Best under $50- thrower/flood for 18650s

[j.m.]

Hey guys,

new here but not new to forums. I did search and look around but I'm a bit overwhelmed by the terminology; with a lack of a comparison chart or guide, I am lost.

I have 9 18650s from a laptop pack. I am pretty certain they are unprotected because there is a circuit board in the pack (there wouldn't be one if the cells had the overcharge/discharge circuitry built in). I have a charger capable of individually charging these cells to their individual maximum capacities and cycling them to bring them back to life after a year or two of dormancy. My only concern is over discharging the cells.

I'm looking for a light that can hopefully adjust for throw and flood. Size doesn't matter; I'd actually prefer a larger torch that holds 2 or 3 of the cells. Budget is $50, but i'd prefer to spend around $30. Some sort of overdischarge protection would be nice, as well as glass optics (maybe aspherical?), a smooth aluminum reflector, and I'd like the torch to be waterproof if possible.

I know I'm not being specific and there are tons out there, but I have such a hard time deciding.

Jon

 

[sol-leks]

There aren't too many good flood to throw lights that use 18650's. I think you should check out the romisen rc-c8 though. It got somewhat mixed reviews, but it still sounds like a solid light. I would probably get the shiningbeam.com version.

 

[riccardo]

Trustfire TR-1200 have a lot of bright spill and a good throw.. for under 50$. Let us know what are your requirement a bit more in details...

 

[j.m.]

I like the twisting head and aspherical lens of the romisen; I was originally looking at the rc-29 c6 but I want something a bit bigger. Are there extension tubes available for the romisen? I couldn't find anything online. I also don't particularly like the plastic lens. What diameter is it?

I think the multi-LED torches look cheap. I don't know why, but it probably has something to do with the many cheap flashlights available that market the amount of light produced by the number of LEDs the light has.

I have been looking seriously at the itp c6t from shiningbeam (on sale for $45 ATM). I don't think I'll like the switch though, the tactical version won't stay on without the user holding the switch down, correct? The quality is certainly leagues above a romisen (and I know romisen are considered the best of cheap Chinese torches).

I REALLY like the low-voltage blinking feature on the itp c6. I would probably be able to install a low voltage cuttoff in any torch though, I do have extensive experience with electronics (primarily radio controlled models).

Jon

 

[sol-leks]

I'm not sure what the size of the lens is sorry. You can get an extension tube for the rc-c6 which makes it into a 2xAA, shiningbeam doesn't always have them in stock but you can ask. This is the setup I have though and it is quite nice. The extension tube is actually from the rc-n3, so if you have one of those you can jsut use that.

 

[j.m.]

I'd really like to use the 18650s I have, though it's not a requirement. I mainly just want to do something useful with them.

Anybody have any experience with the Romisen D4?
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7614

If an aspherical lens can be fitted, I bet it would throw pretty far... Or maybe just a different reflector?

Jon

 

[j.m.]

I decided to get a Romisen RC-C8 shiningbeam edition. I emailed shiningbeam to see if they knew of any extension tubes that would allow me to runtwo 18650s.

Will the q5 handle the voltage from two 18650s?

Jon

 

[gcbryan]

I don't know the details (and am too lazy to look them up) but regarding the ITP it works as you describe only if it just has a momentary switch. If it has a forward clicky then it is a momentary switch but stays on if you fully click it.

Regarding two 18650's with the Romisen you have to see if you can find info on the driver. It's not about the Q5 handling the voltage...led's handle what they handle which is in the 3.6 V range. It's the driver. If the driver says max 4.2V then you have to use one 18650. If it shows a range up or beyond 8.4V then you can use two 18650's (if there is an extension tube available).

 

[j.m.]

Bryan from Shiningbeam thinks that the C8 driver can handle two 18650s, he thinks it has (or should have) the same driver as the F4, but hes not certain.

Hopefully someone will be able to find an extension tube that fits... Does anybody else want to run two 18650s in the C8?

Jon

 

[j.m.]

C8 ShiningBeam Edition......










Is on the way!!

 

[sol-leks]

:thumbsup:

 

[j.m.]

The c8 + one protected 18650(incase the laptop cells don't work out)=$33 shipped. That leaves lots of room in the budget for..... Adjustments. :D

 

[Mike_TX]

If I were you, I wouldn't use unprotected 18650's. Protected ones are cheap - about $3-4 apiece at DX - so it's worth the money to avoid an explosion or outgassing. I've used their blue ones for a long time without an issue, and wouldn't risk recycling the computer batts in a flashlight.

Dump them at a home improvement store or a battery place like Batteries Plus or Interstate so they can safely recycle them.

.
.

 

[j.m.]

Yeah, I ordered some blue trustfires.

I have other uses that are less space restrictive (allow for a proper low-voltage cutoff system) to use the cells in.