Spark SD6-460NW, battery fittment issue

[double L]

I'm new to the high performance flashlight/headlamp arena and have been looking for something like the SD6-460NW for a while. I'm glad that I purchased one as it suits my professional needs perfectly as an auto tech. I've been running it on cr123s (kinda pricey) because I've been hesitant to try rechargable 18650s. I've done research on CPF about rechargable lithium ions and now would like to try them. Here's the catch: I'm having a hard time finding a protected 18650 that is short enough to fit the SD6. I have taken a wooden dowel and cut it down to a length that fits inside of the SD6 and determned that the absolute maximum length that will fit is 67.5mm . I tried a dowel that measured 68mm and it is too long, I fear that I would damage the light if I tightened it down all of the way. The only protected 18650 battery length spec. that I've seen come close to this requirement is the AW P18650 (2200mah) at 67.6mm.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?230876-AW-s-LiIon-Batteries-Sales-Thread-*Part-12*

My question to other SD6 owners is what are you using for protected 18650s?

 

[snakyjake]

AW 3100.

 

[cajunhunter]

I am running the solarforce s18650P

 

[jeffkruse]

I use a Redilast 3100 but I fear that is to tight. I fear that I may not screw it tight engough to be water proof and if I do I am afraid of dammaging something. I like the light but it must be run with the best capacity batteries to get acceptable run times. I will continue to use my 3100 Redilasts and tighten it good.

 

[DisrupTer911]

AW 2900 fits w/o issues.

 

[Changchung]

No protected for me... I dont like to tight so much the battery. You can check my thread about what the light do to a battery...


SFMI4UT

 

[double L]

I've been doing some more searching and came across this thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...-18650-cells&p=3909118&viewfull=1#post3909118

They have a protected Panasonic ncr18650a flat top (Blazar) that measures 67.55mm in length. That would be just about right for my lamp, unfortunately they don't ship to the USA.... and the search continues.

 

[Dubois]

I just received a ST6-460NW light, and popped in an Eagletac 3100 battery without any problems. Good job, it was the only one I had.

 

[double L]

Update: Ok, so I decided to order and try a couple of batteries in the lamp just to see...

First I tried the Eagletac 3100. Before I installed it I measured it's length at 67.7mm and as I feared it was slightly too long, the springs bottomed out before the cap was fully tight.

Next I tried an AW 3100. The Aw has 3 raised bumps on it's negative contact so I took 2 different length measurements. The first measurement was the distance between the positive contact and the top of one of the bumps, 68.0mm (too long, so sad). The second measurement was the distance between the positive contact and the negative contact surface between the bumps, 67.3mm . At this point I'm thinking, it just might work, and sure enough I pop it in the lamp and it fits perfectly.

The design of the lamp allows the spring to contact the negative end between the raised bumps if the cell is correctly positioned and thus have adequate room when the cap is tightend down completely.

Thanks to everybody that replied to this thread as it helps to know what everybody else has had success with.

 

[zeroed4x]

Using Protected Battereis in Spark ST6-500 Resolved ???

Has the issue with using longer protected bateries in Spark ST6-500 been resolved yet ?
I just ordered one after learning that they will not accept anything but unprotected AW 18650's :fail:

 

[sobreira]

Re: Using Protected Battereis in Spark ST6-500 Resolved ???

Has the issue with using longer protected bateries in Spark ST6-500 been resolved yet ?
I just ordered one after learning that they will not accept anything but unprotected AW 18650's :fail:

My ST6-500, accept "18650" batteries till 69,1 mm. My SD6-500, accept "18650" batteries till 68,5mm.

 

[zeroed4x]

Re: Using Protected Battereis in Spark ST6-500 Resolved ???

My ST6-500, accept "18650" batteries till 69,1 mm. My SD6-500, accept "18650" batteries till 68,5mm.

Thank you so very much for the information brother. I am still worried that my ST6-500CW will not work with all of my 18650s. Now I can at least measure them and see. Thank you.

 

[Changchung]

Re: Using Protected Battereis in Spark ST6-500 Resolved ???

Thank you so very much for the information brother. I am still worried that my ST6-500CW will not work with all of my 18650s. Now I can at least measure them and see. Thank you.

My SD cant take protected, my ST can... Let us know what about your...