SupFire M6 by Mountain Electronics, RMM's #1

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

**I got lucky.

After discussing the parameters of a light which I hoped to find or have built, Richard (owner/operater of Mountain Electronics, LLC, a favorite supplier here on BLF) told me he had been working on a promising prototype, a highly modded Supfire M6. I offered to buy the prototype if/when it was completed to Richard’s satisfaction.

I have that torch in my hands. I’m still giddy about the shape, the size, the heft, the finish and the comfort-in-the-hand. As for wall beam shots, I literally put on sunglasses to further inspect the beam (for non-existent abnormalities.)

(I haven’t had the appropriate amount of time to use the light in enough settings to feel that I can reliably report on lighting performance. I can tell you that the UI is simply the finest side swith mode I have in my rather large light collection.)

Now, I’ll let Richard outline the mod specs for you:

-Emitters: 3 x XM-L2 T6 3C neutral white LEDs on Noctigon direct thermal path star.
-Driver: Custom built ultra-low-resistance-direct-drive FET with fast (non-visible) PWM. Low voltage ramp down (warning) and shut off, at ~3.0v and ~2.8v respectively. Can be overridden by user by holding down power button for emergency situations if batteries are drained.
-User Interface: Six useful modes, 45 second step down from high to prevent overheating (can be overridden). Short press cycles modes forward, long press (~0.35 seconds) cycles modes backwards. This means from an off position, you can start in either the highest or lowest mode.
-Power Level: Dependent on cells used, as they are the limiting factor. Four Samsung 20R cells draw over 18A. Protected cells can be used but output will be reduced depending on cell type and protection circuit resistance, button top type recommended.
-Lumen Output: 4,000 lumens at startup with four Samsung 20R cells.

Unless you absolutely have to do your own mods on this terrific budget host, I am confident in recommending the modded Supfire M6 by Mountain Electronics. (Numbers 2 through ??? shoukld be just as nice as #1.)

2

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a real winner. Finally, a SRK-type light that may need no modding. Way to go RMM.

3

How is the moonlight mode? If you can, please compare it to the moonlight mode of other lights.

4

Wow, what a great UI.

Love the ability to use the light even when the cells are drained.

5

Thanks for sharing! Richard always does good works.
A question, how do you turn it off?

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I count 7 levels on my RMM SM6.

Lowest mod is casting a gentle, faint beam of ~ 12” diameter with soft edges, no rings and no corona onto a ceiling 5’ above the light in a darkened room. For me, its the lowest possible usable light, and to have it included in this monster is a big bonus.

The light is completely controlled by the side button/switch (which, by the way, has very positive “clickiness” without much effort). “On” is achieved with the first press; advance or decline brightness levels as described in my post above; “Off” achieved by long press in moonlight/firefly/lowest or turbo/scorch mode. I enjoy the “ladder up” and “ladder down” change of levels with single presses (of slightly different duration) - makes it very easy to achieve the perfect level of lighting for the task at hand.

Note on modes: I am sure that the modes are not stricly linear and proportional, but they appear that way to my untrained eye.

I’ll be glad to answer any other questions - best I can - anyone might have.

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Careful. I'm sure this fully modded M6 is not what he is selling for $38.50. I'm assuming for that price, you get the stock M6 with XML's. This one probably has $30 in extra parts alone (3 emitter on copper, custom driver).

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want to know how much it will cost 0:)

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Somewhere back in this thread, Richard mentioned that he was getting a batch of M6s and was thinking about modding a few (like he does with other hosts) for sale.

I am certain that the $38+ price he quoted is for the stock light.

I should have made that clear in my original post; I (like all others) am still uncertain of Richard’s intentions/pricing.

IMHO, the light I describe is a bargain up to $_. You all and Richard will make that decision.

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The SupFire M6 is NOT an SRK variant. Radically different light with robust construction throughout. The emitter shelf is integral in the head, the entire top end was carved out a single piece of aluminum. Heat sinking is great in this light. No flimsy little disk sitting in a hollow head.

12

DBCstm is spot-on correct with his differentiation between the lights.

As I type this, I have both at my desk. From merely the physical differences (weight, Anno, machining, glass, button push, etc.), I could fill a sheet of paper. I am a layman of lights.

Someone else with technical expertise could, I am sure, fill the other side of the paper with plusses for the M6.

I was prepared to buy a stock M6 on its own merits before talking with Richard.

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I believe it uses the same size driver, lens and reflector, so I'm okay if folks call it a variant or SRK version 2. It's definitely not a clone though. Even the clones have vastly different construction even though they look roughly similar externally.

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Different driver, different reflector, everything about it is different. I’ve modded the SupFire M6, a SkyRay Kung and SkyRay King all at the same time, the King and Kung were VERY similar but not identical, the M6 is a totally different beast.

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You didn't deny what I said. Same size driver, same size reflector, same size lens.

SRK clones already use different drivers, so it doesn't matter if the M6 uses another one so long as it's the same size. The first M6 group buy had the reflector changed out to a standard SRK reflector, so it's not different, just different in this batch.

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all emitters make light, for the most part, so I guess they’re all the same as well.

The 3 lights I had in hand, and tore apart, were vastly different…so much so that it seems ludicrous to imply they’re the same or even similar.

I’d not have a King/Kung if you were giving em away. I’ve been trying to get my hands on an M6 for a while now. After working on about 250 lights, this fact alone speaks volumes. Immediately after modding the M6, I contacted SupFire and got on board…I was that impressed with their fit and finish. I just didn’t get on board with the M6 due to the insane shipping costs.

17

Uh, okay. SRK variants are very similar, but so vastly different it's ludicrous, and are and are not variants because they use different drivers. Wut? I can't make heads or tails of your point, but I'll agree that this M6 is a better light than the real or clone SRK's and SRKung's.

Like I said, they all appear to use the same dimensions as far as the driver, lens and reflector goes, so that creates a lot of modding options. AR lens, BLF "SRK" drivers and a 6-7 emitter reflector is on the list. I might even try swapping the tailcap with another SRK variant.

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I wish Supfire let us buy just the driver alone… so I can put it on my other SRKs :smiley:

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he said in one thread the modded M6 would be $70, i think.—-
but i guess that was a ballpark figure.
he does good deals so i plan to get one depending on price.
i like the driver.
does he sell just the driver ??

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The driver in these is his custom remote switch FET Qlite.