26500 vs 26650

[Bullet Bob]

I was wondering since I see these two size batts available from different sources which of the two is the more readily available one. Is the 26650 the standard for some power tool batteries or is it the 26500?

 

[Conte]

Well, if you're talking Li-ion, the 26500 is easy to get from AW.
Hard to find in 26650 sizes.


The Lifepo4 or "LiFe" cell as I like to call it, is commonly avaliable, as many or as little as you want in the 26650 size for cheap on Ebay.
I even know a reputable Canadian site that sells higher capacity versions of that battery.

It's tricky to charge. If you have a high end charger like I do, "Imax B6" that you can get for about $50 on ebay, its a piece of cake, if you can figure out all its various settings and find a way to connect the battery.

I use a fulton flashlight to charge 2 cells. You can remove the head and jsut connect the aligators to the contact fingers.

Otherwise, the only other charger I know of that will charge them is this cheap chinese made dealy I've found on ebay, which does the job, but it just slow.

I've been running the LiFe cells for about a month now, I love them.
They are soooo functional because they run more usable voltages.
They can run all your favorite 6v bulbs without a problem.

2x26650 cells fit comfortably in a 2D maglite if you flip the spring around. Then you can drop in a Fivemega Bi-Pin adapter and run a Magcharger bulb. Just need a glass lens. Upgrade the reflector and you can run an 1160 or a 1111.

Or if you want to stick with PR bulbs, you can run almost any 4D bulb. Like a stock 4D mag bulb, KPR113, HPR50, HPR36, or I've even ran an HPR44 and it gives me the same lumens as a magcharger bulb.

3x26650 will not fit in a 3D tho. But if you use a 65mm extension tube on the 2D you can. Then they will make a slick powerplant for a Mag85.

If You have any other questions about 26650 LiFe cells, let me know.

I was going to ask you abotu the K2 batteries you mentioned on another thread. I "googled" it and didn't come up with any easy answers.

Just search "A123 cell" on ebay and you'll find all the 26650 LiFe cells your heart could possibly desire.

 

[Benson]

26650/26700 is the standard power-tool size, and also used in EVs. 26500/25500 are C-size, which can be convenient for fitting them in some flashlights, but of course that's not an issue for power tools.

There are 3 main chemistry families in use. These are all Li-ion: LiCo, LiFe, LiMn. Not relevant to this thread, but "LiPoly" are LiCo with a polymer-based electrolyte rather than the conventional solvent.

LiCo (best capacity, but lower current and potentially explosive) is readily available in cheap offbrand 25500/26500 (and I use some of these), but I don't know of any current sources for seriously reputable ones. (AW used to make these, although his were about 5mm longer than C due to PCB and button top, I think.) Not available at all in 26650, AFAIK.

Both LiMn (generally LiCo compatible, slight capacity disadvantage) and LiFe (lower voltage and about half capacity) are widely available in 26650/26700 size. AW's IMR cells are LiMn, including the 26500. Don't know of any LiFe 26500s, but they may be out there...

As to what fits in a Mag, I'm using 3xIMR26700 in a 3D Mag; the trick is to remove the tailcap spring, deanodize the inside of the tailcap (sand it, or use lye to dissolve the anodizing), and install a smaller (or cut down) spring down inside the "spare bulb" region as appropriate to your battery pack. (Of course, you now need to carry your spare bulb, if any, elsewhere.)

 

[kramer5150]

Bensen what are "EVs"?... electric vehicles? So toyota Prius (for example) has a case of these in the trunk?

I plan on running 3x26650 cells in a modded 3D with a bi-pin. What bulb are you using in yours?

thanks:thinking:

 

[Conte]

Kramer ? Are you running Li-ion or Li-Fe ?
I run 3x26650 Li-Fe with an 1185.

Apparently an 1185 is good to go overdriven on 3xli-ion if you use the softstart.

 

[kramer5150]

Kramer ? Are you running Li-ion or Li-Fe ?
I run 3x26650 Li-Fe with an 1185.

Apparently an 1185 is good to go overdriven on 3xli-ion if you use the softstart.

I am using the battery space ones, and was not intending to use a soft start (if I can)...
http://www.batteryspace.com/limnnirechargeable26650cell37v4000mah10arated148wh.aspx

I might also get the voltman Lithium Ion cells, if they are IMR. How well do the voltman cells maintain voltage at higher currents?
http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/servlet/the-3365/26650-BATTERY-REPLACES-A123/Detail

 

[Mjolnir]

Kramer, the Fivemega 1909 bulb is designed for 3 lithium manganese type cells, but it is fairly expensive and you need to buy it with a Bi-pin adapter (no a la carte). However, it seems like it works fine without a soft start.

 

[Billy Ram]

The FM1909 bulb is very robust and doesn't seem to need soft starting with IMRs. I've been hitting mine with 12.57v. straight out the charger with no ill effects. 3xIMRs+FM1909=awesome.
Billy

 

[Benson]

Bensen what are "EVs"?... electric vehicles? So toyota Prius (for example) has a case of these in the trunk?

Yeah. I think the prius is actually prismatic NiMH, but they're used in other electric vehicles (which, if you think about it, includes a lot more scooters and such than cars.)

