Building a 3x18650, WA1185 light

[cernobila]

Now that some Li-Ion 18650 cells are rated at close to 2800 and 2900mAh, it is more feasible to build a compact WA1185 light using FM G4 D26 reflector, body and cells....may even think of also purchasing the AW soft start/three level switch for this outfit.

My question is which cells would be recommended based on proven performance and just as importantly which body would fit these cells. I was looking at either the Leef 3x 18650 or perhaps the Solarforce with two 18650 extenders.....any other options?

 

[bigchelis]

I asked a similar question and I got this thread.

mdocod's li-ion incan guide

It is long and a lot of info to read, but usefull like you wouldn't believe.

 

[nfetterly]

I picked up the Leef 3 x 18650 on B/S/T, have the FM goodies and the AW softstart, but trying to do this at lunchtime & flashed a bulb the first time around (I guess), too much time troubleshooting it. I need to take it with me on a trip with my meter & extra parts....

I also need to reread mdocod's work....

Neale

 

[cernobila]

I picked up the Leef 3 x 18650 on B/S/T, have the FM goodies and the AW softstart, but trying to do this at lunchtime & flashed a bulb the first time around (I guess), too much time troubleshooting it. I need to take it with me on a trip with my meter & extra parts....

I also need to reread mdocod's work....

Neale

I am using this similar outfit in a BigLeef (original switch) 3x AW C, FM G4 D26 and 1185 and it works very nicely....one of my brightest lights.....don't understand why it should not work in the 3x protected 18650 light.

 

[fivemega]

Now that some Li-Ion 18650 cells are rated at close to 2800 and 2900mAh, it is more feasible to build a compact WA1185 light using FM G4 D26 reflector, body and cells....may even think of also purchasing the AW soft start/three level switch for this outfit.

My question is which cells would be recommended based on proven performance and just as importantly which body would fit these cells. I was looking at either the Leef 3x 18650 or perhaps the Solarforce with two 18650 extenders.....any other options?

You can get a 2x18650 body plus 68mm extension
Or
2x18500 body plus 102mm extension to use 3x18650 protected cells.
Using AW's soft start is smart Idea.
Do not use IMRs. Not only you will get longer run time with Lithium Cobalt batteries, you will reduce chance of instaflash. Not to mention, protected cells will cut off current flow in case of short circuit in the system.

 

[cernobila]

You can get a 2x18650 body plus 68mm extension
Or
2x18500 body plus 102mm extension to use 3x18650 protected cells.
Using AW's soft start is smart Idea.
Do not use IMRs. Not only you will get longer run time with Lithium Cobalt batteries, you will reduce chance of instaflash. Not to mention, protected cells will cut off current flow in case of short circuit in the system.

Forgot about your bodies with the extension tubes......does the AW soft start fit on these? agree about the use of Li-Ion's, especialy the 2800 or 2900mAh ones. Stll not sure which ones or where I can get them.....

 

[LuxLuthor]

Forgot about your bodies with the extension tubes......does the AW soft start fit on these? agree about the use of Li-Ion's, especialy the 2800 or 2900mAh ones. Stll not sure which ones or where I can get them.....

AW's soft start fits in a Mag D, so not with those. AW's protected 18650 cells are 2200mAh. Don't buy Li-Ion cells solely on the basis of their mAh rating.

 

[cernobila]

AW's soft start fits in a Mag D, so not with those. AW's protected 18650 cells are 2200mAh. Don't buy Li-Ion cells solely on the basis of their mAh rating.

Lux, I was talking about these http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=213751 and the Samsung/Panasonic 18650's which apparently do have 2800/2900mAh capacity with correspondingly longer run times than the well known 2200 AW's. Still don't know much about them, if they would be as good as the AW's the extra run times would be welcome for bulbs such as the 1794 and 1185.