Upgrades for a SF L5?

[Scoutnhunt]

Newbie here, owner/user of SF factory lights for long time. Have an L5 that is still like-new in box and don't know whether to sell or possibly upgrade the L5?

I realize there are numerous options only limited by the amount one is willing to spend.

Was also thinking of selling the L5 outright and purchasing a Custom Surefire 6P from Oveready.

What do you guys think? Any help, insight, an opinions are appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jp2515]

I'd shoot for the 6P with the drop-in. Have the same setup (with CR-123A) inside a SF D2 and it's plenty bright for the money. Down the line, you can upgrade the drop-in if you like.

About the charger, pick up a Pila IBC, it has had a good reputation around here.

 

[Scoutnhunt]

Many thanks for the input, I'm liking the sound of that and looking forward to trying out the Oveready 6P.

Couple more questions:

What's a fair price on the L5 Digital Lumamax?

Does Lighthound carry the charger?

 

[jp2515]

Yes Lighthound sells the Pila charger

 

[kramer5150]

The L5 bezel/head is not one thats frequently modded. I am not sure why. Maybe its hard to get open?... maybe the thermal conduction is not up to snuff for the latest/greatest emitters. Hard to say really.

I think an L5 K2-TFFC emitter mod would be a worth-while endeavor (assuming it doesn't already have one). If it does... its a keeper and I personally would not sell it.

I am not sure what a fair price is for the L5.

 

[NoFair]

The L5 can be upgraded by swapping out the LuxV with a Cree MC-E or Seoul P7. Milky has done this before and could probably do so again.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

What NoFair said, though I have left my Lux V KL5 stock except that I have it affixed to an18650 body. To be more explicit, the L5's body hosts the KL5 head. I purchased my KL5 without the L5 body, and I must say it is a potent little light. Somehow the 100-120 lumens it puts out seems more useful than some of the narrow beam Seoul P4's, or Cree XR-E's.

Bill

 

[SuperTrouper]

Isn't the L5 compatible with the Z44 bezel heads?

I've seen some lego pictures in the Surefire Lego thread that seems to suggest it's C/M/P/G series compatible.

With that you could buy a KX4 and be running Surefire's latest and greatest or buy a Z44 and run whatever P60 drop in you wanted.

 

[NoFair]

I think the L5 was a KL5 head on a C2 body with a clicky switch. Great light, and if I remember it had the same beam as the Surefire U2 (one of the best ever). I have one stock U2 and one with an MC-E (by Milky) and the beam is pretty similar with the MC-E just a lot brighter and neutral white.

Sverre

 

[KevinL]

Isn't the L5 compatible with the Z44 bezel heads?

I've seen some lego pictures in the Surefire Lego thread that seems to suggest it's C/M/P/G series compatible.

With that you could buy a KX4 and be running Surefire's latest and greatest or buy a Z44 and run whatever P60 drop in you wanted.

L5 heads are C/P/G compatible, but not M. A L5 is basically the C2 with the LED upgrade installed stock - there have been L5's converted back to the standard bezel to use drop-ins :D

And of course, the branding - L5s are marked as L5s, C2s are C2s.

 

[Eric242]

Actually the KL5 head has a C-M adaptor included. If you are able to remove the adaptor from the head itself, you can attach the head to M3, M3T, M4 lights. But it´s not that easy since loctite is used on the threads.

@Scoutnhunt
I´d go for the Z44. It is available at oveready.com for $30 + shipping. Just get a good LED dropin, a few rechargeables as well as a charger and thats it.

Eric

 

[KevinL]

Actually the KL5 head has a C-M adaptor included. If you are able to remove the adaptor from the head itself, you can attach the head to M3, M3T, M4 lights. But it´s not that easy since loctite is used on the threads.

@Scoutnhunt
I´d go for the Z44. It is available at oveready.com for $30 + shipping. Just get a good LED dropin, a few rechargeables as well as a charger and thats it.

Eric

No kidding, wow! You learn something new every day here on CPF - I had no idea that was possible, and I thought I knew the L5.. my bad :)

It would have made it very attractive back in the day and you'd have found me working on solutions to remove that Loctite as I have both a C2 and a M3. Now of course, with the XPG drop-ins and P7 turboheads....naah... hehe