Texas_Ace MT09R Modding thread, 20k+ lumens, 80CRI, can start fires? Yes please.

Here is a video showing what this light is capable of after modding:

Here is the cheat sheet for the GT, this driver is basically the same when it comes to the user interface, mostly back end changes since then.

If you need an MT09R for me to mod, Terry is selling them here with a large discount since they currently do not have a driver. He can ship them directly to me for modding.

https://hesaidshesaidsales.com/shop?olsPage=products%2Fhaikelite-mt09r-triple-cree-702

I am offering the following services for the MT09R and MT03 owners out there that want a bit more power from their lights or just want a far far better driver then what came in the lights from the factory.

The XHP70.2 version with either the 4000k or 5700k LED’s are hitting over 20k lumens consistently after modding.

Basically you are adding a Q8 amount of power or more to the light along with Q8 style firmware (the latest Narsil 1.3 vs the Q8 1.0).

I am also using this thread as a build log for the lights I am building, the posts below are taken from the MT09 thread of lights I built last week.

The MT09 driver with your choice of XHP35 or XHP70.2 and choice of 50% ramp or 100% ramp built and tested - $20 + shipping
Shipping in the US Should be $2.90 with tracking, international will need to contact me. I can customize the mode groups and other parts of the firmware as well, such as the moon level, thermal stepdown speed, among other options. Contact me for custom options. Custom options will be $5 since I have to edit and recompile the firmware.

The production drivers will most likely take 4-6 weeks before they are in peoples hands, so this is a way to get a new driver quickly. They should be shipping next week.

Labor for mcpcb removal, LED reflow, reinstall for either xhp35 or xhp70.2 + Driver install and test - $25
Labor for Driver install without LED reflow is $15 which includes my base $5 fee for modding any light to cover my time dealing with said light such as testing, handling, packing, shipping, ect)

Spring by-pass on all 5 springs (the carrier springs are fun to get to) - $10
I do not recommend spring bypass on xhp35 lights, it could overdrive the LED’s they pull right around 8-9A without bypasses which is perfect.

3x XHP70.2 LED’s in the tint and bin of your choice - $35

3x XHP35 LED’s in the tint of your choice - $25

Dedome XHP70.2 emitters - $15
I will slice the dome off all 3 XHP70.2 emitters. I have not tried this in an MT09R yet but in the GT the results were impressive. It increased throw a whopping 40%+! It also makes the hot spot tighter and reduces the dark spot in the middle of the beam. The tint does shift slightly warmer and slightly to the yellow side when dedoming the XHP70.2 but not nearly as bad as emitters from yesteryear.

Return shipping cost for an MT09R is $12 for priority mail in the USA. Contact me for quote on international shipping. I am happy to ship internationally if you pay for shipping.

Laser engraving the TA logo on the light - $8
I can also laser engrave whatever you want if you send it to me, contact me for custom laser engraving quotes. Laser engraving will add up to a week or more to the turn around time of the light.

The options for the xhp70.2 LED’s are as follows, be aware that until a particular reel of LED’s is tried we do not know the lumen output.You can figure it will be a lot better then the stock LED’s though. My guess is 20k+ lumens for these.

I could also mix tints if you wanted as well

Highest P2 bin 70cri XHP70.2 tints:

5700k
4000k

1 bin below P2 - N4 bin 5000k 70cri (should be really close to the Q8 tint)

80cri xhp70.2 Tint options:

4000k - Shown to consistently do 20-23k lumens depending on the LED lottery
3000k - NASA had me install these into a GT for them, looks like an incandescent light, pretty neat actually

In the real world the 80cri have a much lower forward voltage and usually are only a little behind the 70cri in lumens from my testing. For example the P2 4000k in my L6 was a bit over 9k lumens and my 80cri M4 bin 4000k is around 8500 lumens, it just pulls about a fair amount more current to do that.

I can also get different xhp35 HI tints as well:

70cri D2 bin 5700k
80cri C4 bin 4500k
80cri C2 bin 4000k
80cri C2 bin 3000k

XHP35 HD (HD has the dome still on it, a bit less throw but more lumens, I like them in everything but a dedicated thrower myself):

70cri E4 5700k
80cri C4 5700k
70cri D4 5000k
70cri D4 4500k
70cri E2 4000k
80cri D2 3000k

For the LED mods, please place your order as soon as possible so I can combine the LED order. I will most likely place the LED order on Monday or Tuesday. If I have to place an order for just one lights worth of LED’s then I will have to add in the $8 shipping to me for the LED’s

All shipping costs need to be paid by the buyer of course. If I get several people ordering the LED mods at once the order should qualify for free shipping.

Terry have a few MT09R’s left in stock as a big discount since they do not have drivers. You can have him ship them directly to me for modding if you want

Anyone that is interested please PM me and I will give you the payment details.

The drivers are on a first come, first served basis. I don’t think I will be making another batch unless there is a lot of demand. I underestimated how much work it is to make these drivers in bulk.

I would also be interested in trades as well, I am looking for several electronics and computer items. A 12-14.1” laptop for my Mom, about 8-12tb worth of hard drives, a NAS, media streaming box and some reasonably nice monitors (23”+ with display port preferably).

