments of the H4 bulb are used in series! Very poor performance is the result.

To solve this, you must detach the reflector-head and rewire the bulb. More info ca be found here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=175834

Although Beaver_2 played with his wires before posting about his problem, I think the pic in post 5 can help.. If not.. PM me with pics of your bulb-connection..

High power should give a round beampattern with a bright center, low power should give a bright half-circle (lower half) shaped flood pattern..

You can have a bad battery: When stored for long, the forming of sulphates can permanently decrease capacity, this also causes higher internal resistance: lower lumens output is the result! On top of that: Low gauge wires are used to connect the bulb, rewireing with high gauge wires will definitely improve performance!


Best,

Ra.

 

[monkeyboy]

Don't worry, this is exactly what you should expect. The 15MCP spotlight uses 130W filament for high and the 3MCP uses a 100W bulb so overall output is similar. The difference is in the throw. The 15MCP has a larger reflector and throws further.

Candlepower is a measure of beam intensity (throw) not overall output. I think the word "power" in candlepower is very misleading.

 

[Flashanator]

10mill uses 100w h4
15mill uses 130w h4.

How would a 10mill reflector with a h4 130w compare to the slightly larger 15mill reflector with the h4 130w? Any big diff in thow? I once put a 130w in an old 10mcp. But the beam seemed little bigger.

 

[INhondo]

:wave:Thanks Ra,

I've been going through the archives using the search function looking for bits of wisdom regarding the Thor and I had found that thread. I have also saved threads about: upgrading the wiring, adding extra battery capacity when on high beam and a long thread by Newbie/Jarhead with a boost board schematic. Also, a couple of referances about using a spacer to pull the stock bulb back a little to tighten up the focus.
Your bulb wire change will be done today.

Gary

 

[ez78]

Hey, Ra or someone else could you tell the diameter of the reflector in 15mcp Thor? I suspect around 230mm, correct? Sorry if this is slightly off topic.

 

[Davekan]

Hello ez78

The one in mine is 8.75" diameter.

Dave

 

[ez78]

Alright, thanks Dave! Was this measured with the reflector out of the light or just thru the front glass?

 

[Davekan]

That is the front glass.

Dave

 

[Eye of Unk]

I bought two of these a couple years ago, one the battery went completely south, it may have been a victim of a stay outside when it was -47 and damaged the battery, the other I modded to a 35w 5000K HID lamp and ballast.

 

[eagleswhite44]

Hi eagleswhite,

This is a common problem! From factory, on low, the two filaments of the H4 bulb are used in series! Very poor performance is the result.

To solve this, you must detach the reflector-head and rewire the bulb. More info ca be found here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=175834

Although Beaver_2 played with his wires before posting about his problem, I think the pic in post 5 can help.. If not.. PM me with pics of your bulb-connection..

High power should give a round beampattern with a bright center, low power should give a bright half-circle (lower half) shaped flood pattern..

You can have a bad battery: When stored for long, the forming of sulphates can permanently decrease capacity, this also causes higher internal resistance: lower lumens output is the result! On top of that: Low gauge wires are used to connect the bulb, rewireing with high gauge wires will definitely improve performance!


Best,

Ra.

I think I will send this one back and try again. If I have the same problem I will do the rewiring. I hate to take apart a new light.

 

[monkeyboy]

I think I will send this one back and try again. If I have the same problem I will do the rewiring. I hate to take apart a new light.

What Ra meant was that it is supposed to be like this. If you send it back, the replacement will be exactly the same.