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?
Ok, i think i just measure then order from some place.
Thanks for the trouble to get a shot :bigsmile:
As i know my J18 (at place with trees or with things in open view) able to shine till “can see” slightly above 100m (330 feet).
Now the trees are cut down, suddenly have a thought of how to get all light to the ground even tho AK 47 have more lumens…
Trustfire 26650 are shortcut protected, this circuit cuts power at over 7A. This is why they don’t work.
What about the Ampere per time, do they decrease or is the driver regulated?
I only know the MNKE cells, according to Jason from EDC+, they are grade “A” cells and are button tops, so they work in any flashlight either individually or used in series without the need for magnets.
I just hope the ENERPOWER protected 26650 4500 mAh cells I purchased, being sent from Germany, will be better than the Trustfire cells under a high load. My sales bill shows they have a 9a protection circuit.
I haven’t figured out the lumens yet, but no question it’s far north of 4000 lumens+
The enerpower perform really good in HKJs test but he tested just samples. The protection kicked in earlier on one cell or so if I remember correctly.
How much did you pay for the enerpower cells?
But the problem is that the king kongs are unprotected and at such high discharge the battery drains so quick that I would recommend a under voltage protection.
Not sure if the KD driver has a working one build in?
Hi Werner,
I just tossed in my Trustfire 26650 cells fully charged to 4.20v each. The AK-47 with the KD driver would not light, only flash for a second. Clearly the Trustfires can’t handle the KD driver. I then tossed in my fully charged MNKE cells fully charged to 4.20v, and the light comes on perfectly including all modes. Tail caps current was 8.15a and current actually holds steady. The MNKE cells are rated at least to 3700mAh, so their capacity is good.
I asked Assi, from Enerpower if I could get a BLF member discount, and he reduced the price from over $27.00 per cell, to $20.66 each including shipping. So it was still a lot of money, but if they work well, and perform better than the Trustfires, but with much more protected capacity, I’ll be happy.
I left the light on medium mode for about 25 minutes time. When I checked tailcap current on high mode, max amps was 5a, so maybe it isn’t regulated. But the batteries all read 3.96v each exactly. So at least they all drained the same in series. The upside is the drivers low voltage protection didn’t kick in, so these cells are really incredible. Also, after that amount of time, the head was 128 degree fahrenheit or 53C and the handle was 99 degrees fahrenheit or 37C. No external cooling was performed.
I didn’t want to run it on high mode and risk burning anything up. I also tried to take a 3 foot ceil bounce lux reading, but on high mode it over powered the meter. I’ll try a 10 meter lux reading tonight.
UPDATE: Likely the reduction in output was the thermal protection kicking in. Thermal protection kicks in about 60c, so it makes sense why I only got 5a, which is actually current on medium mode normally. After allowing the light to cool down, the light kicked back up to high mode and 8.14a tail cap without any additional charge to the batteries. Looks like all is working perfectly, finally!
Using my LX1010B Luxmeter set to 2000, at 10 meters (32.8 feet), I get 880 lux on high mode with the KD driver.
This was in 3 x MNKE 26650 configuration charged to 4.2v, tail cap current 8.15a. Measurement taken after 30 seconds runtime.
have you measured your king at that distance/setting?
Hi Dave,
Typcially I use a 1 meter ceiling bounce for my lights. But the AK with the new driver overpowered the meter at that distance. So I used the 10 meter distance instead. If you need the King tested, I can do it now and send you the reading via PM.