TK75 teardown, resistor mod and R86 edition

Thanks ImA4Wheelr and jacktheclipper.

I know that exact switch can handle 10-12A perfectly fine. Im running roughly half of that through it. I know others had more current through one.

I would not worry about accidental turn on with my light.

1. Pressing the mechanical switch requires a slightly deeper press compared to the left. Super easy to do with the finger, but less chance of accidentally doing it compared to stock E-switch.

2. You can active "super lock". Requires double tap on E-switch in order to turn the light on. Those double taps must be within 0,3 seconds of each other.

3. You can make sure it does not start up when the driver gets power from the mechanical switch.

4. You can do like me and make sure it always starts in lowest mode when its turned on.

5. You can active "sleep", so in case it turns on (programmed to low), it will turn off when there is no activity in a certain amount of time (you chose this too. 15 minutes is the lowest setting. 15 minutes of low will not drain batteries much).

6. If it turns on, on a high setting and gets hot. There is always temperature monitoring that will dim it down to a certain level.

7. If you for some reason still should be able to accidentally turn the light on and drain it. The low voltage cut off will avoid to drain the batteries completely.

I always use lockout. TK75 does not really have that unless battery tube is almost all the way out. But with mechanical switch and all the other stuff programmed right, there is absolutely no need to worry about taking out the cells and such in this light. Programmed "correctly" its about 1000x safer compared to stock TK75 (I made that number up), and a 10000x (I made that number up) safer compared to a resistor modded light that might kill the driver if it turns on in a bag.

Ive never used a driver that is close to having near the same amount of safety features. When that is said you can also make it start in high, and have no safety features. J)

Grumpy cat approves of startup in high. 6,6A to each emitter and no safety features. Preferably with 4 unprotected Ultrafire batteries in series.

well done.

Well. Seeing what you did with the TK75... imagine what you could do with a light that has five reflectors like that instead of three? That should be reason enough :p

Thanks nofearek9.

I dont think the stock X60 driver can do that much more based on the information available, and then there might be potential issues with the battery carrier. And sadly, I am not aware of any good replacement driver options for the X60. That is a typical issue when it comes to lights with magnetic rings.

I do know of a few half decent things to do with the X60 light that would increase output. But those things would not involve the magnetic ring. Maybe not even the charging system and stock battery monitoring. So im not so sure that it would be worth doing.

With the TK75 mod I felt that I not only added output, but also features.

You had me at "Tearing".

You convinced me to order one of these bad boys. I struggled between the X60 and this light ever since I read this thread. I had to limit myself to one or the other for financial reasons. The X60 is no doubt a kick ass light with a couple big advantages over this light. What convinced me was that it physically hurts for me to not be able to mod a light. I may not even mod a light, but I want to be able to readily mod it should I decide I want to. Technology marches on and I would no doubt want to upgrade the driver on a beauty like this at some point in the next 30 years.

Plus, as you also pointed out. it doesn't hurt that this light has a shorty configuration.

Thank you for sharing your tear down,mod and also your well thought out conclusions. You da man.

P.S. The kiss and wink are a joke. My wife would kick my and your ass up and down South Carolina and Norway if they were real.

:D

I hope you are not overpaying. I got my TK75 XM-L2 for 150$.

I hear you on the X60. You could do an emitter mod though. That is what Im trying to tell myself. Actually, I would have to do that. But not sure if that would cure the itch. I have not decided on that light yet. My X40 should (finally) arrive on Monday. Thinking Ill see how I like that.

I was able to get a new one with xm-l2 domestically for $140, no extension tube. Should get it in just a few days. No mod plans yet. Will use in stock config for awhile.

EDIT: Link for light:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181428278688?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

That's a very good deal! Lowest I ever paid for mine was $100, but that was for an xml version, and off of marketplace.

you rock! your numbers are outstanding

Awesome mod, Racer!!

Just received mine today. Very sweet light. Really a very nice mix of throw and flood. It's impressive stock at almost 3 amps/emitter. Gotta be fire breathing dragon at almost 7 amps. Now I have a whole new appreciation for your mod.

Thanks ImA4Wheelr.

Certainly agree. I really like the beam, quite wide flood, but good range. A nice mix as you say. In general I prefer the wider and shorter reflectors, so the light is right up my alley. I liked TK75 instantly.

Hopefully Ill get around to do a beamshot comparison with some other "rivals" (still waiting for my K40M). Got X40 on monday, and there is no competition when comparing the modded TK75 and stock X40 IMO. Been using both lights several nights and doing back to back comparisons. X40 is a nice light, but with its deep "narrow" reflectors, not really my type of beam.

Enjoy your light buddy.