The Malkoff Front Porch

[md17]

Oh, that's interesting. The M31 probably doesn't have much of a draw. I wonder if your new M31WLL will still do that.

I think a lot of us have had mixed results with those buck circuit cells. I have one of those 2.4V Olight cells, and it just...constantly trips. A lot of these buck circuit cells will drop the voltage as they run to "signal" to devices they're nearing a certain threshold of capacity. While that is likely useful for something with a battery indicator, for lights, they tend to shut them off, haha.

Well this is 2 minutes into a cell that’s right off the charger.

 

[Schokokeks]

Well this is 2 minutes into a cell that’s right off the charger.

Yeah...we have a thread somewhere talking about AA 1.5V cells, and a lot of people said they kind of sucked with flashlights.

They seem to be really erratic. Sometimes they work, but then...just...suddenly...nope.

 

[md17]

Yeah...we have a thread somewhere talking about AA 1.5V cells, and a lot of people said they kind of sucked with flashlights.

They seem to be really erratic. Sometimes they work, but then...just...suddenly...nope.

This is the Keeppower rcr123a 3.0v. JP031716 might’ve solved my issue though. I was charging them on a bay charger and not with the usb cord. Once I charged with the cord, they worked. I got about 36 minutes before it suddenly shut off. Not too great.

 

[Schokokeks]

This is the Keeppower rcr123a 3.0v. JP031716 might’ve solved my issue though. I was charging them on a bay charger and not with the usb cord. Once I charged with the cord, they worked. I got about 36 minutes before it suddenly shut off. Not too great.

I found the thread I kind of remember people talking about the weird issues:

Thread 'Do you prefer rechargeable USB-C AA batteries for your everyday power?'

Apr 2, 2026

One of France’s well-known tech review channels, Bricolage c’est cool, recently made an in-depth comparison of USB-C lithium AA batteries against multiple well-known AA brands on the market, and the results were impressive.

In the test, XATR AA 4100 USB-C and AA LR 3000 USB-C batteries delivered the highest measured capacity among all tested models, while also showing the most stable performance under high-power loads.

Unlike traditional rechargeable batteries, USB-C lithium batteries feature a built-in charging system. No need dedicated charger, simply plug a USB-C cable directly into...

• XTAR Light
• Replies: 37
• Forum: XTAR

 

[flashlightinterested]

I was charging them on a bay charger and not with the usb cord. Once I charged with the cord, they worked. I got about 36 minutes before it suddenly shut off. Not too great.

Neither of those things seem that surprising. The battery has a circuit for altering the voltage so it's not that surprising a regular external charger won't work. And the M31 pulls 1.3A, while the battery is rated at 1Ah. So you'd expect it to be dead after 46 minutes based on that math. The battery could be overrated or maybe just rated at a much lower current. Malkoff only claims 45 minutes from a CR123 primary. You are giving up 10 minutes but only paying a few cents to recharge. That's fairly typical of the 16650 vs 2xCR123 comparison as well.

 

[md17]

Got the M31wll. The amount of light from this seems very comparable to the m61wl I have with 200 lumen. I am using the 3v Keeppower cell which has worked well so far, but I did have to cut a couple coils off of the McClicky spring to make it fit without excessive spring crushing.

I’ll try a runtime test soon.

This is how high the 3v cell sits with a regular tail cap spring

 

[JP031716]

Got the M31wll. The amount of light from this seems very comparable to the m61wl I have with 200 lumen. I am using the 3v Keeppower cell which has worked well so far, but I did have to cut a couple coils off of the McClicky spring to make it fit without excessive spring crushing.

I’ll try a runtime test soon.

View attachment 94976


This is how high the 3v cell sits with a regular tail cap spring
View attachment 94977

View attachment 94978

The USB-C ones are a little shorter than these as they fit in my MDC semi-comfortably.

 

[Schokokeks]

Got the M31wll. The amount of light from this seems very comparable to the m61wl I have with 200 lumen.

This is the crazy thing about lower output lights. I'd bought a L, thinking that was going to a bit dim...then you realized you can barely even see a difference between 65 and 200 lumens. I still wonder what the results will be when someone measures a 1xNiMH vs 2x. There looks to be a difference if I REALLY look at them against a wall, but man...I can't tell if I'm using them.

Logarithmic scales will never stop being fun, haha.

 

[JP031716]

Logarithmic scales will never stop being fun, haha.

This is what always impresses me about the HDS rotary is that each of the 23 steps of brightness are clearly discernible from the next. However, if you put level 21 vs 22 next to each other, you wouldn’t be able to tell that they’re any different.

 

[Schokokeks]

This is what always impresses me about the HDS rotary is that each of the 23 steps of brightness are clearly discernible from the next. However, if you but 21 vs 22 next to each other, you wouldn’t be able to tell that they’re any different.

