Lumapower D-Mini with Lumapower's 18650 Battery Tube Installed

[ernsanada]

I just got the ES (Engineering Sample) from Lumapower courtesy of Ricky Tsang.

Lumapower's D-Mini link to the 18650 Battery Tube. http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=167899

The battery tube converts the CR123 size to a 18650 size.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The first step is unscrew the Lens Assembly from the Bezel.

I used a pick to unscrew the Cree Module from the Bezel.

Turn counterclockwise.

This is what the Cree Module looks like.

Once the Cree Module is out you need to take the CR123 Battery Tube off the Lens Bezel Assembly.

I removed the o-rings from the Bezel end the Tailcap.

I had to boil the D-Mini's Bezel Assembly twice, once at 10 minutes and again at 10 minutes to finally break the glue.

I tried using a plier with a rag on the "teeth" part. I broke the glue a little but not much. I decided to use my Workmate Bench because I put some dings and scratches in my CR123 Battery Tube.

I put the D-Mini's Bezel Assembly in my Workmate Bench

I had to use a Strap Wrench

It was tough but I finally got the Bezel off the CR123 Battery Tube.

This spacer needs to be installed first in the new 18650 Battery Tube. The smaller end faces down. The smaller end makes contact with the 18650 Battery. The Larger end on top makes contact with the Cree Module.

This end should face up. It has 2 holes, Remember the larger end of the spring faces up towards the Cree Module.

Screw in the Cree Module clockwise.

I found out I had to find the "sweet spot" to make contact to the module. If your Cree Module doesn't light you have to adjust the module to make contact.

Screw in the Cree Module.

The Cree Module has to be flush with the 18650 Battery Tube end.

Before screwing the D-Mini's Lens Bezel Assembly on turn on the light to see if it works. If not you have to find the "sweet spot" of the spacer to make contact with the Cree Module.

Now it's time to have some fun!

Size difference between both tubes. Top, 18650 Battery Tube. Bottom CR123 Battery Tube.

The 18650 Battery Tube has ample room for AW's Protected 18650 Battery.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Beam shots of the CR123 and 18650 Battery Tubes installed.

D-Mini with CR123 Battery Tube @ 79"

D-Mini with 18650 Battery Tube @ 79"

D-Mini with CR123 Battery Tube @ 79" Stepped down exposure.

D-Mini with 18650 Battery Tube @ 79" Stepped down exposure.

------------------------------------------------------------------

I used the D-Mini's SMO Reflector to make sure I had the Cree Module installed correctly.

If installed correctly the beam from the CR123 Battery Tube and the 18650 Battery should be identical.

Both beam shots with the different Battery Tubes used freshly charged Batteries.

 

[ernsanada]

I found out from Ricky from Lumapower that this ES is not the final version. The final version will change the diameter from 22mm to 24mm.

 

[skalomax]

Great overview as usual!

 

[MarNav1]

I'm suprised yours was glued. Is this something Lumapower just started doing? I've had several D-mini's and none of them were glued.

 

[ernsanada]

I'm suprised yours was glued. Is this something Lumapower just started doing? I've had several D-mini's and none of them were glued.

It was glued with a red color glue. That stuff was very tough to break!

I bought one of the first D-Mini's out. I guess the earlier ones had their threads glued.

 

[T4R06]

ernie - that quite strange on your d-mini. i had 2. the earliest production and the new HAIII but they are both not glued. anyway, its a good combination if you are going camping with d-mini smooth w/ 18650 and vb-16 loaded w/ 18650. you've got throw and a flood plus a very good runtime. and most of all cheap and reliable

 

[fnmag]

Excellent step by step article. Thanks for the hard work and pics.
Cheers. :thumbsup:

 

[half-watt]

i've been using a very nicely made custom 18650 tube on my D-mini for several weeks now. very nice improvement in burntime.

it is (or was, and perhaps still is???) available from Fenix-Store.com.

personally, i still consider the D-mini w/18650 tube "pocketable", but on the upper limits of "pocketability".

of course, this assessment is coming from someone who has from time to time EDC'd a SF U2 - just to put my comments in perspective.

 

[ernsanada]

i've been using a very nicely made custom 18650 tube on my D-mini for several weeks now. very nice improvement in burntime.

it is (or was, and perhaps still is???) available from Fenix-Store.com.

personally, i still consider the D-mini w/18650 tube "pocketable", but on the upper limits of "pocketability".

of course, this assessment is coming from someone who has from time to time EDC'd a SF U2 - just to put my comments in perspective.

The Battery Tubes the Fenix Store is selling is made by PEU. The knurling is different. PEU did a custom run a wile back.

 

[half-watt]

The Battery Tubes the Fenix Store is selling is made by PEU. The knurling is different. PEU did a custom run a wile back.

Yes. I'm aware of that, but it is good that you made that clear to other readers. I clearly should have done that in my Post, but failed to do so.

Thank you very much for clarifying.


My 18650 tube is Natural anodized. It is just a shade lighter than the head and tail cap on both of the Natural anodized D-mini's that i own, and so provides just a touch of contrast with the head and tail. It actually looks very nice.

In fact, particularly on one of my D-mini's, the standard body that came with the light is noticeably darker than the head and tailcap (but it still looks nice, providing even more contrast than the custom 18650 tube), whereas all three pieces in the other D-mini are a good color/shade match.

 

[ernsanada]

This is the Final Production Lumapower D-65 Battery Tube.

 

[supes]

Nice photos, ernsanada. Is the final product battery tube going to be the same as the prototype you received earlier with the requirement of unscrewing and altering something things to accomdate the 18650? Or is this a simple screw in body? because that's what I'm looking for. Thanks!

 

[ernsanada]

The newer style D-Mini's are not glued like my black one was.

You still need to unscrew the Cree Module from the battery tube. It is very easy to do.

These are the same steps as above but the part where I had to remove the CR123 battery tube is not included.


The first step is unscrew the Lens Assembly from the Bezel.

I used a pick to unscrew the Cree Module from the Bezel.

Turn counterclockwise.

This is what the Cree Module looks like.

This spacer needs to be installed first in the new 18650 Battery Tube. The smaller end faces down. The smaller end makes contact with the 18650 Battery. The Larger end on top makes contact with the Cree Module.

This end should face up. It has 2 holes, Remember the larger end of the spring faces up towards the Cree Module.

Screw in the Cree Module clockwise.

I found out I had to find the "sweet spot" to make contact to the module. If your Cree Module doesn't light you have to adjust the module to make contact.

Screw in the Cree Module.

The Cree Module has to be flush with the 18650 Battery Tube end.

Before screwing the D-Mini's Lens Bezel Assembly on turn on the light to see if it works. If not you have to find the "sweet spot" of the spacer to make contact with the Cree Module.

 

[Patriot]

Nice! It reminds me of a slim MRV with a smaller head.