OK, time for another Franken-light. This time I took a KL3 and rammed (sort of) a 30mm optic into it. The 30mm optic, available from Elektrolumens, does not fit into the KL3 without removing some material around the circumference of the optic. Fortunately, removal of this material does not in any way adversely affect the beam. The LED used in this case is a Q3J I got from KK from that fantastic sale. It is overdriven to 700mA.
This is how the optic fits in the KL3. Notice the retaining ring does not screw in flush due to the height of the optic.
Now for the customary beam shots we've grown accustomed to. The first one compares the KL3 with a KL1 overdriven to 700mA, also using another Q3J from KK, and a Surefire 6Z with Pila 3.7V lamp assembly and 17670 Li-ion. KL3 on left, KL1 in center, 6Z on right.
Last photo puts an L4 in the middle.
Now before you all go out and buy a KL3 and 30mm optic, let me say a few words here. The KL3 does *not* put out more light than the KL1, L4 or the Pila lamp. Using the ceiling test, the KL3 and KL1 are roughly the same in brightness which is probably 1/2 that of the L4. The 30mm optic is just better at harnessing all the photons emanating from the LED and focusing it into an extremely tight beam. There is almost no sidespill from this optic, which to me can be a big disadvantage. When I'm out walking at night, I don't want to have to swing my light back and forth to see where I'm going. This is where the L4 (and the overdriven KL1) excel. However, the flood type light is probably good out only to 40-50 yards when it's pitch black outside. Ambient light will severely degrade this. Having said that, let me comment on the 30mm optic next.
From what you can see above, the hotspot of the KL3 is roughly equal to the incandescent. In actual use, this is also the case. I just came back from a night desert hike with an L4, modded KL3, modded KL1, and the 6Z with pila lamp. The 6Z and KL3 were very close in performance. I could not believe I was illuminating objects out to 150-200 yards with the KL3. Bear in mind the ambient lighting where I'm at is almost non-existant. To me this is pretty phenominal for a LED driven to about 2.5W. The price for this throw is the almost non-existent sidespill. However, for specific applications where all you want is throw, this is it folks. Sidespill can actually degrade the perceived brightness of a beam when you're trying to reach out and touch someone out in excess of 100 yards. This is because the corona from the near field tends to obscure that object that's way out there. If you can keep everything in the dark except the one that you're reaching out to, that's a far more effective way to illuminate.
I started this out as an experiment, thinking I would restore the KL3 back to its original 5W configuration. Having been unable to wipe the big grin off my face after tonight's hike, I think I'll leave this the way it is. This just totally blew me away. You guys with the big cahuna-long-throw lights from Mr Bulk (reflector) and Elektrolumens (30mm optics), I think I now know how bright your lights really are. I think I see the light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
CM
This is how the optic fits in the KL3. Notice the retaining ring does not screw in flush due to the height of the optic.
Now for the customary beam shots we've grown accustomed to. The first one compares the KL3 with a KL1 overdriven to 700mA, also using another Q3J from KK, and a Surefire 6Z with Pila 3.7V lamp assembly and 17670 Li-ion. KL3 on left, KL1 in center, 6Z on right.
Last photo puts an L4 in the middle.
Now before you all go out and buy a KL3 and 30mm optic, let me say a few words here. The KL3 does *not* put out more light than the KL1, L4 or the Pila lamp. Using the ceiling test, the KL3 and KL1 are roughly the same in brightness which is probably 1/2 that of the L4. The 30mm optic is just better at harnessing all the photons emanating from the LED and focusing it into an extremely tight beam. There is almost no sidespill from this optic, which to me can be a big disadvantage. When I'm out walking at night, I don't want to have to swing my light back and forth to see where I'm going. This is where the L4 (and the overdriven KL1) excel. However, the flood type light is probably good out only to 40-50 yards when it's pitch black outside. Ambient light will severely degrade this. Having said that, let me comment on the 30mm optic next.
From what you can see above, the hotspot of the KL3 is roughly equal to the incandescent. In actual use, this is also the case. I just came back from a night desert hike with an L4, modded KL3, modded KL1, and the 6Z with pila lamp. The 6Z and KL3 were very close in performance. I could not believe I was illuminating objects out to 150-200 yards with the KL3. Bear in mind the ambient lighting where I'm at is almost non-existant. To me this is pretty phenominal for a LED driven to about 2.5W. The price for this throw is the almost non-existent sidespill. However, for specific applications where all you want is throw, this is it folks. Sidespill can actually degrade the perceived brightness of a beam when you're trying to reach out and touch someone out in excess of 100 yards. This is because the corona from the near field tends to obscure that object that's way out there. If you can keep everything in the dark except the one that you're reaching out to, that's a far more effective way to illuminate.
I started this out as an experiment, thinking I would restore the KL3 back to its original 5W configuration. Having been unable to wipe the big grin off my face after tonight's hike, I think I'll leave this the way it is. This just totally blew me away. You guys with the big cahuna-long-throw lights from Mr Bulk (reflector) and Elektrolumens (30mm optics), I think I now know how bright your lights really are. I think I see the light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
CM
