thanks richie for them beamshots! it was exactly what i needed. i think i am now convinced on the 9xml’s .
so is amazon the cheapest place to buy the ak47? after brief research, it looks to be the cheapest and the fastest delivery.
hay so since using 2x 26650 is the same tail cap voltage, so you didnt see any change in brightest with your naked eye?
only reason is because i only have two 26650’s and prefer not to buy another if i dont have to.
will king kong’s fit?
Hey Blueb8llz,
Yes, there is a 20% reduction not using the light with 3 cells. That extra voltage from the 3rd cell adds a lot, but it still produces a great amount of light. Honestly, the AK-47 is a wonderful light in 2 cell configuration, I couldn’t imagine you’d be disappointed with it.
It’s unfortunate the Skyray isn’t designed for 2 cell operation. I’m trying to get my hands on original stock drivers for the AK-47 so I can toss one in my Skyray 9x T6 for times I don’t want to use it in 3 cell configuration. KK raised top cells would work, but flat tops cells would not. I also purchased some UNprotected MNKE IMR 26650’s from Jason at EDC+, that work excellent due to their raised tops. http://edcplus.com/mnke-imr26650-3700mah-p-5.html
The other problem is over the last week or so, there have been so many different versions of this light that have suddenly popped up, it’s difficult to say what light or driver version would show up at your door. To be safe, that Amazon retailer has restocked and now shows them in stock. At least purchasing from them, if they don’t send what you want, it’s easy to return it back to Amazon. I’d say they are your best bet, not to mention these lights have also suddently gotten expensive depending on whom you purchase from.
If you get one, please post back about it.
My cousin got a nitecore tm15 at 2000 lumen yet my trustfire ak 47 supposedly at 10000 lumens is dimmer. I opened it up to take a look if its then resistor is not connected and to my surprise, the resistor arent there at all.
Any ideas to solve this issue?
Dexter,
So I assume the driver appeared to look exactly like the one in my photo of my AK-47? I just want to make sure yours has the same driver as mine. If possible, see if you can post a photo of the driver.
Its exactly the same driver just without the resistor. I am using my phone to type this so cannot post picture. Can just use copper wire to connect the two ends?
I have got one of the resistor in place but the other one (closer to the edge) is missing
To the right of that large capacitor, you should see a total of 3 resistors. If you only see 2 of them, then one is missing, which is the one that was falling off on mine, and resoldered on.
This is all mess. I would like to start project about finding good and quality drivers and place to buy, so we can have clear situation.
I had problems with KD 5 led driver, now I wait for KD 9 led driver which is junk as Richie said.
We must find good and reilable high power drivers to sort this mess. Price is not the problem, 30 - 50 USD driver is ok as long as it is real deal-
Tell me your thoughts.
Brian,
Yep, it is a mess. If you get the KD 9 driver, just use it with 2 cells and it should be okay.
“Hi friend,it will be the same as we described. Output power：3-4 li-ion battery LED current 2.8-3A，70-100W. Modes: High 10% Mid 30% Low 5% ”
This is what KD engenear told me. So no strobe no sos and high power with 3 or 4 bat.
We need to find good drivers for multiple XML lights. In this moment I have TR-3T6, SR King and TR-J12 and AK47 on the way, all multiple XML
Lets go start topic?
“Hi friend,it will be the same as we described. Output power：3-4 li-ion battery LED current 2.8-3A，70-100W. Modes: High 10% Mid 30% Low 5% ”
This is what KD engenear told me. So no strobe no sos and high power with 3 or 4 bat.
We need to find good drivers for multiple XML lights. In this moment I have TR-3T6, SR King and TR-J12 and AK47 on the way, all multiple XML
Lets go start topic?
Guys, you can use the KD 9x driver in these lights but only on 2 cells. As an example below:
AK-47 stock driver - 2 x 26650 Trustfire cells HIGH mode 4.50a+ tailcap or 2.96w per LED.
AK-47 KD 9x driver –2 x 26650 Trustfire cells HIGH mode 4.55a tailcap
AK-47 KD 9x driver - 2 x 26650 MNKE IMR UNprotected cells - 7.85a tailcap or 5.1w per LED.
