Finally purchased a real flashlight but....

Just purchased a nitecore Tm26gt and am so excited to get it.

As a newcomer to this hobby i have read and re-read about batteries and im still confused.

Im looking to purchase some 18650 batteries for my new light coming but am still unclear about volt and mah and protected or unprotected batteries for my new purchase.

I know this kind of question must come up and to some must be a head shaker but i wouldnt ask if i hadnt looked and still couldnt find the answer myself....plus these batteries are expensive.

Thanks alot and merry christmas

Tribal said:

Just purchased a nitecore Tm26gt and am so excited to get it.

As a newcomer to this hobby i have read and re-read about batteries and im still confused.

Im looking to purchase some 18650

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Congrats on your new light. Im jealous. I'm new to 18650s myself so take this for what it's worth. I downloaded the manual and it calls for "protected cells" so that's what I would use getting them all from the same batch and periodically checking voltage to assure they are running at the same levels.
The MaH rating you purchase will directly effect run time. With my last light I went with Keeppower 3500s and have been very satisfied. I'm sure some of the experts will weigh in shortly. Have a Merry Christmas.

JLeephoto said:

Congrats on your new light. Im jealous. I'm new to 18650s myself so take this for what it's worth. I downloaded the manual and it calls for "protected cells" so that's what I would use getting them all from the same batch and periodically checking voltage to assure they are running at the same levels.
The MaH rating you purchase will directly effect run time. With my last light I went with Keeppower 3500s and have been very satisfied. I'm sure some of the experts will weigh in shortly. Have a Merry Christmas.

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Done some checks and this is what im going with
http://www.gearbest.com/batteries/pp_399863.html

Tribal said:

Done some checks and this is what im going with
http://www.gearbest.com/batteries/pp_399863.html

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Those should work well,,,,most manufacturers re wrap those cells[Keeppower/eagletac/soshine ect.]

However, I would suggest a few dealers in the USA where the price would not be much different and you would get them much faster and if anything happens much much easier to get a refund or other batteries! Also guaranteed to be genuine.Actually just My hometown dealer as Illumn does not sell the NCR version and Mt. Electronics cost $1 more than Lionwholesale.

My home town dealer Lion have great customer service and great prices! Also you do NOT have to buy 8 of them,,you can just get 4 which is all you need,,,,,,,,,,,4 should last at least 3 years if you take CARE of them. Do not discharge lower than 3.5V,,,,,,,,3.6V OR 3.7V is even better. A voltage meter[DMM] is also essential for monitoring you batteries. I have 6 Panasonic cells[NCR] that are 4 years old,,,probably ~ 70 % original capacity but still working well!

,,,good luck,,,,,MERRY CHRISTMAS :santa::santa::santa:,,,,Time to hit the trail with CAPO,MY SIBERIAN HUSKY!



https://liionwholesale.com/collections/batteries/Panasonic

Tribal said:

Just purchased a nitecore Tm26gt and am so excited to get it.

As a newcomer to this hobby i have read and re-read about batteries and im still confused.

Im looking to purchase some 18650 batteries for my new light coming but am still unclear about volt and mah and protected or unprotected batteries for my new purchase.

I know this kind of question must come up and to some must be a head shaker but i wouldnt ask if i hadnt looked and still couldnt find the answer myself....plus these batteries are expensive.

Thanks alot and merry christmas

Click to expand...

It looks like the TM26gt runs four 18650s in parallel and not in series. You don't have to use protected cells in this light, but you do need cells with button top/nipples on the positive end.

We mostly find that protected cells come with button tops, as a rule, but there are many battery rebranders that will offer up button top cells, without the longer, but somewhat safer protection circuits added at the negative end.

You're up in Toronto, so I don't know who you're buying your batteries from, but places like:

https://www.imrbatteries.com/

http://www.illumn.com/

http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=common/home

https://liionwholesale.com/

http://www.rtdvapor.com/

They should be able to help you, although some of them might be out to lunch during this Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's season.

It it were me, I'd look to something like a button top Samsung 30Q, LG MJ1, Sanyo-Panasonic NCR18650GA and Sony VTC5, or VTC6. Those are high drain cells that have very good capacity and won't break the bank, like many of these flashlight manufacturer's offerings, which tend to be overpriced IME/IMO.

For my monster light running in parallel, I went with four Samsung 25Rs, for high current, but they might be a bit dated now, capacity-wise.

Good luck and don't blast anybody with that light.

Chris

Thanks for the help Chris

Ended up ordering 8 https://liionwholesale.com/collecti...n-18650-button-top-battery?variant=1925834564
from liion and they came within days to my door in Canada.

Found it cheaper than i could have from china and liked ordering these from a us company. Havent received my new light so i havent tried them ot but will write up a review the second it comes in.

Tribal said:

Thanks for the help Chris

Ended up ordering 8 https://liionwholesale.com/collecti...n-18650-button-top-battery?variant=1925834564
from liion and they came within days to my door in Canada.

Found it cheaper than i could have from china and liked ordering these from a us company. Havent received my new light so i havent tried them ot but will write up a review the second it comes in.

Click to expand...

Good for you. Keep us posted.

Enjoy your new light and happy new year.

Chris

Wow Tribal, when you go in you go all in. I've been lusting after the TM26GT for a while now. I'm way jealous. That is my dream light. Someday. Let us know how you like it.

bwalker said:

Wow Tribal, when you go in you go all in. I've been lusting after the TM26GT for a while now. I'm way jealous. That is my dream light. Someday. Let us know how you like it.

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Flashlights are by far the cheapest hobby I have (car, firearms and arcade games) are much more expensive. I only bought the tm26gt right now cause I found it on sale for 180$ before christmas and thought i deserved something nice for myself .
I will do a review once i get it in.

Recent upgrade from incandescent MagLites, older gen LEDs or cheapo LED lights to some decent torches. TM26GT is not first, but probably the last quality light purchased. Unless I trash or lose a light.

NiteCore SRT9 is my "every night carry" torch. More or less gave up on the boatloads of inexpensive mostly junky, relatively low powered, questionable supposedly "marine grade" build flashlights/spotlights looked at. All the TM series > TM06s are relatively pricey. So just on the wish list. Until today. "Deal of the Day" at andrew and Amanda dot com. $179.00. So the big $ purchase.

Decent throw, good enough spill, better than most in regards to duration, Lock Out option. Would have considered a TM06 or TM06S, but the unbalanced draw, no lock out need to unscrew hassle, shorter duration were all negatives.

Need to order some back up batteries. The TinyMonster just ate up my spare KeepPower 3500.