Which host for Malkoff???

[oren1s]

I want to get prepared for an emergency situation.... I have M60, now I want to add M60w MC-E and M60LL.

Or maybe to consider the M30W too, as it appears to have a better run time with 1X18650 vs M60 with 2X16340?

The Host needs to match SF parts, as i have SF lights, i want it to have the Lego ability.

I thought about:

FM 18mm body
FM C head 26500 body
Custom Surefire® Hosts P/C Bored
Other issue to consider is which battery size to go, 16340 / 18650 or 26500?

I'm trying to maximize it on all four aspects, Module, Host, battery size and overall size of the light.

Any idea/opinion is welcome, thanks!

 

[Kestrel]

I love legoing my small SF collection (and I really like the Malkoffs) so I definitely understand where you're coming from. I've used my SureFire C3 with 2x17500 (2 cells @ 1100 mAh each) for a long time & was very satisfied with the 1h45min runtime with the M60. I've recently put together a shorter (bored) 6P on 1x18650 (2600 mAh), which seems to be the maximum capacity for a relatively small package. I'm currently getting my C3 bored for 2x18500 (2 cells @ 1500 mAh each), but the 18650 size will probably continue to be the tops for its size, as that is the most common cell size for the laptop battery industry.

BTW I had a FM 18mm body for a short while but didn't like it quite as much as my SureFire bodies. 18mm cells will rattle slightly in the FM body but getting a SF body bored to fit the 18mm cells results in a very solid, sound package. YMMV of course.

I also have two of the earlier FM C-cell 'C' bodies, which I like quite a bit. C-cell sizes are nice, but I still prefer the more common 18mm/17mm/CR123 bodies for maximum flexibility.

Host___________________Module______battery size/capacity______overall size of the light
FM 18mm body (6P-type)__M30 or M60__18650 (2600 mAh) ________best size
FM 18mm body (9P-type)__M60 only____2x18500 (2 @ 1500 mAh) __good size
FM C head 1x26500 body__M30 or M60__26500 __________________too fat - OK to carry but not to pocket
FM C head 2x26500 body__M60 only____26500 __________________too large - OK to carry but not to pocket
Surefire 6P/C2 Bored______M30 or M60__18650 (2600 mAh) ________best size
Surefire 9P/C3 Bored______M60 only____2x18500 (2 @ 1500 mAh) __good size

(red is highlighting what I've found to be particularly good configs with respect to configuration flexibility and performance-to-size ratio)

So basically I've used each of your suggested options and ended up preferring my C3 and 6P, preferably bored for 18mm cells. They will still be plenty tough.

 

[Moka]

Dude if you want a wicked host... this thread... http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=234868
I love the Z2HA-BK, the C2 is a wicked host... And there's also the option for boring to fit rechargables... You won't regret any purchase from that thread, workmanship is top notch!!!
Just my .02 fwiw

 

[Not So Bright]

Plus one on the C3 host. I have a Malkoff MC-E in a fivemega 2 C host. I like having 2 IMR C cells to power that beast.
The M60W would also be very nice in a MD2 host with two levels.
You can't go wrong with a SF, fivemega or Malkoff host.

 

[bigchelis]

I would go with an M30 in a Surefire 6P hosts. Run it on a single AW 2600mAh cell and for emergencies it will work with a single AA Alkaline cell too.:twothumbs:twothumbs:twothumbs

I use an M30 with a Aleph 17500 body, VME bezel, and E1b clickie. I use a 17500 cell most of the time, but for emergencies a AA fits perfect. For long runtime I just put it in a 6P bored body with 18650 cell.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Kestrel, the total mAh will the 1100mAh with two 17500's, and 1500mAh with two 18500's. Multiply the voltage, not the amperage, with cells in series.

Bill

 

[Kestrel]

Argh - just taking a shortcut, Editing now...

The effective runtime will be doubled not because there are more mAh, but because only half the milliamps could be taken at double the voltage for a circuit consuming the same power (i.e. watts).

What I need to do is to be keeping my eye on the watt - hours for the cell(s) (which I can double), where:
1x18500 = 3.7v x 1500 mAh = 5.55 watt - hours
2x18500 = 2 x 3.7v x 1500 mAh = 11.1 watt - hours

 

[Monocrom]

Definitely go with the genuine (bored) Surefire parts.

I have an FM 1x18650 body. Well built, but there is a significant gap between the body and bezel when using Malkoff drop-ins. There's a gap when using genuine Surefire bodies, but it is barely noticeable. I have a handmade Malkoff M60 in a Leef 2x18500 C-C body. No gap! If you can find a Leef custom body, go with that. But it'll be easier to go with a bored out Surefire body instead.

Don't get me wrong, I love my FM body. Currently have a Milky-modded KL3 head on it, with a Surefire Z49 tailcap. A sweet set-up that lets me use either two CR123 cells or two RCR123 cells.

But, unless you don't mind a really obvious gap; Malkoff drop-ins and FM bodies go together as well as cream cheese and motor oil.

 

[Alberta-Blue]

Definitely go with the genuine (bored) Surefire parts....

+1

I have a 18650 bored SureFire C2 with a Malkoff M30 and I love it. Prolly one of the best purchases of duty equipment that I have made in the past 2 years at least. :thumbsup:

 

[redflash]

Would the Solarforce L2 be a good host? (I was going to ask the same question myself about the Malkoff M60)...

 

[CaseyS]

How about the latest MD2, especially since it's for an emergency situation:

http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/ems-orange-md2-flashlight-p-78.html

 

[oren1s]

Thank you all!!!