I plan on running 3x26650 cells in a modded 3D with a bi-pin. What bulb are you using in yours?

thanks:thinking:

WA 1185, though I'm looking to try the Hikari JC5607. No soft-start, apparently my Mag is just "unlucky" with internal resistance high enough to handle them. Of course, the JC5607 seems to be just as iffy as the '85, so it'll hopefully work for me, but may pop in "better" Mags.

Those voltman cells are IMR, and basically same specs as mine, but don't appear to be the same cells; mine are emoli (harvested from a Milwaukee 18V pack) -- no clue what difference, if any, that will make in practice, since the GPs aren't in LuxLuthor's safe-chemistry shootout.

 

[The Dane]

Sunhigh makes a 26500 LiFe

http://www.sunhigh-battery.com/sdp/426453/4/cp-4335930/0/Custom_Page.html

 

[Benson]

Sunhigh makes a 26500 LiFe

http://www.sunhigh-battery.com/sdp/426453/4/cp-4335930/0/Custom_Page.html

Cool! And not only that, they have a 22650 -- bet that would fit nicely in some 3xAAA lights, and somewhat mitigates the LiFePO4 capacity penalty. Also maybe good for people who don't want to sand their C-cell Maglites.

 

[Conte]

Just search "A123 cell" on ebay and you'll find all the 26650 LiFe cells your heart could possibly desire.

26500 that's oddball for Lifepo4.
Not really sure how to buy from that site ? Guess you'd have to contact them.

The 26650 doesn't fit in a 3xAAA. I've tried. Last thing I crammed into a 3xAAA was an 18500. I imagine a 26500 would fit perfect in a 3xAAA.
You wouldn't want to use Lifepo4 in that anyway. 3xAAA = 3.6 - 4.5 volts.
Lifepo4 is only about 3.3 under load. I'd try an AW [email protected] in a 3xAAA.

 

[Mjolnir]

26500 that's oddball for Lifepo4.
Not really sure how to buy from that site ? Guess you'd have to contact them.

The 26650 doesn't fit in a 3xAAA. I've tried. Last thing I crammed into a 3xAAA was an 18500. I imagine a 26500 would fit perfect in a 3xAAA.
You wouldn't want to use Lifepo4 in that anyway. 3xAAA = 3.6 - 4.5 volts.
Lifepo4 is only about 3.3 under load. I'd try an AW [email protected] in a 3xAAA.

Most cheap LED lights with 3 AAA cells and a battery holder are unregulated. Using a large IMR cell will likely be harmful to the LED. The reason that 3 AAA cells are used is because the alkaline cells drop their voltage enough under load to not damage the LED. An IMR cell will barely have any voltage sag, and the LED would likely be getting nearly 4 volts initially. A LiFePO4 would be closer to being a safe option. 3 alkaline AAA cells might be around 1.1 volts each when they are being used to power a decent LED.

 

[The Dane]

26500 that's oddball for Lifepo4.
Not really sure how to buy from that site ? Guess you'd have to contact them.

The 26650 doesn't fit in a 3xAAA. I've tried. Last thing I crammed into a 3xAAA was an 18500. I imagine a 26500 would fit perfect in a 3xAAA.
You wouldn't want to use Lifepo4 in that anyway. 3xAAA = 3.6 - 4.5 volts.
Lifepo4 is only about 3.3 under load. I'd try an AW [email protected] in a 3xAAA.

Hmmm
Just took a caliper to my 3xAAA Led Lenser and that is only 22,75mm inside, so the 18500 both you and i use is still the best "fit".

 

[Benson]

The 26650 doesn't fit in a 3xAAA. I've tried. Last thing I crammed into a 3xAAA was an 18500. I imagine a 26500 would fit perfect in a 3xAAA.

Haven't found a 3xAAA yet that's wide enough for a 25500, let alone 26500. But many of them have enough length for an 18650, either stock or with some minor modding, so they'd do fine with the 22650.

You wouldn't want to use Lifepo4 in that anyway. 3xAAA = 3.6 - 4.5 volts.
Lifepo4 is only about 3.3 under load. I'd try an AW [email protected] in a 3xAAA.

Boost drivers are awesome, aren't they? I didn't say I'd leave the rest of the light stock...

But yeah, if I could find a LiCo or LiMn cell in 22650, I'd definitely rather that.

 

[Conte]

Hmmm
Just took a caliper to my 3xAAA Led Lenser and that is only 22,75mm inside, so the 18500 both you and i use is still the best "fit".

Haven't found a 3xAAA yet that's wide enough for a 25500, let alone 26500. But many of them have enough length for an 18650, either stock or with some minor modding, so they'd do fine with the 22650.

Ah hey, you guys are right, I wasn't thinking about the width.
For some reason my memories eyeball was taking a guess.

I'm a total incan guy, haven't got any real LED lights.

I have a couple cheapy 3AAA, and yeah, one of them you can kind of fit an 18650. I always try to cram some form of li-ion rechargable in any light I aquire cause I refuse to use primary cells for the most part, and NiCD's or NiMH's just don't cut it replacing primaries cell for cell.