I can't wait for that AA one to eventually happen, because that is a big part of the appeal for me. It's not just arbitrary differences in levels, but set to that just discernible output.

I also think it's funny that many of us get into flashlights, go all in for the brightest ones we can get our hands on, and then dial our way back down, haha.

I've mentioned before, I bought this like 3,000 lumen Acebeam because ON PAPER it seemed like it was going to blow my 900 lumen Wildcat away.
The only difference I could tell was a mild increase in illumination along the out edges of the beam. I was super bummed.
On the upside, I've saved myself a TON of money by not chasing output, realizing now that after about 500-1000 lumens, you need MASSIVE increases to see those differences.

It also reminds me of a friend of mine. He is not really into flashlights, but mentioned he had bought one because, "I've always wanted to see 1,000 lumens."
He was REALLY confused when he got it, because it wasn't much brighter than anything he already had. I explained how this worked, and we chuckled at how much PSYCHOLOGICALLY the numbers play a huge role in our expectations, haha.

 

[leukos]

The human eye has an amazing ability to adjust to different amounts of light. Being able to see in full sunlight with the same eyes we use for moonlight is never lost on me in this hobby. I dropped out of the hobby over a decade ago after I built a light that could replicate both with a true 4,000 lumen high and 1 lumen low. However, high CRI LEDs and higher battery capacities brought me back and also to keep modding and upgrading some of the classics (which definitely includes Malkoffs). Folks who have been around the block in this hobby often develop an appreciation for solid, long running moderate lumen lights.

 

[aznsx]

Anyone else experience difficulties with the Malkoff site of late? I visited to check some details / specs on a couple of M61s, and in each case the product page provides a heading for 'Description', but there's only blank space there; no description, specs, etc. as I normally see. I tried w/3 different browsers with same results.

A site problem would seem odd, as I originally went there via link in a promotional e-mail I'd received from them, and that would make it particularly bad timing for a site problem. Perhaps I'm just in the Twilight Zone (don't say it - that's my home zip code;-)

 

[Schokokeks]

It looks a little different for me right now, and yeah, I'm seeing the descriptions are often cut off a bit on some things. It looks like if it doesn't have a "show more" thing, it kind of fades (I saw that with the 2AA body). It could still just read it, but that was about the worst I saw.

The site might be going through some updates right now. Looks like a good deal of stuff is on sale, too?

 

[aznsx]

Thanks. I tried again and see what's going on now. Now I think maybe whoever did that web page may be in the 'zone' instead of me, but after some clicking and then scrolling down past the video I wasn't interested in, I found what I was interested in. That layout seems very vertically compressed and I had missed some of the page content (the main stuff I was looking for).

 

[Schokokeks]

I wonder if this is a mobile friendlier format. I rarely do things on my phone, but I know phone pages tend to be may more compact, and you often have to click stuff to see more info.

Also, I used this opportunity to FINALLY get an 2AA MDC in neutral. I LOVE the 4000K SST-20, so that should be great. Also, now I have a 2AA body to use with a VME head and my new M31WLL.

I may have also gotten an M91BW, because they're on sale, and it's kind of a crazy good price, and I love the M91BN so much.

 

[Gene43]

Anyone else experience difficulties with the Malkoff site of late? I visited to check some details / specs on a couple of M61s, and in each case the product page provides a heading for 'Description', but there's only blank space there; no description, specs, etc. as I normally see. I tried w/3 different browsers with same results.

A site problem would seem odd, as I originally went there via link in a promotional e-mail I'd received from them, and that would make it particularly bad timing for a site problem. Perhaps I'm just in the Twilight Zone (don't say it - that's my home zip code;-)

Yes. The website is in the process of a massive rebuild/update. If anyone experiences weirdities or otherwise strange behavior from the website, please let us know. We had to make it live in order for some of these issues to reveal themselves. We are in the process of ironing them out.

Thanks, Gene

 

[leukos]

Just a little Malkoff eye candy:

 

[ilikeguns40]

Just a little Malkoff eye candy:

View attachment 95145

I’m guessing that’s a Surefire filter? What’s the color and what you use the filter for?

 

[leukos]

I’m guessing that’s a Surefire filter? What’s the color and what you use the filter for?

It is a diffuser, gives a beautiful flood beam for walking outdoors. I have always liked the flip up option to quickly switch from flood to spot. Never cared for the F04 that required removal. This diffuser is made in the SF FMxx style, but it is an aftermarket for 1” bezels.

 

[jonc2]

It is a diffuser, gives a beautiful flood beam for walking outdoors. I have always liked the flip up option to quickly switch from flood to spot. Never cared for the F04 that required removal. This diffuser is made in the SF FMxx style, but it is an aftermarket for 1” bezels.

2 Questions:

1. Do you have a link for the diffuser?

2. Is the Malkoff pictured the 1-AA?

Exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks!