chas Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I recently (more like a year ago...) bought a used KSC Mk23 which included a Marui LAM unit. Since it doesnt work at all, I have decided to give it new internals instead of trying to fix the stock ones, which, BTW, apparently suck when they work, too (dim flashlight, LEDs instead of lasers, I kid you not!). Since the TM LAM unit is so bad out of the box, there are many upgrade guides out there, but since I have no clue about electronics, Im not even going to start to try and master resistors, ohms, fine soldering, etc. I am useless at this stuff and always will be. So I am left with gutting and existing light&laser combo and simply transplanting the internals into the LAM Shell. This is why I am here: to ask you for suggestions on what the donor should be. Im considering an Element LLM01, since the flashlight is ridiculously bright and has great range, has IR and VIS lasers and comes in a compact package. It also uses 2 x CR123A batteries, like most of my flashlights. Cons: the visble laser is not that powerful and the lamp seems to be quite bigger tan the width of the LAM Shell. And it's got multiple settings and way too many buttons, from which I infer that it has more electronics tan can be fit into the small LAM Shell and, as I already stated above, I don't want to cut out things and having it not work in the end. Any suggestion is welcome. P.S. I only want one red laser and the flashlight. If there is room enough, Ill get a a Green laser, too, but no IR. P.S.2: I will probably use the stock lever switch for the flashlight (momentary mode: only on while you press it) and a permanent on/off push button switch for the laser. Link to post Share on other sites
mightyjebus Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 one of the cheap laser/flashlight Peq 15's might be a better option. Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I am watching YouTube videos of those right now (Element, battle axe, FMA, TMC). The Green laser are quite good, but the Red lasers and flashlights, not so much. Link to post Share on other sites
aac Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 can you post some photo's ? Link to post Share on other sites
evansy Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I upgraded mine with one of these cree torches from amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/CREE-Lumens-Flashlight-Zoomable-Torch/dp/B007ZXUUOG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ce_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VWDSVS4W9B26ET97H76 It was a pretty easy job with minimal soldering (3 joints iirc) and the only other tools I used was a dremel to get every thing to fit inside then a glue gun to hold the lamp in place. Now I have a lam with high, low and strobe functions and it's brighter than the original torch as it's running on 4.5v instead of 1.5v Link to post Share on other sites
T3CH Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 That's nice work. Be nice if people would get their 3d printers to make a rail adapter for the mk23. It would simplify my life immensely. Link to post Share on other sites
MadDog Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 I decided to make a LAM unit a while ago for my MK23. Decided to start from scratch as I dident like the marui one, but I can get details of the components I used if its of any interest. I will get some photos later, but my plans are below. Built it with an 800Lm LED and 4mw Green laser (bargain £1.5 laser pen from china). Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted January 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 That's really impressive! A 4mW Green laser, though? Im totally new to lasers, isn't that really low? Link to post Share on other sites
heroshark Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Easy to slap a 20mm rail on. Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted January 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Absolute electronics noob (also, no sense or common logic): Should I find a laser and a flashlight that work with the same voltage, could I simply do this? Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted January 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 For those interested, I reuploaded, as an image, a PDF guide made by a member of this forum. http://imgur.com/jTGhnhC Link to post Share on other sites
MadDog Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 If the laser and flash light are the same voltage then yes, the circuit above will work perfectly. It is possible to step voltages down if you laser needs a lower voltage with a simple circuit if needed, but this decreases efficacy slightly. It would use an LM78## series regulator (eg LM7805 for 5v) Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted January 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 I just purchased the Element replicas of the Surefire M720V and of the SF X300 flashlights. Way brighter and with more range than needed for a pistol light, IMO. Both use 2 x CR123A batteries, which I believe are 3.2-3.3 V. But I dont know if the are in series or in parallel. If they were in parallel (same voltage, double capacity), I would be able to buy a cheap laser module designed to work with 1 x CR123A, wouldn't I? Link to post Share on other sites
MadDog Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 If it's got two batteries in a tube chances are they are in series so the voltage will be added together. If thats the case you would need a 6.6v laser, or a voltage regulator, or separate batteries. Link to post Share on other sites
DeltaZero Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Cor I do like a good technical drawing! That is really impressive! Link to post Share on other sites
MadDog Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 The design is something to do at lunchtime other than browse youtube. Handy when I have Solidworks at hand. Found parts that were similar to what I used on Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/532nm-Green-Laser-Pointer-Light-Pen-Lazer-Beam-High-Power-5mw-18650-Charger-/121314338436 http://www.ebay.com/itm/T6-XM-L-CREE-LED-Bulb-3-mode-Memory-1000-Lumen-UltraFire-Surefire-G-P-Flashlight-/221404570979 Then I can't remember if i used a 5v or 3.3v regulator but both are below http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-3V-Voltage-Regulator-LD1117AV33-ST-Microelectronics-LDO-3-3V-1117-To-220-/251766269499?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item3a9e70663b http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pack-of-10pcs-L7805-LM7805-7805-1-5A-Voltage-Regulator-/271530999204?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item3f38823da4 Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted January 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 If it's got two batteries in a tube chances are they are in series so the voltage will be added together. If thats the case you would need a 6.6v laser, or a voltage regulator, or separate batteries. I just checked my rechargable CR123As: 3.6V. Also, the flashlight that I mentioned use 2 x batteries in series, so 7.2V. I watched a video tutorial on the LM7805 regulator and it says you need to use capacitators? There's only so much room in the stupid LAM unit. Link to post Share on other sites
MadDog Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 The capacitors are important if you have a voltage or current ripple upstream (i.e. you are running off the mains), not so important for a battery circuit, but as they are only pennies in cost, and the size of a lentil its probably worth putting them in. It would also be worth putting a diode in, this will act as a one-way "valve", protecting the circuit against putting the battery in the wrong way round. I can draw a circuit for you if you like, just let me know. Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks a lot, MadDog! As you can see in the pdf i linked to, the main issue here is limited space. I will first have to think about how to make the laser module adjustable (for point of impact). Then decide whether I use the same source for power or what. Link to post Share on other sites
MadDog Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Some pics of my homemade LAM. 1000lm LED, 4mw green lazer, selectable switching to allow momentary switching or permanent on of both lazer and torch. Link to post Share on other sites
aac Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Wow ! looks like a Judge dredd "Lawgiver" gun Link to post Share on other sites
aznriptide859 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Jesus Christ that thing is even larger than the Wolf M97 LAM. Love it though. Link to post Share on other sites
T3CH Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Wow ! looks like a Judge dredd "Lawgiver" gun We do not mention that 'film' if you are on about the Stallone one. Link to post Share on other sites
Apex Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 That looks rather good if i say so myself Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.