Protected 16340s for M6 MB20

[vicv]

Just highlighting a word for clarity.

Is the issue with purchasing cells like (for example) the Nitecore(s) from a Canadian Nitecore distributor a matter of product pricing or shipping cost? I'm confused, but curious.

There are no Nitecore distributors in Canada I'm aware of, but even if there was, it's mostly
A shipping thing. Shipping here is unreal. Worse if it's from the states. I could ship something that's $7 from Europe, but $45 from America. I don't understand why

 

[ebuchner]

Sheesh that's rough. I'm suddenly grateful that my biggest problem with shipping at the moment is that my delivery date got switched from "end of day today" to "it gets here when it gets here"

 

[vicv]

Sheesh that's rough. I'm suddenly grateful that my biggest problem with shipping at the moment is that my delivery date got switched from "end of day today" to "it gets here when it gets here"

Well I picked up an M6 as you know, it's still en route. Should be here Wednesday. Cheapest shipping option was $47. And that's USD. Cost me $65 Canadian. Then when it arrived in Canada, it was $16 in duties. So $81 to get it to me

 

[ebuchner]

Okay, the test NL169 arrived and it fits tightly (somewhat more so than SF123), yet completely (Figure 1). I think once I fill an MB20 magazine with six of these I'll wrap a thin ribbon around a single cell on top and bottom to make extracting them easier. Left a small blemish on the negative electrode (Figure 2), but that winds up happening to most of the cells I have. Pictured left to right is an AW cell that turned out to be way too long for the MB20, an NL169 that fits, and a conventional SF123 (Figure 3). At maximum continuous current draw of 2A per cell, we'd be good for 4A continuous from an MB20 with six of these.

 

[vicv]

Looks like I got a somewhat rare model here. It's an old one with Lexan window and MAGNUMTLIGHT written on it. I even got a bonus letter T with it. Good deal

 

[ampdude]

AFAIK, practically every lithium ion cell sold by any U.S. flashlight manufacturer worthy of note is a protected cell. Malkoff, Maglite, Surefire, Streamlight, ASP.......who am I forgetting? Same is true for many of the more respected foreign brands with significant U.S. market presence (Fenix, Nitecore, Eagtac, Olight, Acebeam, Thrunite, ....?).

I use protected cells almost exclusively when possible. I think I'm in pretty good company.

Sorry if this sounds like a **** comment, but you're not really getting it dude.

 

[ampdude]

If someone does give these a try and they fit the MB20, that'd be a real thrill. Currently I'm using IMR 550 mAh cells in mine and roughly doubling the capacity would be a huge step up. vicv and I were actually talking about this earlier when we got a little off-topic on a different thread.

The MN21 on CR123A's probably puts out more light than the MN60 on three 17670's. I'm not really sure, but it's pretty close.

I did try the MN61 with the three 17670 carrier and it flashed right away... there goes another 31 dollar bulb.
When you see that blue flash right away and you're like oh God.. I just screwed up again. But I had to check it out.

What do they say, F'around and find out? Hahaha

 

[fivemega]

Each primary 123 cell drops the voltage to about 2.5 Volts under load of 1.2 Amps and drops to about 2.2 Volts under load of 2.5 Amps,
Therefore MN60 is 10 volts bulb and MN61 is 8.8 volts bulb. So 3x3.7=11.1 volts will overdrive MN60 and flash MN61
And MN20 is 7.5 volts bulb and MN21 is 6.6 volts bulb. So 2x3.7=7.4 volts is perfect fit for MN20 and overdrive MN21

MN20 if drives correctly is about 18 Watt bulb, MN21 is about 32W bulb, MN60 is about 12 Watt and MN61 is 21Watt

 

[vicv]

Has anyone ever run the lumens factory IMR-M3T with the standard battery pack? Since I don't have an MN 21 it would be nice to get the brightest available option as a HOLA. as it is a 7 V bulb, and 3.4 A, that will be 1.7A per stack. I figure that should be pretty close to 6.9-7v under load. It won't be driven as well as a set of imr 18650s, but it was not designed for that either.

 

[ChipDale]

Say I wanted to pick up an HO-M6R and run it with the stock battery carrier. From what I understand in the past, it has been difficult to find protected cells that fit. Does anyone know of any good modern cell that can? Normally, I don't care for protected cells. I just don't feel they are needed. But in this case, I think I will make an exception. I would prefer prefer a 3×16650 holder, but none of those are commercially available anymore and I would have to wait until One shows up on the marketplace

Hello,

I'm a new member here (approved within 24 hours) from Japan, and I'm interested in this topic because I have Surefire M6 with MB20. And to use Lumens Factory IMR-M6 bulb, I need 6 x 16340 instead of CR123A.

I now use 6 x Efest IMR 16340 for M6 / IMR-M6, but the battery seems discontinued now, and it's almost impossible to get a custom battery holder (3 x 16650, for example). So I'm curious about the alternative batteries in case my Efest batteries go out of use.

The followings are my configurations using Lumens Factory's bulbs.


Lumens Factory SP-9 + 1 Cell Extender / 2 x Keeppower IMR 18650 / M3T-LED

Surefire M6 / 6 x Efest IMR 16340 / IMR-M6

Surefire M2 / 2 x Keeppower protected 16340 / D26-LED


I have IMR-M3T and IMR-9 bulbs unused, so I'd like to test several configurations using these flashlights if time allows and suitable batteries are available.

 

[vicv]

Hello,

I'm a new member here (approved within 24 hours) from Japan, and I'm interested in this topic because I have Surefire M6 with MB20. And to use Lumens Factory IMR-M6 bulb, I need 6 x 16340 instead of CR123A.