The MNKE cells are perfectly at home in a light that pulls this much power and capable of pushing more power than this. In fact, the cells were holding that current rather than the Trustfire 5000mAh cells that start to fall off steadily.
Even though this KD driver is a 5-mode with blinkies, on 2 cells, it’s nearly as bright and powerful as the stock driver is on 3 cells.
To go with the MNKE cells, it’s $15.00 per cell plus some shipping, but they are as good as you can get in unprotected cells.
If you love the AK-47 in 3 cell configuration, try it in 2 cells. It’s one heck of a powerhouse in a more compact light and looks fantastic.
Hi folks,
I tossed the encapsulated KD 9x LED driver in my AK-47 to add a few photos. One shot is with 2 MNKE IMR 26650 Unprotected cells, and the second shot is with the same MNKE cells, but 3 of them this time. The driver actually worked this time flawlessly. However, when I tried to show comparision beam shots using 2 and 3 Trustfire 5000mAh cells charged only to 4.11v, the light wouldn’t work. I tried 6 different Trustfires, and the same thing happened. Makes me wonder.
NOTE: Camera settings are the same as all I’ve taken at, Manual exposure, 1.3 sec, f/2.8, ISO 80. Those streams you see are some snow falling. With a properly working KD driver (this time) You’re talking 90 watts before any inefficiencies or 8.11 amps at the tail, so take a look at these compared to my previous photos in my OP. This is WOW!
AK-47 2 x MNKE UN-protected 26650 - KD Driver - Tailcap 7.85 amps 5.1 watts to each LED.
AK-47 3 x MNKE UN-protected 26650 - KD Driver - Tailcap 8.11 amps 90.02 watts before inefficiency, 8 watts to each LED after
calculating 80% efficient. This driver may be less efficient than 80%.
Nice…can’t wait for my ak 47 to reach too…
Oh, bty> those red O-rings, where you get them from?
Do you happen to know if the red o-rings that fit your ak 47 the handle there;does it fit TF- X100 and TF-J18 as well, as all are using 26650, i guess the metal tube size should be more or less the same?
Also, can this ak 47 shine wall of light bout 200 metres brightly? (bout 600 feet). Cos i needed to illuminate that range. I know my J18 cannot.
If cannot, i have to ask vendor to change this Ak 47 to HID as it is shipping with X100 & some other etc on monday with EMS.
Thanks.
Edited:Not really brightly, i meant “can see” :zipper_mouth_face: , bring down to 150 meters (450 feet).
that thing is nuts w/ KD driver and 3x26650
you must be happy you bought those mnke cells!
Hi Cop,
The red o-rings were just some spares I had around. The reason they work on the Ak-47 is because in the areas on the handle, there are recesses cut into it, so the orings sit right into them and stay there. They would only work if the X100 has similar recess cuts into the handle.
As for lighting up 200 meters, I can’t say since I haven’t tried it in an open field. But if the light continoues to work, I’ll try and get a shot for you. I can only say, at this point, this light with this KD driver (temporarily working) I have no other light, whether LED or HID that has this much light out the front. Sorry I can’t give you a specific answer as yet.
Hey Dave,
Yeah, that encapsulating you did for me on the driver seems to be great, thank you. I’m just very confused at this point. I’m fully charging my Trustfire cells to see what happens in this light. For the time being, I’m going to leave the KD driver in the AK-47 unless it starts to screw up again. Maybe the AK is wired slightly different than the Skyray 9x, I’ll have to check under the reflector of the AK and see if it’s 3s3p as the Skyray. I can’t believe it could be the Trustfire cells since they are not crappy batteries. I have some experimenting to do as see what I come up with. I have a hobby charger on the way, which will really help me with my cells.
you’re welcome
yeah, I’m confused, too. I didn’t think it could be the cells, since the TFs giving more current per cell in 2s config than in 3s.
maybe it has low voltage protection, and ‘thinks’ it is running in 4s.
2.8V * 4 cells would be 11.2V
11.2 divided by 3 cells is 3.73…and the TF might sag to that right away, but the mnke don’t. you might test it w/ the mnke discharged to 3.7V each and see what happens. That will be easy to do w/ your new charger 
wow thats really great richie. are those mnke cells suppose to be better than king kongs. how many lumens you think your ak47 is doing now?