dthrckt wrote:

so….what will happen if I get one and I just replace the resistor w/ copper wire J)

Nice job on finding and fixing. It is worth noting that many of us thoroughly inspect a budget light before use

Thanks Dt. Interesting idea, like putting a penny in place of a fuse.

Beyond the driver issue, the light is great and arrived in flawless condition. I wasn’t initially able to remove or unscrew the reflector to get a look what’s underneath, but will get to that point soon. Threads were excellent and I love the reflector. Initially, it appears it may have a narrower beam profile compared to the Skyray 9x, but I’ll have to see for sure outside tonight.

Here is the Amazon link I purchased from. If you don’t have a Prime account, I think shipping may be about $6.00

http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Trustfire-Waterpro...

dthrckt wrote:

Could you take a current measurement w/ 2 cells?

Dave, I get 5.75a with two cells. Same current as 3 cells. However, unlike my Skyray version, this one works great with 2×26650’s.

gords1001 wrote:

Nice price, and even nicer that the repair was fairly simple.

How big is that animal in person? Looks like the trustfire thrower host (can’t remember the model sorry).

Here are the hand-holds in both configurations for you. Also, the cooling fins are more compact on this one than the Skyray, but I doubt it’ll have any negative effects.

AK-47 in 2 × 26650 (Works great with 2 cells, also 5.75a at tail)

Here in full 3 × 26650 configuration (5.75a at tail)

OP updated with beam shots.

Added a few extra photos to the original Post

FMcamaroZ28 wrote:

makes me almost want to sell my Sky ray and pick up the AK

nice post richie.

Thanks FM, I had the same thought as well. But I decided since I love the AK so much, I’m going to modify the Skyray LED’s will all new wiring. Likely 22 gauge and see how much output increases. So I’m going to keep it.

Werner wrote:

Is the driver current regulated?

I’m not sure if it is or not. But I love the driver in it due to its versatility and have no intensions of replacing it with anything else.

Werner wrote:

Have you tried running it with C cells?

Yes, it needed 4 x C cells to fill it. Naturally it was much dimmer than with Li-ions, but all modes worked fine. Tail cap current was .80a on high mode.

The Skyray 9x T6 would not light up at all with 4 x C cells.

UPDATE

The AK-47 exhibits an extremely slow pulse of PWM on low and med, slower than what a heart beat would be and none on High mode.

However, the Skyray 9x T6 exhibits a slightly faster PWM pulse on all modes, low, med and high.

The more I use the AK-47, confirms my initial feelings about it being a better light than the Skyray.

Werner wrote:

Lol faster PWM is better….

Iam not sure how you checked it, but you can quickly place the head to a bit cloth and you will here the noise the higher the noise the higher the PWM frequency. But i can never judge about how good PWM is because I am not one of the sensitive gays guys.
Compare it with a BLFA( and you will here a really high sound compared to the most stock trustfires and so on.

Too sad that 4xC s won’t work… I like that on the TF3T6 so much…

Hey Werner,

Yes, I’m aware of the cloth method and have used it. With the cloth method, AK produces a hardly noticable whine on Low, and Med, but not on high mode. The Skyray produces a clearly audible whine on all modes.

Typically to check PWM, I mount my camera on a tripod and point the light at a wall and count pulses, if any.

By removing the reflector, which requires popping out the driver and removing 2 screws under the reflector and replacing the + and – wires down to the driver with 22 gauge silver wire (same as Old-Lumens uses) on 3 × 26650’s you can increase power to each LED to just over 6 watts+, up from about 5.82w, but my cells static voltage was 4.05 at this point.

Thats taking into account my Trustfire 5000mAh cells don’t dip below 3.8v each under load and assuming an 80% driver efficiency. I’m sure replacing all the 30 gauge wires actually connected to each LED, would increase this number quite a bit more.

Testing the KD driver only using 2 × 26650’s in this light and on high mode, (they don’t work with 3 cells) the stock driver performed better on high mode with the same 2 × 26650’s.

OP updated with additional requested beam shot comparisions.

Werner wrote:

Nice pics.
Thats what i like so much about my 9T6 it makes everything bright.
You can clearly see the superb King makes a lot light but with the 9 XML lights the house in the back, the wall on the right everything gets lighted up.

In the first Beamshots the AK74 looked a bit brighter than 9xT6 but in the now posted pics I cant really see a difference between the two.

Thanks Werner,

I decided to use a 100 foot beam shot this time. It really allowed all the lights to stretch their legs and show what they each can do. Unfortunately since I’ve posted the Amazon link I purchased it from, they seem to be sold out now.

I believe it was Ric from CNQ that told me once, when unusual lights like the 9x T6’s first come out, he isn’t sure how popular it’ll be. So he’ll only purchase may 6 or 12 and see what happens. Then if the light takes off, he has to get more. Maybe that’s why everyone that’s been purchasing from him, they are all getting different named versions of it. But I’ve only seen this version I have of the AK-47 that can actually be used with only 2 cells if needed. Interesting.

blueb8llz wrote:

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 2× 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.

Dexter Tang wrote:

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.

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.