SureFire Z2 and 18650 cells -- Who can get it done?

I've looked around quite a bit and cannot find any being sold, nor can I find any information on people doing it.

If it's been done, were there any problems with the walls being too thin?

If no, then there are no problems.


If no one is producing these, I guess I'm going to have to head over to the custom section to try and find someone to bore this out for me.

We're doing some testing soon, should know something next month...

ElectronGuru said:

We're doing some testing soon, should know something next month...

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That is awsome.

This is going to be my duty light so strength is a concern. However, it's got to be VERY VERY VERY rare someone broke a body through real world use.

This must mean that even with a thinner body it's still just rare to break it.


I hope next month you give good news.

Fingers crossed, but it has to endure enough destructive testing (as did the C2) to be worth doing for you guys.

ElectronGuru said:

Fingers crossed, but it has to endure enough destructive testing (as did the C2) to be worth doing for you guys.

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Out of curiosity. If it doesn't pass the test, would you guys consider doing one anyway?

Given you would tell just how much it could handle, I might still be interested in doing it. I don't foresee my light going through the things you guys probably test. At least not to any extreme. Hopefully. However, that's what a backup is for.

Why not run 17670's??? The capacity isn't all that bad of a trade off for a stock light setup.

allburger said:

Why not run 17670's??? The capacity isn't all that bad of a trade off for a stock light setup.

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Good question

If you're running a 170ma M60LL, its not much of a deal. 9 hours vs 15 hours is like forever vs forever + a day. But the latest family of high amperage (3000ma) drop ins are measured in minutes. And when you're spending almost $200 for the setup, 50+% more runtime (measured in minutes) is only 10% more money.

allburger said:

Why not run 17670's??? The capacity isn't all that bad of a trade off for a stock light setup.

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This is what Kestrel determined:

M60 + 18650: 1 1/2 hours regulated - 2 hours declining
M60 + 17670: 1 hour regulated - 2 hours declining

M30 + 18650: 2 hours regulated
M30 + 17670: 1 hour 20 minutes regulated


You're right. I didn't notice it before but a 17670 really isn't that much of a trade off. At least if they can't be bored and retain some strength I can go this route.

Keep in mind too, there are now two flavors of 18650. Normal capacity (2200 mah), proportionally more capacity than smaller sizes.
And high capacity (2600 mah), disproportionally more capacity than smaller sizes.

We're hoping the technology that boosted the 2600's performances makes it down to the other sizes (including 18500's).

ElectronGuru said:

Keep in mind too, there are now two flavors of 18650. Normal capacity (2200 mah), proportionally more capacity than smaller sizes.
And high capacity (2600 mah), disproportionally more capacity than smaller sizes.

We're hoping the technology that boosted the 2600's performances makes it down to the other sizes (including 18500's).

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I take it 18500's will fit in a Z2?

I should wait awhile longer now. Having a battery fit with the properties of a 18650 without needing to bore it would be a gift.

Search said:

I take it 18500's will fit in a Z2?

I should wait awhile longer now. Having a battery fit with the properties of a 18650 without needing to bore it would be a gift.

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Sorry didn't mean to confuse you. Give this a read:

Batteries are first defined by size. Generally described with a 5 digit number, digits 1 & 2 are the diameter (in mm), and digits 3 & 4 are the length (in mm). So a 16340 is 34mm long and 16mm in diameter while an 18650 is 65mm long and 18mm in diameter. In our case, a single 18650 is right at home in a slightly modified flashlight otherwise built for two 16340 (aka CR123A) cells.

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18500's are the same diameter as 18650's (but shorter) and are generally used in pairs in bored 9Ps and C3's. Two 17500's would fit inside a Z3.

The hope in your case is that a high performance 17670 would give the standard 18650 a run for its money.

ElectronGuru said:

The hope in your case is that a high performance 17670 would give the standard 18650 a run for its money.

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Yeah, that is one area that is lacking.

You basically have to choose between AW's excellent 17670 or the oversized *fire 17670 cells.

I keep hoping for an AW IMR17670, but I don't think it'll happen.

allburger said:

Why not run 17670's??? The capacity isn't all that bad of a trade off for a stock light setup.

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Will a "Protected" 17670 battery fit inside a stock Z2,G2,6P or does it depend on the individual Surefire (Z2,G2,6P) on whether it will fit inside or not?
In other words what are the chances that a protected 17670 will fit inside the Surefire host?

Thanks.

Mikellen said:

Will a "Protected" 17670 battery fit inside a stock Z2,G2,6P or does it depend on the individual Surefire (Z2,G2,6P) on whether it will fit inside or not?
In other words what are the chances that a protected 17670 will fit inside the Surefire host?

Thanks.

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I have a Surefire Z2 combat light and G2 Yellow. They both use AW black 17670 cells and the Trustfire cells fit perfect too. I hope that the 18650 route is finalized because I much rather use the AW 18650 cells because if you purchase the 2600mAh versions AW claims they can handle up to 4.5A of current. This will be needed if you have those 500 plus lumen P60 drop-ins. Nailbender also is about to finalize the P60 SST 50 at 5A vs. 2.5A that he offers now. Now, I hope the AW 2600mAh can handle 5A

bigchelis said:

I have a Surefire Z2 combat light and G2 Yellow. They both use AW black 17670 cells and the Trustfire cells fit perfect too. I hope that the 18650 route is finalized because I much rather use the AW 18650 cells because if you purchase the 2600mAh versions AW claims they can handle up to 4.5A of current. This will be needed if you have those 500 plus lumen P60 drop-ins. Nailbender also is about to finalize the P60 SST 50 at 5A vs. 2.5A that he offers now. Now, I hope the AW 2600mAh can handle 5A

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So just for clarification, AW black 17670 and Trustfire cells are protected batteries? Sorry for the requested clarification but I'm not very knowledgeable about rechargeables.

Thanks.

Mikellen said:

So just for clarification, AW black 17670 and Trustfire cells are protected batteries?

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The black AW 17670 cells are protected. We'll have to wait for an answer on the Trustfire.

bigchelis said:

I have a Surefire Z2 combat light and G2 Yellow. They both use AW black 17670 cells and the Trustfire cells fit perfect too.

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I didn't know Trustfire had any protected 17670 cells.

I can't find them on KD or DX.

I have trustfire protected and AW protected 17670's. They both fit in my G2's, 6P, and my M3.

If one is planning on using a Malkoff dropin for a two cell P, Z, G, or C series light from SureFire, a 17670 isn't far behind an 18650 in performance. This is with the basic versions, not the enhanced performance version that hasn't hit the 17670 yet.

Hopefully we can get 18650s in a Z2 (however, you can get it in the others after boring) and use the high performance 18650 for even longer runtimes with the Malkoffs.

My Trustfire 17670 cells are blue and say "rechargeable battery with PCB" and you can see the stip on one side of them.

bigC

If this is supposed to be a duty light and strength is a requirement, I don't understand why you are even toying with this boring idea.

I'd have to find my measurements (or make them again), but the resultant wall thickness after boring is quite thin in various locations, especially at the tail o-ring groove. Maybe ElectronGuru's tests will show differently, but tests are useful only to the extent that they apply to your situation and usage. My main concern is that the light breaks at the thin o-ring grooves if you use it as an expedient impact weapon. If ElectronGuru's test show that a bored 6Z can withstand this, then maybe you will be ok. But I am personally very conservative when it comes to my safety gear and for me the cost-benefit doesn't add up.