I now use 6 x Efest IMR 16340 for M6 / IMR-M6, but the battery seems discontinued now, and it's almost impossible to get a custom battery holder (3 x 16650, for example). So I'm curious about the alternative batteries in case my Efest batteries go out of use.

The followings are my configurations using Lumens Factory's bulbs.


Lumens Factory SP-9 + 1 Cell Extender / 2 x Keeppower IMR 18650 / M3T-LED

Surefire M6 / 6 x Efest IMR 16340 / IMR-M6

Surefire M2 / 2 x Keeppower protected 16340 / D26-LED


I have IMR-M3T and IMR-9 bulbs unused, so I'd like to test several configurations using these flashlights if time allows and suitable batteries are available.

Well your imr-9 you could use in your m2 with 2 of your efest 16340. The imr-m3t you could use in the M6 with the stock battery holder and cr123 primaries

 

[ebuchner]

...I now use 6 x Efest IMR 16340 for M6 / IMR-M6, but the battery seems discontinued now...

For the time being, this site ( https://illumn.com/batteries-charge...r16340-v1-700mah-high-discharge-flat-top.html ) still sells efest IMR 16340 cells in case you still want to buy more. I have not tried them personally so I cannot be 100% sure that they will fit in an MB20. I believe they ship internationally.

 

[ChipDale]

Well your imr-9 you could use in your m2 with 2 of your efest 16340. The imr-m3t you could use in the M6 with the stock battery holder and cr123 primaries

Yes, I think 2 x Efest IMR 16340 would work with M2 / IMR-9. But the batteries I have now are used for M6 / IMR-M6, and I don't have extra batteries for M2. It was good to see Nitecore 16340 fits (though seems very tight) with M6, and it should be okay with M2. As to IMR-M3T, does it work with M6 / 6 x CR123A? I thought it requires 2 x IMR batteries.

 

[ChipDale]

For the time being, this site ( https://illumn.com/batteries-charge...r16340-v1-700mah-high-discharge-flat-top.html ) still sells efest IMR 16340 cells in case you still want to buy more. I have not tried them personally so I cannot be 100% sure that they will fit in an MB20. I believe they ship internationally.

Thank you for your reply. I bought Efest IMR 16340 V2 (button-top) from Illumn.com because I was recommended by Lumens Factory (Mark). He specifically recommended me button-top V2. If flat-top V1 is okay with M6 / MB-20, my warry will vanish.

 

[vicv]

Yes, I think 2 x Efest IMR 16340 would work with M2 / IMR-9. But the batteries I have now are used for M6 / IMR-M6, and I don't have extra batteries for M2. It was good to see Nitecore 16340 fits (though seems very tight) with M6, and it should be okay with M2. As to IMR-M3T, does it work with M6 / 6 x CR123A? I thought it requires 2 x IMR batteries.

I wouldn't use the nitecore cells with imr-9. That lamp draws 2.3 amps. Way too much for the nitecore cells. As for the imr-m3t, yes it'll work well with primaries in the mb-20 carrier. That will draw 3.4a, or 1.7A per stack, which is fine and will provide right around 7v which is what the imr-m3t is designed to run on. I did the math for it, and Simon from lumens factory confirmed it would be a good setup

 

[ampdude]

I wouldn't use the nitecore cells with imr-9. That lamp draws 2.3 amps. Way too much for the nitecore cells. As for the one-m3t, yes it'll work well with primaries in the mb-20 carrier. That will draw 3.4a, or 1.7A per stack, which is fine and will provide right around 7v which is what the imr-m3t is designed to run on. I did the math for it, and Simon from lumens factory confirmed it would be a good setup

Yea, I have three "Ultrafire" 17670's in my M6 battery carrier to run the MN60, but those batteries are old as crap and not made anymore. I think I should be able to replace them with 16650's eventually.

 

[ChipDale]

I wouldn't use the nitecore cells with imr-9. That lamp draws 2.3 amps. Way too much for the nitecore cells. As for the imr-m3t, yes it'll work well with primaries in the mb-20 carrier. That will draw 3.4a, or 1.7A per stack, which is fine and will provide right around 7v which is what the imr-m3t is designed to run on. I did the math for it, and Simon from lumens factory confirmed it would be a good setup

That IMR-M3T can be used with M6 / 6 x CR123A is very helpful information. M6 would be still useful without Efest IMR 16340. Thank you!

 

[ChipDale]

Yea, I have three "Ultrafire" 17670's in my M6 battery carrier to run the MN60, but those batteries are old as crap and not made anymore. I think I should be able to replace them with 16650's eventually.

One shop in Japan sold 2 x 18650 battery magazine for M6 before, but it's already sold out. Even if it is restocked, 2 x 18650 would be less useful than 3 x 16650 in M6. I may have to stick to MB20.

 

[vicv]

That IMR-M3T can be used with M6 / 6 x CR123A is very helpful information. M6 would be still useful without Efest IMR 16340. Thank you!

You're welcome. So can the ho-m3t and eo-m3t.

 

[vicv]

One shop in Japan sold 2 x 18650 battery magazine for M6 before, but it's already sold out. Even if it is restocked, 2 x 18650 would be less useful than 3 x 16650 in M6. I may have to stick to MB20.

Well the 2x18650 could run mn15, mn20, mn21(bulb won't last long though), ho-m3t, eo-m3t, and imr-m3T. The 3x16650 can only run ho-m6r (maybe imr-m6 depending on the 16650s chosen. Vapcell has an 8A rated one which would work well I'm sure). So I wouldn't call it more useful