Elzetta AVS Upgrade (2021): Bravo and Charlie

adamlau

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Confirmed Changes
Unaddressed Gripes
  • High spring pressure prevents both head and tailcap lockout
  • Tailcap lockout exposes the tail end o-ring: Full coverage lockout preferred
  • Uneven centering of the emitter: Standard AVS lens not for WWH
Other Thoughts
  • Supplied CR123A all at 3.15v and above
  • Flood lens perfectly masks uneven emitter centering: Good for WWH
  • Vortex Defender Flip Cap 32 fits loose and may not be the best option for a flip-based lens cap
  • Thyrm Switchback 2.0 installs well: Minor o-ring displacement under full compression 1​
  • Switchback 2.0 works with High/Low tailcap: Can operate with one-hand
  • Added #112 o-ring at AVS head for the Bravo; #205 will also work
  • Addition of #112/205 to the Charlie leads to excessive spring pressure (IMO)
  • XM-L3 compares against the smaller footprint LUXEON V and the SST-40
1​ Replaced Thyrm supplied o-ring with Viton D75 #018​

Silent switch and additional discussion: Elzetta - The industry's best kept secret.

Tailcap Draw (High)
  • 1x16650 (Orbtronic) 4.2V : 1.5A
  • 1xCR123A (Battery Station) 3V: 0.1A
  • 2xCR123A (Battery Station) 6V: 1.5A
  • 3xCR123A (Battery Station) 9V: 1.5A
  • 2x14500 (Vapcell H10) 8.4V: 1.5A
  • 2xAA (Energizer Lithium) 3.6V: 0.5A
  • 2xAA (Energizer Lithium) 3.2V: 0.35A
  • 2xAA (eneloop Pro) 2.9V: 0.3A
  • 2xAA (eneloop Pro) 2.7V: No Draw
Sanyo UR16650ZTA 2500mAh (Magenta) is a candidate for maximize runtime (with 1xCR123A spacer as required).

AS568 O-ring Sizes
  • AVS Optic = #024
  • AVS Bezel = #024
  • Body Head = #119
  • Body Tail #018

MD91T XP-L HI 8.4V High | AVS 8.4V Standard/High

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  • Throw advantage at laser ranged 115m: AVS (Charlie)
  • Total spill advantage at laser ranged 115m: AVS (Charlie)
  • AVS features a tighter, more intense yellow/white hotspot with a purple tinted corona
  • M91T specified at 19000 lx at 1m. AVS specified at 18300 cd at unknown distance
  • Wider hotspot of the M91T provides more even illumination downrange

M61 SST-20 5700K 8.4V Low | AVS 9V Standard/Low

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AVS 6V Flood/High | Color Rendition

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  • Flood lens is a pebbled TIR (clear and unfrosted)
  • Color checker reveals good color separation and acceptable accuracy
  • White reference square reflects a highly accurate representation with this sample
  • Lack of a CRI call out within the official XM-L3 datasheet suggests ≤ 70 CRI

XM-L3 MCPCB

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  • 20mm star MCPCB with an aluminum base
  • Exact flux and tint bin unspecified by Elzetta
  • Solder joints appear to be conformal coated

Elzetta Charlie | Right Logo Pocket

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Elzetta Bravo + ZSM Mount | Benelli M4

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YUJILED BC 3030 4000K | Samsung LH351D 5700K | Cree XM-L3 6200-6500K (AVS 4.2V Low)

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  • Mule shots taken sans reflector and/or optic
  • YUJILED BC 3030 4000K = 95+ CRI minimum
  • Samsung LH351D 5700K = 90 CRI minimum
  • Samsung LH351D 5700K closer to 5400K

Workaround: Lock Out

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  • Tailcap lock out is not a feature despite anodized threads at the body tail
  • Insulator placed in between tailcap and the cell end can provide lock out

Workaround: Thyrm Switchback 2.0

krytox.jpg


  • Mating surface increases the resistance and effort required to engage/disengage tailcap modes
  • Application of Krytox or similar along the interior channel of the Switchback 2.0 can decrease said resistance

Workaround: 2x14500

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  • 2x14500 compromises runtime for performance
  • Button top concentrates load caused by high spring pressure
  • Result is stress which can lead to casing deformation at the negative
  • Flat top cells distributes the same load across a larger surface area
  • Suggestion is to consider flat top cells for 2x14500 in series

AVS 8.4V Standard/High | HD 18650 XT (5° Diffuser) 5700K 4.2V High

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  • Laser ranged 55m to small tree
  • HD 18650 XT showcases a clear throw advantage
  • HD 18650 XT off 1 x Molicel P26A
Need additional time in darkness before composing additional thoughts and shots :)
Keeping this separate from the main Elzetta thread for now, easier to update...

AVS 8.4V Standard/High | HD XP-L HI 6500K 8.4V High

Beam shot session forthcoming...
 
Last edited:

thermal guy

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So the new charlie out throws the 91T? And I'm guessing we lost that neutral kinda tint of the old AVS? And not understanding your draw results.
 

neutralwhite

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thanks a lot Adam. wow, a 6500-7000k Tint? I guess the neutral 80 CRI is gone?
look forward to this temp and tint shots.
what is WWH?.

I am also wondering if the Bones' LED will be the same then.
?
 
Last edited:

adamlau

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The upgraded Charlie out throws the M91T around the house. Will need to take another look outside when night falls and update with shots and commentary then. Will verify the tint in mule form without the optic. Draw tests incomplete, only tested 1x16650 for now. Since we are only testing the AVS head, 1x16650 applies to both the Bravo and Charlie (with a 1xCR123A spacer). WWH = White Wall Hunting. The tint looks high at first glance, but may be lower. I am wondering if Elzetta simply went with a higher flux and tint bin of the same emitter to achieve the additional output, or a higher tint of the same emitter advanced one or two generations...Will check the LED later on tonight.

The upgraded Charlie out throws the M91T around the house. Will need to take another look outside when night falls...
Performed multiple single-blind, impromptu tests with several family members who were holding books in darkness as the area was A/B illuminated from a distance of 78m. According to consensus views at both the source and destination, the AVS edged out the M91T. Will shoot the next session at a greater distance, today was merely establishing protocols by which to test. Throws straight into the sky also favored the AVS when viewed at the same distance and closer.
 
Last edited:

xxo

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I really liked the tint on the old AVS heads. I could also do without the higher lumens – would much prefer if they redesigned the optic for more throw while keeping the wide spill.
 

thermal guy

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I really liked the tint on the old AVS heads. I could also do without the higher lumens – would much prefer if they redesigned the optic for more throw while keeping the wide spill.

Absolutely agree. Tint is beautiful on mine.
 

Tac Gunner

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I've got an old AVS Bravo on my shotgun and thought it to be about the perfect hard use light. Sucks they changed the color tint, they always marketed how much better the color rendering was of their lights and why that's important in the situations they were designing the light for.
 

neutralwhite

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True, but Maybe that's a HCRI cool or better than 70/75CRI?.
I doubt that but could be.


I've got an old AVS Bravo on my shotgun and thought it to be about the perfect hard use light. Sucks they changed the color tint, they always marketed how much better the color rendering was of their lights and why that's important in the situations they were designing the light for.
 
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