So in case i want 2x18650 to enjoy the 2600mah, i have no option but going with the FM body or bored 9P + bored A19 . However what do you think of asking Gene for M30W MCE??????

Will it work well as the M60W MCE?

I have droped the idea of C cells, as been said, it's wiser to stick with 18/17 mm cells :thinking:

 

[MrGman]

Thank you all!!!

So in case i want 2x18650 to enjoy the 2600mah, i have no option but going with the FM body or bored 9P + bored A19 . However what do you think of asking Gene for M30W MCE??????

Will it work well as the M60W MCE?

I have droped the idea of C cells, as been said, it's wiser to stick with 18/17 mm cells :thinking:

You could go for the MD4 host. That will hold the M60 MCE and have long run time. I have had much success also with the MD3 and 2X 18500 batteries.

 

[oren1s]

MD hosts wont take SF heads, so it will never play in the Lego of being part of KT1/2 head, unless you guys know for some adaptor?

Does the MD host has the rattel isuue too?

Thanks

 

[novice]

For an emergency situation utilizing an M60LL set-up, I would like to suggest the following possibility:
SureFire 6P + A19 (single CR123a extender) is just the right length for running on 2xAA. This works best with a low-power Malkoff M60LL (or M60WLL, if you ask Gene nicely).

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=231139

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=242411

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=162813
[Edit: I had earlier posted that the A19 wouldn't work on a G2 body, which apparently isn't true, but if you are planning on doing this, please read this quote from a member of another forum (which you would have to be registered with to be able to follow the link). "An A19 will fit on the G2 body, just be careful not to cross thread it - The aluminum will eat the plastic threads. The problem with getting it to work is that the metal sleeve inside the G2 won't make contact with the inside rim of the A19 to make the bulb light up. On mine, I used some pliers to slightly bend up the end of the metal sleeve inside the G2 so it would touch the A19 when fully screwed on, giving it kind of a slight pie plate appearance. I used an A19 on my G2 with a P90 bulb and it worked fine".] It's going to be easier to do the lego process starting with a 6P.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=236013

Add an A14 (6P-to-6R extender), and now you have the right length to run it off of 3xAA.
Having a 6P + A19 +A14 +M60LL/M60WLL, and a dummy CR123a spacer, and a dummy AA spacer, will allow you to run this flashlight on the following:

1xAA, 2xAA, 3xAA primaries
1xCR123a, 2xCR123a, 3xCR123a primaries
SureFire B65 Ni-cad battery stick. My 6R rechargeable conversion kit came with a car charger. Using a car charger in a blackout to use a rechargeable flashlight or cell phone may seem wasteful of gas, but if that is your only option...

I'm not even mentioning the other rechargeable battery chemistries, because I still have a lot (i.e., everything) to learn about them.

I didn't discover any of this on my own. I am grateful to my CPF mentors.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Leave out the 2X, and 3X CR123 setups and you can run the M30. The B65 will sag enough to keep the voltage in the safe area.


Bill

 

[ElectronGuru]

I want to get prepared for an emergency situation.

It might be helpful to know what kind of emergency. A power outage, for example, will benefit from maximum runtime above all else. Here are some numbers that may help:

Malkoff M60 MC-E + 2x AW18500 = 70 minutes of continuously high output (9P/C3)
Malkoff M30 + 1x AW18650/26 = 105 minutes of continuously high output (6P/C2)
Malkoff M30 + 1x AW IMR16340 = 20 minutes of continuously high output (3P)
Malkoff M30 + 1x AW RCR123A = 30 minutes of subdued output (3P)
Malkoff M60 + 2x AW18500 = 140 minutes of continuously high output (9P/C3)
Malkoff M60 + 1x AW18650/26 = 600 minutes of gradually declining output (6P/C2)
Malkoff M60L + 2x AW18500 = 270 minutes of continuous medium output (9P/C3)
Malkoff M60L + 1x AW18650/26 = 500 minutes of continuous medium output (6P/C2)
Malkoff M60LL + 1x AW18650/26 = 900 minutes of continuous low (80L) output (9P/C3)​

An M60 on a single cell is a special 'under regulation' configuration. Note that it actually has more runtime on the same cell than an M60L.

 

[etc]

An M60 on a single cell is a special 'under regulation' configuration. Note that it actually has more runtime on the same cell than an M60L.

I run M60 on 1x18650 which is Panasonic 2900 mAh, I think it's the highest rating you can get. It's unprotected but when it gets to 3.5V, you can really tell that it's discharged.

The runtime is insane. In fact, I get greater runtime with 1x18650 than with 2x18500 cells, however 80-90% as bright.

I reserve AW's 2600 mAh for 2x18650 configurations, where you need protected cells, as you cannot tell when you over over-discharge.

 

[etc]

For an emergency situation utilizing an M60LL set-up, I would like to suggest the following possibility:
SureFire 6P + A19 (single CR123a extender) is just the right length for running on 2xAA. This works best with a low-power Malkoff M60LL (or M60WLL, if you ask Gene nicely).
......................
.......

M60LL/Surefire 9P or clone is the ultimate TSHTF lite, as you can run it on anything, 18650's, 2x18500's, 2xAA in any chemistry, 3x123...

Note the Panasonic 2900 mAh cell - awesome device. I plan to rebuild my laptop battery using these cells, the highest rated you can buy on the market today. Of course it's not protected so you can only use it in single-cell lites.