I run my P61 with 3 primarys or 2 INR16340 cells. Both work out fine. I wanted to try it with my two 18650 cells. I have read posts saying this is fine and others saying these cells will shorten bulb life or even flash the bulb? I know that the larger cells can supply more amps but they are the same voltage? Is it that the P61 can and will draw more current flow from the 18650 cells.
Surefire P91 Bulb and 18650 Cells ?
- Thread starter Bob96
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I am sure you mean P91 and 2 IMR16340
Powering a P91 with 2 protected 18650 will severely overdrive it and will reduce bulb life.
Using pair of IMR 18650 will most likely kill the bulb.
Not a good idea for $35 bulb.
socom1970
Flashlight Enthusiast
No way I can oppose FM's assessment of the situation...
That said, I have been using my P91 LA with 2x18650 cells on and off for about 3 years with no problems at all. Extremely bright and still going strong.
I definitely would not use IMR's with the P91, though.
That said, I have been using my P91 LA with 2x18650 cells on and off for about 3 years with no problems at all. Extremely bright and still going strong.
I definitely would not use IMR's with the P91, though.
Rjkpsmith
Newly Enlightened
Well, I suppose that it might vary from bulb to bulb, but many people seem to have no problem running the P91 on 18650's or even IMR 18650's... an example would be here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8qg4LwcxDU
Also here is a video where MrGman and BigChelis show a p91 with both IMR and Li-ion batteries in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEU2gGSDYxU
So it can be done, but it does probably decrease bulb life and increase the risk of instaflashing. :shrug:
Also here is a video where MrGman and BigChelis show a p91 with both IMR and Li-ion batteries in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEU2gGSDYxU
So it can be done, but it does probably decrease bulb life and increase the risk of instaflashing. :shrug:
bigchelis
Flashlight Enthusiast
I use my P91 with 2 IMR 18650 cells. Please note that while I have been lucky with about 11 hours of use other folks here have them die the second they do it. Others have also had them last for a very short time and like FM said its a $35 dollar bulb and at your own risk.
Here is my P91 with 2 IMR 18650 cells performance: The real OTF lumens
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__473.4_____1 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__445.3____10 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__411.2____30 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__396.4____60 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__381.7___120 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__383.1___180 sec
And here is what it does if you use 2 AW 2600mAh 18650 cells:
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention____P91___________2 AW 2600mAh__________420.8________1 sec
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________393.1________30 sec
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________385.4________1 min
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________379.2________2 min
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________376.9________3 min
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________373.8________4 min
Here is my P91 with 2 IMR 18650 cells performance: The real OTF lumens
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__473.4_____1 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__445.3____10 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__411.2____30 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__396.4____60 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__381.7___120 sec
SureFire P91_____________Solarforce w/AR Glass__2XIMR18650__383.1___180 sec
And here is what it does if you use 2 AW 2600mAh 18650 cells:
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention____P91___________2 AW 2600mAh__________420.8________1 sec
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________393.1________30 sec
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________385.4________1 min
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________379.2________2 min
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________376.9________3 min
Surefire 6P w/ 18650 extention_______P91_____________2 AW 2600mAh_____________373.8________4 min
nzgunnie
Enlightened
My P91 lasted about 10 seconds on a pair of 18650s...
Might have been a dodgy bulb, might have simply been overdriven and, I am not sure.
Use at your own risk.
Might have been a dodgy bulb, might have simply been overdriven and
, I am not sure.Use at your own risk.
Each battery might be different than others, each charger might charge higher than others, each bulb might be different than others, each switch might be different than others, each set up might be different than others and...
Do you think all of your batteries comes out of charger with exact same voltage as Mr. OP?
Do you think all your batteries sag exactly like your friends?
Do you think your switch has exact same resistance as your brothers?
Do you think all bulbs are created same?
I need to repeat this one more time.
Nothing is created same.
So go ahead and run your bulb with anything you like.
Do you think all of your batteries comes out of charger with exact same voltage as Mr. OP?
Do you think all your batteries sag exactly like your friends?
Do you think your switch has exact same resistance as your brothers?
Do you think all bulbs are created same?
I need to repeat this one more time.
Nothing is created same.
So go ahead and run your bulb with anything you like.
kramer5150
Flashaholic
Curious.... is it any safer for the P91 using higher resistance (saggy for lack of a better term) 18650 cells?
:thinking:
cernobila
Flashlight Enthusiast
Mine lasted about two hours on two AW 2.6A 18650 cells, it exploded in to a dust of glass inside the bezel, damaging the front lens......
Outdoors Fanatic
Flashlight Enthusiast
Fusion_m8
Flashlight Enthusiast
My P91 lasted about 20secs on 2 fresh off the charger IMR18650s, the glass of the bulb was charred black and blue after that. :duh2:
During that 20secs it put out way over 500lumens! It made my Wolf-Eyes Rattlesnake EO-13v look dim!
During that 20secs it put out way over 500lumens! It made my Wolf-Eyes Rattlesnake EO-13v look dim!
nzgunnie
Enlightened
Yep, that's what mine looked like too.
$3.50 per second bulb life.
$17.50 hours per hour.
$17.50 per seconds.
My $9 WA1111 puts out more than 800 bulb lumens for over 10 hours bulb life and that is less than $0.90 per hour.
I dunno about 18650 but I've been running mine on 2 x IMR 18500 without problems. Love that extreme output but I understand that I'm overdriving an expensive bulb. If it blows, I'm OK with that since I already know that there is a chance of that. No risks no fun eh?
I have a newb question. I understand that this has probably been answered elsewhere, but since this thread is open....Does it overdrive the bulb because there isn't enough resistance or sag or both with just two cells? What about the imr16340's?
ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond
Flashlight Enthusiast
FM - you are just having way too much fun with this thread.....
Having blown a few MN20 LAs in a light with some IMR 18650s and IMR 2x2500 and ruining some KT1/2 heads I understand where people are coming from. With IMR16340's and the P91 you should be fine. I've had a P91 running for a while on 16340s with no problems. I've also run in on IMR18500 cells, but started it up with an AW SoftStart so that may have made the difference.
cernobila
Flashlight Enthusiast
......and I was using the AW softstart/three level switch at the time.....
