Which re-chargeable batteries are you using in your HDS light?

[GoVegan]

In a month or two, HDS may have some INR 16340 batteries. We are going to test the crap out of them first so we know the actual capacity. It's not that we don't trust the manufacturers, but we don't trust the manufacturers.
These would be INR batteries, not ICR or IMR. Safe chemistry, good capacity, and no protection circuit as it doesn't need one especially in an HDS.

This is great news Dan!
Actually I've been meaning to make a complaint to you guys about this for the last year. The fact that you recommend rechargeable batteries in all your documentation but since AW's went out of business you have made no recommendation for any other replacements (expect for 18650s recently). I was very concerned about this, both from a business perspective (some customers will look elsewhere), and as a ethical consumer I'd like to see people switch primarily to rechargeable.

This is one of the weak points for HDS lights I think, that you don't have your one brand of battery that the customer can fully trust, and something that I was always concerned about before purchasing a HDS.

Other US company light makers all have their own branded batteries now:

Surefire (18650)
Streamlight (18650)
ASP (18650, 16340)
Nightstick (18650, 16340)
Muyshondt (18650, 18350)

Then all the Chinese brands like Fenix, Olight, Eagtac etc have had their own batteries for forever.

So what I'd like to see, is HDS work with an OEM battery maker and bring out your own line of batteries. Obviously not an easy task, but not impossible either, and if you don't know how to do something, hire someone that does. This would be good for some larger sales to gov agencies I should imagine.

Anyway for now I'm looking forward to seeing what cells HDS finally recommend after thorough testing.

 

[GoVegan]

BTW I'll add that I'm still using disposable CR123 batteries in my HDS at least for now.

Believe it or not, I'm still on my original battery from when I purchased that light last April!
From last Nov it would step down one level from Max, then gradually over the last couple of months the battery has now got to the point when holding down the button for momentary max or double clicking for medium-high will only be slightly above the 9 lumen medium. 10 months or general EDC usage, not bad for one battery.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Other US company light makers all have their own branded batteries now:

Surefire (18650)
Streamlight (18650)
ASP (18650, 16340)
Nightstick (18650, 16340)
Muyshondt (18650, 18350)

Then all the Chinese brands like Fenix, Olight, Eagtac etc have had their own batteries for forever.

Anyway for now I'm looking forward to seeing what cells HDS finally recommend after thorough testing.

Most of the branded batteries roll off the same few assembly lines... especially primaries.
Henry and I talked about branding batteries and decided against it when we moved to the 18650 INR that we currently include with 18680 tubes and sell individually.

16340's were not easy to find in the INR chemistry, which really is the best and safest chemistry to use...

Instead of branding with HDS, we decided it was better to put the actual info on the battery. What is the actual capacity and not what the manufacturer states. We had the labels printed for the 18650 batteries and I'm the lucky guy who sticks them on each and every battery... and so that will be the case with the 16340 if they turn out to be acceptable.

 

[Tachead]

HKJ has reviews of darn near every battery on the planet GoVegan if you need some info to tide you over until HDS offers a cell. Several Vape based forums have extensive testing as well. Honestly, a great number of manufacturer branded re-wraps use the same cell underneath their flashy branded shrink wrap anyway. So, unless you like paying a bunch extra for some shrink wrap with a manufacturers name on it(not saying this will be the case with HDS's cell)I would just buy a popular tested cell from a reputable domestic dealer.

The Efest IMR's that myself and MF are using work pretty well and Gene Malkoff sells them on his site which says something I think. They are not protected though(a good thing for experienced users that value reliability) so, you have to be mindful of end voltage(if used in a light without LVP).

 

[GoVegan]

Either way, I can't wait.

Primary cells certainly have their place and can't be beat for reliability under the worse conditions (especially Cr123 and Lithium AA/AAA), but rechargeable cells are the future especially for EDC which these lights are marketed for.

BTW The label idea sounds good, just need to stay off the rum if you want to get them on straight.

Anyway, we expect to see you on these forums less from now on, we may miss the jokes but battery testing will have to take priority.

 

[Rossymeister]

Which rechargeable batteries are you using in your hds these days? The set that i have is almost 4 years old and its about time for a replacement.

 

[ilikeguns40]

Vapecell T8 850 mah or Sanyo 16340 700 mah direct from HDS

 

[Rossymeister]

Thanks! Its been a few years since ive bought rechargeables.

 

[WarriorOfLight]

I use AW18500 and AW18350 cells in some of my HDS Rotary lights

 

[Rossymeister]

I use AW18500 and AW18350 cells in some of my HDS Rotary lights

Nice! I bet you get some good runtimes out of that 18350. I havent seen AW cells in years!

 

[WarriorOfLight]

I reported here about the 18350 and 18500 Rotary tube in September 2022:

18350/18500 Battery Compartment Pre-Sale

Just ~20 minutes ago the DHL Express delivery man was here and gave me the HDS parcel. Pictures will follow :clap: But at first I take my beakfast.

www.candlepowerforums.com

I was also surprised to see AW cells.

 

[jon_slider]

Which rechargeable batteries are you using in your hds these days?

Purple Vapcel T8 INR 16340 850mAh, just $3.60 each

 

[indigon]

Purple Vapcel T8 INR 16340 850mAh, just $3.60 each

These are what I use, excellent performance.

 

[aznsx]

Which rechargeable batteries are you using in your hds these days? The set that i have is almost 4 years old and its about time for a replacement.

I don't use an HDS, but do use a lot of other 1x16340 lights extensively. If you would prefer a protected cell that's very short, while offering very good capacity and consistency (when new), you might also want to look at the second of the two cells (NL169) I checked out in the second part of this post. Also see the 'Note' in the first part of that post.

Tests of Nitecore NL166 & NL169 16340s using MC3000, & BT-C3100

During the course of doing some cell testing in the past few weeks, plus the initial checkout of a new 'charger/analyzer' I acquired, some data from my notes may be of interest to some, so I'll share it: The 2 devices in use were: Opus BT-C3100 V2.2 SkyRC MC3000 FW EDIT: Rev:1.15 NOTE...

www.candlepowerforums.com

 

[Rossymeister]

Purple Vapcel T8 INR 16340 850mAh, just $3.60 each

Looks like they are on backorder through illumn. Any other vendor that you recommend?

 

[ilikeguns40]

Liionwholesale.com

 

[jon_slider]

Looks like they are on backorder through illumn.

they look like they are In Stock when I use that link,
not sure why you say they are on backorder,
but I agree Lionwholesale also has them in stock

 

[Rossymeister]

they look like they are In Stock when I use that link,
not sure why you say they are on backorder,
but I agree Lionwholesale also has them in stock

Went to check out and this came up.

 

[jon_slider]

Went to check out and this came up.

ah, you are right.. I see the same message when I move to check out..

 

[indigon]

View attachment 50604

Went to check out and this came up.

These guys have them and ship quickly: 🤠

Link