I recently bought a used L4 from a forum member who stated it would fit 17650 cells and since I didn't have any and being a huge Wolf-Eyes fan I purchased a couple of LRB-169B (17650) cells. When I tried to insert the cell into the L4 it went in most of the way but wouldn't go the last inch. Needless to say I was a bit peeved at the seller, but didn't mention it because I thought maybe he tried them part way and thought they worked. At that point I got out some sand paper and a dowel and bored out the L4. I now know I may have been hasty. I just bought a new U2 that does not accept the bigger 18650 cells so I tried my wolf-eyes LRB-169B cells. I first tried inserting it in the tail end of the battery tube and got the cell stuck. After finally getting it back out the wrapper was all torn up. I was a little bummed since these cells aren't cheap, but I decided to tear off the wrapper and hope for the best. I found that it has a whole new wrapper hiding underneath the first one. The cell is now thinner and will fit perfectly through the TAIL end. The other 169B cell I had still won't fit in the head end of the tube, which has a bigger opening, without forcing it.
Ok, ok. You want pictures.
AW 18650
WE 169B
WE 169B(no wrapper)
WE 150A
WE 150A(no wrapper)
AW 17500 w/o sticker
As you can see I also checked the Wolf-Eyes 150A cells that I had and I found the same thing. I don't have any calipers or micrometer so I can't take exact measurements, but with the naked eye it looks like the WE 150A is slightly thicker than AW's 18650 until you take off the wrapper and then it is slightly thinner. Using the tail end of the U2 as a measuring tool I found that the AW 17500 cell would not fit, but the naked WE 169B would fit easily. This makes me think I may not have had to bore out my L4. This could be really good news for Surefire fans who want to go rechargable.
I also noticed that the Photoel Tech cells used the same wrapper for the Wolf-Eyes labed 169B and 150A cells except that the positive end of the Photoec wrapper is trimmed off on the 150A cell. It also says 168A, which neither one is.
*disclaimer* This probably voids any warranty the cells had with Wolf-Eyes and could possibly be dangerous if it was designed to have two layers of wrapper so do this "mod" at your own risk.
Ok, ok. You want pictures.
AW 18650
WE 169B
WE 169B(no wrapper)
WE 150A
WE 150A(no wrapper)
AW 17500 w/o sticker
As you can see I also checked the Wolf-Eyes 150A cells that I had and I found the same thing. I don't have any calipers or micrometer so I can't take exact measurements, but with the naked eye it looks like the WE 150A is slightly thicker than AW's 18650 until you take off the wrapper and then it is slightly thinner. Using the tail end of the U2 as a measuring tool I found that the AW 17500 cell would not fit, but the naked WE 169B would fit easily. This makes me think I may not have had to bore out my L4. This could be really good news for Surefire fans who want to go rechargable.
I also noticed that the Photoel Tech cells used the same wrapper for the Wolf-Eyes labed 169B and 150A cells except that the positive end of the Photoec wrapper is trimmed off on the 150A cell. It also says 168A, which neither one is.
*disclaimer* This probably voids any warranty the cells had with Wolf-Eyes and could possibly be dangerous if it was designed to have two layers of wrapper so do this "mod" at your own risk.
