Sticking KL3 on a G2

With my older KL3 (large, finned head) I do not have any issues with heat. However, I find that mine looks better on the 6P than on the G2 so that's were it stays.

I use it on my G2 sometines with a Pila 168s and it works great. THe heat generated is very easy to dispense with the KL3's physical size

did anyone notice that the description of the KL3 has changed to a "a one-watt LumaMax™ LED"?

I have one of the intermediate ones and wonder if the newer version is desgined to be even more thrifty in power consumption...

I have KL3s (old style) fitted to 2 old 6Ps and they worked OK with the following rechargeables with no heat dispersal problem:

2 X 123A sized - 3V at 600 mah
3V at 700 mah
3V at 800 mah

2 X 123A sized - 3.6V at 800 mah

1 X 3.6V 1650 mah ( and some 1500mah) computer rechargeables (same size as 2 X 123As)

All the above combination worked very well. The third combination with the one 3.6V computer battery was just as bright, may be just very marginally not as bright as the other two combinations, but runtime became excellent.

On the other hand, I was very surprised to find that using 2 X 3.6V was not as good as using 2 X 3V. The light displayed a bluish cast when fitted with the 2 X 3.6V.

The above also tend to show that the KL3 is a very efficient piece of gear as it only needed 3.6V to run efficiently. Although it has also been noted that a fully charged 3.6V rechargeable 123A can give out 4.2V. I have not done any meter measurement myself. But the combination works OK. Also 1650mah computer rechargeables are not too expensive as I can get them from Hong Kong easily. 1500mah ones are a bit cheaper and I think they last just as long. I also got a charger which can charge 2 computer batts or 2 123A sized batts at the same time.

I recently ran the KL3-gen2-rev3 on a G2 body for 1:45h straight... the KL3 was barely warm.
Didnt surprise me, its quite heavy and has a large surface.

I had one as well. It will be fine on a G2 body...

I want to put a K2 in KL3-gen2, this may be better on output

Windscale said:

I have KL3s (old style) fitted to 2 old 6Ps and they worked OK with the following rechargeables with no heat dispersal problem:

2 X 123A sized - 3V at 600 mah
3V at 700 mah
3V at 800 mah

2 X 123A sized - 3.6V at 800 mah

1 X 3.6V 1650 mah ( and some 1500mah) computer rechargeables (same size as 2 X 123As)

All the above combination worked very well. The third combination with the one 3.6V computer battery was just as bright, may be just very marginally not as bright as the other two combinations, but runtime became excellent.

On the other hand, I was very surprised to find that using 2 X 3.6V was not as good as using 2 X 3V. The light displayed a bluish cast when fitted with the 2 X 3.6V.

The above also tend to show that the KL3 is a very efficient piece of gear as it only needed 3.6V to run efficiently. Although it has also been noted that a fully charged 3.6V rechargeable 123A can give out 4.2V. I have not done any meter measurement myself. But the combination works OK. Also 1650mah computer rechargeables are not too expensive as I can get them from Hong Kong easily. 1500mah ones are a bit cheaper and I think they last just as long. I also got a charger which can charge 2 computer batts or 2 123A sized batts at the same time.

Click to expand...

Sounds like 17670 li-ions?

For Vector Joe's information:

I checked the batts again. They are in fact 1600mah not 1650 as mentioned earlier. But I can't see 17670 anywhere. I seem to recall there was a number in the 1500mah ones. But unfortunately I have given away all of them in order to unify all the batts to 1600mah. I will go back to the shops to look at the 1500mah ones to get the number. So, watch this space. But please tell me your experience with 17670s. Thanks.

Also, the manufacturers of the 1500mah batts also make rechargeables the same size as single 123As. I have the following types:

3.7V 800mah S16340
3.6V 600mah (No number - but printed "LIR 123A")
3.0V 600mah ICR 17335
3,0V 800mah FL17335 PZD4F01003

I stick to rechargeables because many flashlights suck up batts, especially regular 123As. Rechargeables are much cheaper to run and relatively environmentally friendly. They also give out sufficient light with reasonable runtime.

For the benefit of readers of this thread. my advice is never use 2 X 3.6V or 3.7V rechargeables on anything designed for 2 x CR123As. This could be dangerous because it has been noted that a fully charged 3.6V rechargeable can give out 4.2V. I tried this combination on the KL3/6P because the KL3 is good for the 9P as well so it was safe. But the result was not very good as a slight purple/bluish cast appeared. Using 2 X 3.0V produced a whiter light.

I have no idea whether all the batts I mentioned here and earlier are protected or not. But they do work well for me.

My wife uses my first gen KL3, on an older 6P body, as a walk around at night light. I keep it charged up with Battery Station RCR123's X2. I see no difference in beam color compared to two CR123's. Older KL3 makes a nice walking around light with it's wide angle beam.

Bill

Again for Vector Joe's information.

The 2 x 123A size batts are no longer available. However, new Ultra Fire 17670 3.6v 1800 mah batts are now being sold. These clearly state their voltages to be 4.2 and 2.75 when full and empty respectively. I bought 4 to try. Please tell me your experience. Thanks.

Sorry didn't get back to you earlier.

The 5 numbers are the dimensions of each cell

16340----16mm diameter x 34mm length......=rcr123
17670----17mm diameter x 67mm length.......~ 2x length of 123 and roughly same diameter

obviously the 17670 is only going to give you 3.7 (4.2 hotc) vs 7.4 (8.4 hotc) of 2 rcr123's

Where are you seeing 17670 w/ 1800 mAh?

Delta447, I have a New KL3 on a G2 and an older KL3 modded by Chop also on a G2 and have had no problems with heat. I also run "drop ins" One from BOG one from Lighthound in G2Z's with out any problems, I use 168s Pila's in the G2Z's and both G2's have the AN14 extension and the B-65 SF cell.
I hope that helps.
Topper

i have a few beamshots.. I will be adding a few more with the beamshaper .
-tom

Vector Joe,

Thank you so much for your information. I bought the batts in Hong Kong where I am based most of the time. I have charged up the 4 batts and I confirm that they (the 2 I tried) worked well in my 6P/KL3 (old style). They took longer than the previous 1600 mah ones to charge up so they should work longer. I am quite happy as I think I am getting a good output from them. I am thinking of getting another 4 soon (before they are sold out). The old KL3s are so good that with 3v they will produce their normal throw and spill.