Or let me know what you have.

Here are some reviews of these mods by members:

For those just ordering the drivers, the wiring is pretty simple.

LED + to LED + pads
LED - to LED - Pads

Black switch wire to the RECTANGLE switch GND pad
Red switch wire to the RECTANGLE switch V+ pad
Yellow switch wire to the circle SWLED pad

Snip the end of the blue wire off and stuff it down into the driver cavity.

Everyone should recalibrate the thermal settings of the lights to your own preference

The firmware is setup for a 55c thermal regulation by default but the temp sensor has a ~15-20 degree range which can have it too hot or too cool for some people. If you want your light a different temperature you can easily recalibrate it in the firmware.

See the Narsil Cheat sheet for more info. You want the thermal regulation setting. It is menu 3 when in ramping mode, option 2.

These posts are in order from the MT09R thread to bring everyone up to date.

I just placed an order this morning for another $400 worth of LED’s and components and if the 20 MT09R’s that terry is trying to get to fulfill the waiting list comes through I am sure I will have to make a few more orders like that. I am both hurt and glad to see an order like that lol.

I just got NKresho’s light finished, he got some 5000k emitters from my personal stash and his light is now doing ~21k lumens.

I am going to try and get the individual driver orders finished tonight and then going to call it a night. Might get another light done in the morning tomorrow.

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OMG! This light is now a work of art! Was just out in a field blasting 4000k 80cri’s…awesome tint (everything is brown here right now…took it up against another 9000lumen CW light I have and this thing had way more throw and the tint a nice natural yellowish, while the CW was certainly stark white and blueish. Could definitely tell your light with its tint was a better light up than the cool white. CW was kinda washed out, glarey…while the 70.2 4000k 80CRI was much much brighter, but didnt seem to throw any glare. Almost a magical tint compared to some CW’s and NW’s I have. It almost did appear 3x brighter…if one can even see that…it certainly had way more throw and filled up a much bigger area of the field and trees I was at.

Thanks again for this upgrade…it is quite amazing! Be nice if Haikelite was putting these out for less than the $250 it cost me (base plus upgrades). If they could guarantee they were making the light you sent me…they would knock it out of the park and light up the forums. Its like an insane Q8 now!

Ramping is perfect speed, and its so reassuring to watch it obviously step down as it gets too hot.

A+

This is the reason why I didn’t buy Q8 :smiley:

Finally had time to go outside with my 70.2 and …. Man Without Shadow has already said it better than I can. For me this is now a light worth $250.00

I think it is worth it just for the tint, but the wow factor is right up there with it.

Nice!!! I bet you have a pretty big shadow now, Mr. Man Without Shadow. :stuck_out_tongue:

I’m really glad you took this project on TA, sounds like a blast… literally.

Me too. I have sent my both mt09r in xhp70.2 and xhp35 for the upgrade… i am a big fun of cw… so i went with the 5700k tint.

Thanks for the feedback! Glad they are proving worth the time and effort. This is why I do this whole flashlight thing.

I just hope that Haikelite (and other manufactures) take note of the results that just a little more thought, time, effort and yes, money into a light can have. I have offered my help to many manufactures but most don’t see to take it seriously.

Makes me think about just making my own flashlight brand and doing it my way………. :innocent:

1 Thank

Good to see that several of the lights have arrived now and are working for the end users. It is always a little never racking with a new driver design to see it working in the wild.

I do agree though, this light is now one of my favorite lights. I can’t wait to try an mt03 though, the one I built the other day really looked great for a monster flooder.

Yeah, the results are making it worth the time. Like usual I never expected it to take so much time when I accepted the job lol.

Plus modding these lights is helping to make up for the “discount” I gave haikelite for the drivers themselves. The funny thing is that had they just had me do it from the start as I offered, they could have paid me 2x my asking price and still come out $10k ahead of the losses they have sustained from these bad drivers. :person_facepalming:

I love seeing happy people with monster lights, that makes it all worth it in the end though. Even I get a smile every time I turn on my MT09R. It is so much more refined then my prior 18k+ lumen lights and a FAR better tint.

Yep, your lights showed up today. Not sure if I will get any done tomorrow or how many. Got a birthday in the family so I will be busy most of the day.

I should get to it the next day though, I hope to knock out most of the lights I have now then.

lol TA I can't let you have all of the fun...

This is what a real TA driver can do.

I wish you do start your own brand! You will have my full support!

:innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :innocent: :wink:

You stole the idea for my follow up video lol.

Most likely will still do it, just cause. It is fun setting stuff on fire for some reason.

Damn, I hope you do!
I am fresh in this hobby, but persoally, i would buy all the lights you would make!
As a matter of fact, I am just now trying to get my hands on one of these MT09R’s, since you upraded them :slight_smile:

LOL we still have to stay with the please don't try this at home...

I honestly just wanted to see if the stock NW emitters would do it as easily. I know what the output I am getting is so I was pretty sure that it would work without a problem... Honestly it sets it off much faster than I had though it would. I think we timed it to around 15 seconds and there was flames.