Both heads fit the same body. The difference is where the light goes.
Lumens mean the total amount of light. Candela is how much of it is packed into the centre of the beam, and that’s what reaches the far end of a field.
The PLHv3 puts out 1,500 lumens and 60,000 candela: a defined hotspot with plenty of spill around it, for indoors and out. It replaces the PLHv2, which is still the name most people search for.
The OKW v2 gives up some spill for reach. At 1,300 lumens and 95,000 candela, it throws a tight beam for open ground and magnified optics, and it gets through window tint better than a wider beam.
For short distances, pick the PLHv3. Long ones, OKW v2. Pick the OKW v2 if your distances are longer than a hallway.
Both heads are 269,90€ on their own if you already run a Modlite body.
18350 or 18650?
Modlite bodies come in two lengths, and the number is the battery size.
The 18350 keeps the light short for carbines and short-barrelled rifles. It runs for about 35 minutes on high. The 18650 is longer but runs for about 75 minutes, and it can also take two CR123s when you're out of rechargeables.
One CR123 on its own won't power any Modlite head. Don't plan around the single spare in your kitchen drawer.
Spare cells come in pairs: the 18350 2-pack (24,90€) and the 18650 2-pack (39,90€).
Modlite rifle light: the Fuel packs
The Fuel packages are the easiest way in. Each one comes with the light, a GASCAP USB-C tailcap and an XTAR charger. Modlite backs the Fuel packages with a lifetime guarantee. You pick the head and the battery size:
The mount isn't included, so you can choose one that suits your rail. The Haley Strategic Thorntail X sits the light close to a 1913 rail and leaves room for thumb-over-bore activation. There's also an M-LOK version.
Modlite pistol light: PL350 G3
The PL350 G3 (369,90€) comes with either the PLHv3 or the OKW v2 head. The battery comes out the front, so you can change it without taking the light off the pistol.
Gen 3 adds a switch stop screw that locks out travel on one side, which helps prevent accidental activation. Metal and polymer rail lugs are both in the box.
The PL350 runs for about 30 minutes on its 18350, and it doesn't take CR123s. For carry, you'll also need a holster cut for the light.
Switches: ModButton Lite, GASCAP and Unity AXON
Older tape switches can cost you around 15-20% of your light's output. Modern heads pull more current than those switches were built to pass. A newer switch gets you the candela you actually paid for.
- ModButton Lite (99,90€): a momentary pressure switch with a Picatinny rail grabber. It mounts on either side and is made in the USA. The SNAP adapter (from 17,90€) gives you more ways to place it.
- GASCAP LINK USB-C Tailcap (139,90€): Unity Tactical's tailcap with its own full-size button. If the remote cable gets damaged, you can still run the light from the back.
- Unity AXON (from 209,90€): one button for the light and another for the laser. On the SYNC version, the light button turns on both.
- Unity AXON-SL (159,90€): a single angled button that gives you momentary and constant-on for a light.
Modlite IR head for night vision
The Multi-Mode IR Head (329,90€) turns a Modlite into an illuminator for night vision. It comes in two wavelengths.
The 850 nm version reaches about 275 metres (300 yards), but the emitter can show a faint glow from the front. The 940 nm version is invisible to the naked eye and floods out to about 70 metres (75 yards), which suits closer work. It's a head only, so you'll need a Modlite body to run it.
Noxon: the Modlite engine for less
Modlite also has a lower-priced line called Noxon. The Havok rifle light runs on Modlite's light engine and costs from 239,90€ with a battery and charger in the box. It's a good place to start if the Fuel packages stretch the budget.
Modlite – Finally in the EU
Modlite is an American brand. Ordering one from the US means paying import VAT when the parcel lands, usually with a courier handling fee on top.
So we keep the range in Helsinki instead. The price you see already includes VAT, and Posti and FedEx show their delivery options before you pay.
Your light might arrive before you've finished the forum thread about which head to buy.
FAQ
Is the PLHv3 the same as the PLHv2?
The PLHv3 is the newer version of the same head. It puts out 1,500 lumens and 60,000 candela, and it's the PLH head Modlite currently sells.
Can I run a Modlite on CR123 batteries?
Yes, but only two CR123s in an 18650 body. A single CR123 won't power any Modlite head, and the PL350 doesn't take CR123s at all.
Does the Fuel package include a mount?
No. You get the light, the GASCAP tailcap and a charger. The mount is your choice.
Do you ship Modlite across the EU?
Yes. We ship from our warehouse in Helsinki to the rest of the EU. VAT is included in the listed price, and there are no customs charges on deliveries inside the EU.
Rules on weapon-mounted lights and IR illuminators vary between countries, so check yours before you order.
