Surefire KL3 mod. P7, regulated at 1400 mAh, now with beam shots

dutchguy2

Enlightened
Joined
Dec 4, 2007
Messages
227
Location
the Netherlands and Germany
I modded a KL4 head in the past wit a P7. This light was the ultimate EDC light. This time I wanted a real small so called "pocket rocket". It should not only have flood like the KL4 but should be able to throw too. A combination of both would be the best.

I still had an old SF KL3 head modded with a P4 and the original optic. It was/is damaged by the former owner when he tried to open it. It is an ideal host for a work light and that is why I bought it a couple of month ago.

The Fivemega P3 body sold in the marketplace and an old solarforce clicky switch (will be replace with a better switch sortly) are ideal to make a small package.

I bought a P7, an AMC7135 1400 mAh board, an unknown direct drive 5 mode board (low, med, high, strobe, SOS) and a Frean 13 degree reflector. The lens I used was an old, scratched Seiko watch crystal :grin2: which happens to fit exactly.

I'm not a specialist and have a little tools but was able to put it all together with a Dremel and a Soldering iron.

What I managed to put together is a regulated at 1400 mAh SF KL3 pocket rocket with a P7. With a AWC RCR123 it draws exactly 1400mAh. It has the finest hotspot seen by me with a SCC P7 LED. On low it has about 20 lumen (190 mAh), on medium I guess 225~250 (920 mAh)(like a Fenix T1) and on high 400~450 (1800 mAh, with a fresh IMR16340, with a fresh AW RCR123 is is only 1450 mAh).

All in all it is a very usabe light. Small, can run for hours on low, can be very bright for 50 mins on a AW RCR123 or a super WOW bright light for 25 mins. It throws at least 250 meters usable light and has a nice hotspot and usable sidespill.

kl3head.jpg


bodyandswitch.jpg


reflector.jpg


finished.jpg


low.jpg


Will try to make some beamshots later tonight and try to compare it to my modded HDS P7.

OK, beamshot added.

Controll shot. It wasn't complete dark. f. 2.8 at 2".
control.jpg


KL3 on low, the fence is 22 meters away
lowkl3-1.jpg


P7 modded HDS on low
lowhds.jpg


KL3 on high (sorry for the blurry pic but you will get the idea)
highkl3.jpg


HDS on high
highhds.jpg



KL3 on high. The house is 60 meter away.
kl360m.jpg


HDS on high
hds60m.jpg


The HDS and the KL3 both have a P7 LED and draw from a fresh IMR16340 1650 mAh (on high). So output is more or less equal. The HDS is a nice flooder but the KL3 combines flood and throw.

**EDIT** measured the draw without the switch at 1660 mAh on the KL3 but I was wondering what losses the cheap Solarforce switch would give so measured again after the switch. It was only 1250 mAh!!! I nead a new switch badly LOL.

Thanks for looking.
 
Last edited:

dutchguy2

Enlightened
Joined
Dec 4, 2007
Messages
227
Location
the Netherlands and Germany
Re: Surefire KL3 mod. P7, regulated at 1400 mAh

That reflector looks like it was made for the KL3. Very nice! So, how about some beam shots? I would especially like to see some at greater distances if you can arrange it.

I had to modify the reflector only a bit, 2mm from the top part and had to make the hole at the LED part round. It is not (yet) dark here but will try to make some later.
 
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