Surefire KL4 Flashlight

Clifton Arnold

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Dec 8, 2002
Messages
129
Location
Littleton Colorado
I have just received my new sf kl4 today! I turned it on
and used it for about 5 minutes and it got very hot around
the bezel is this normal. I also own a sf tl-3 and it gets
warm but not hot. I use flashlights a lot with mostly long
on times up to several hours on at a time when working at night. Is there a problem with the l4 doing this. Will the
led and curcuitry handle this. I can tell you that the TL-3
can handle it because I have done it several times and no problems with it to date! will the kl-4 take it. Batterys
are not a problem as I carry 12 in my service truck at all times. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif
 

Darell

Flashaholic
Joined
Nov 14, 2001
Messages
18,644
Location
LOCO is more like it.
Normal. Lots of threads on the subject of L4's and heat. Give the search function a whirl and you'll probably turn up a night's worth of reading. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

Chop

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 22, 2003
Messages
3,635
Location
Louisiana
Clifton,
Yea, the L4's get pretty hot. The only way to prevent this is to either underdrive it some more or convert it to a 1W or 3W setup.
 

FlashlightOCD

Enlightened
Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Messages
931
Location
Central FL, USA
If you want to run it for hours at a time you might consider putting it on a one cell body like the E1e [aka TW4]. It will not be as bright, but it will run much cooler.
 

chamenos

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 2, 2002
Messages
2,141
Location
Singapore
is the KL4 still regulated when running with an E1e or does it dim like an unregulated light?
 

DumboRAT

Enlightened
Joined
Jul 18, 2003
Messages
504
Location
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif back at ya. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It was the final straw that broke me, and I got a TW4 from Dan right after reading that, after weeks of debate with myself.

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 

chamenos

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 2, 2002
Messages
2,141
Location
Singapore
i hear you allen; i have an E1e on the way. after reading that i'll most likely get a KL4 for it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif any idea how much a KL4 on its own costs? i think the KL4 would be very similar to the arc AAA in terms of its runtime characteristics (gradual dimming, but LONG runtime /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif )
 
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