Compatibility - SST-50 w/ 18650?

[gt_mule]

I recently bought a SST-50 drop in from Nailbender. The voltage required is 3.6-6 volts. I am currently running it on 2 CR123s in a 6P body with a McClicky tailcap.

If I have my 6P bored out, would I be able to run it on 1 18650 without damage to the SST-50? What performance difference should I expect?

Thanks

 

[jasonck08]

The drivers efficiency is very crappy at 6v as I believe the driver is made mostly from 7135 IC's. Running it too frequently with 2x CR123's may burn out the driver.

18650 would be better, but if the voltage of the cell drops below the VF of the LED, then it will go into direct drive mode and the output will dim down to 50% probably after 30 minutes or so.

 

[mdocod]

Get an 18650 that is going to hold voltage under a load well (avoid those 3000mAH ultrafires like the plague for this application, actually, just avoid them anyways....). A LiMn chemistry cell would work really well to help hold you in regulation through most of the run if you wanted, but you wold have to sacrifice a fair bit of runtime. Best option is likely to be an AW 2600 protected cell.

Eric

 

[gt_mule]

Thanks for the replies; I'll get it bored out and go with with an AW 2600 18650.