michiganstud
Enlightened
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2006
- Messages
- 210
A new launch by streamlight for EDC. 1800 lumen, 3 modes, looks like an 18650 batt, with USB.
Appears to be similar size to my macrostream. But 3x as bright.
Thoughts?
I think the battery is basically the same as their existing (18650) battery with the USB charging port built in. This makes two ways to charge the light by either the charging port on the light or directly on the battery after removal (3 ways if you include removing the battery and placing it in a charger).I believe the short answer is 'No'.
From what I've read / seen, it does not, although I don't yet fully understand the limitation myself.
The light features in-light charging, and the 'port' (opening) in the body is inside / behind an O-ring sealed threaded collar, which is cool. It appears however that there is no USB-C connector mounted in the body, but rather the USB-C charging cable plugs through the port / opening in the body directly into the cell itself, rather than a connector integral to the light housing / body. The cell may also be charged outside the light w/ a USB-C cable.
This light uses the SL-B34 cell, which is apparently only compatible with this new light at present time. The statement about its uniqueness is: "
SL also states to only use that cell in this new light, as it's not cross-compatible with any other light. Looking at the available photos I've seen I can't really tell what provides that indexing / alignment of the cell with the charge opening in the body.
- Self-keying battery ensures proper alignment of the charging port
I believe the current 'standard' SL 18650 is the SL-B26, which is fine in all my SL 18650 lights. This is not that cell.
A similar charging approach is implemented with the ProTac 2.0, which uses a similar SL-B50 cell, which also provides keying for alignment with the charging port in its body similar to this new light, but in photos of that cell, I can see how the keying is provided.
It appears that in-light charging through an opening in the light body, inside an O-ring sealed threaded collar, but with cable plugging directly into the cell inside, with keying providing the positioning / alignment between the cell and that opening, using a bespoke cell, is a new design solution / strategy being employed by Streamlight, and that does not bode well for new lights using 'standard' 18650 cells, as has been the past strategy (excluding Strion, which has always used a bespoke cell).
I think that's the 'long answer', based on what little I currently know;-)
Cheers!
Just to say something positive
The reason I only stated something "positive" here was because my main 'negative' had already been stated and I didn't want to harp on it needlessly. I agree that I would have very much liked to have seen 'Ten-Tap' included, as it would have expanded the market for the light. I like it as it is, but some would like it more if it didn't power up on 'High', and I understand that completely because sometimes I would too. I like the option very much.No ten tap option. Nope, Not for me.
This light uses the SL-B34
You might have missed the somewhat painful discussions here regarding the release of the Strion 2020, with its new compatible cell / part number, with no cross-compatibility support between it and the previous generation Strion cell by SL. That discussion was very similar, and I don't really want to go through it all again this time.I believe the current 'standard' SL 18650 is the SL-B26, which is fine in all my SL 18650 lights. This is not that cell.