Can I use 18350 in my Mecarmy PT16

[fnhfive7]

Hi guys. I bought a Mecarmy PT16 a year or so ago and since I've owned it I have just used the crappy 16340 battery that came with it. So, finally, I decided I was going to get some decent batteries for it and I ran across a post saying the 18350 will fit in some lights that use the 16340. So, I searched online and I saw in the ad for the titanium PT16 it says it will also accept the 18350 (for longer run times) but it never mentions that option in the ad for the regular PT16. I'm assuming it will be fine, but I wanted to ask you pros first. Also, if it is ok to run an 18350 which do you guys prefer? I did a search here and it looks like one favorite is the Vapcell 1100 mah. Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it.

FNH

 

[DaveTheDude]

The input voltage on an 18350 will be the same as the 16340. If the 18350 can fit the light without becoming too tightly wedged to remove, it should work just fine. Check to see if your light requires button top cells, or whether it can also accept flat tops, too. And just to make the relevant caveat abundantly clear, check each individual 18350 cell for easy entry and removal before using!

 

[fnhfive7]

Thank you Dave. After some more searching online I found that the V3 version of the PT16 will accept the 18350 but I don't know if mine is that version. So, first I checked to see how the 16340 fit in mine and it was very loose, so I assumed the 18350 would fit and bought 2 x Vapcell 18350's 1100 mah from Amazon which will be here tomorrow. Oh, how do you tell if a light will accept flat tops or if it will only take button top cells? I really appreciate your help and all the info. Have a good one.

FNH

 

[DaveTheDude]

Contact Point. Look at the positive terminal. If there is a small spring or a raised button, the light will accept either button top or flat top cells. If the positive contact point is flat the light will only accept button top cells.

Length Limitations. Some lights are limited as to the length of the cells the light will accommodate, which often means only shorter flat top cells can be used.

Literature. Manufacturers will sometimes announce somewhere in the description or specifications if one particular cell type is required.

Experimentation. Finally, there is the time-honored method of inserting the cell on hand to see if it works in your light.

 

[fnhfive7]

Dave I really appreciate all your help. My light has a small spring at the positive terminal so I should be good to go unless the 18350 is too long but I would think the spring would make it a little more forgiving as far as length goes-I'll know for sure later today when the batteries come in.
I was going to ask you one last thing if you have a minute when you're on...I have never had any unprotected batteries before. I spent a couple hours yesterday on here and a couple other sites trying to find all the info I could about things I should know about them and as far as I can tell they are pretty safe as long as I stick to quality cells and use a quality charger, correct? Don't most lights have some kind of protection of there own that keeps the unprotected batteries from getting too low? Is there anything else I need to know about them that you know of? Again, I sure appreciate all the info man.

FNH