How is this (A9) different from the A8 Q5?

CoolHands · Sep 13, 2007

This is listed as A9 on the lighthound site. But I thought it was an A8 Q5??

Yet it has the lanyard type tailpiece?
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2985

Can anyone tell me (in simple terms) what is the difference between the A9 and A8 Q5?

I thought I wanted the A8 Q5 but now I'm confused.

Nitro · Sep 13, 2007

If you're going to use 1x18650 battery then you want the A8-Q5. If you're not going to use 1x18650, then you want the A9.

The A8-Q5 has better regulation with 18650's then the A9. The A9 allows you to use 2xRCR123's.

CoolHands · Sep 13, 2007

ok thanks.

Do you happen to know where I can get a A8 Q5 but with the A9 endcap? I can't find one anywhere, and I emailed Tiablo but no reply. Batteryjunction have some A8 Q5 but said tailcaps aren't available?

Also, am I correct in thinking the A8 can run either 18650's or RCR123's? Whereas you appear to be saying the A9 has to run RCR123's?

thanks

Nitro · Sep 13, 2007

CoolHands said:
ok thanks.

Do you happen to know where I can get a A8 Q5 but with the A9 endcap? I can't find one anywhere, and I emailed Tiablo but no reply. Batteryjunction have some A8 Q5 but said tailcaps aren't available?

I'm not sure. I would try contacting Tiablo directly again. Try PM'ing him over in CPFM.

Also, am I correct in thinking the A8 can run either 18650's or RCR123's? Whereas you appear to be saying the A9 has to run RCR123's?

Actually the A8 cannot use RCR123's, only 1x18650, or 2xCR123A's.
The A9 can use all three, but isn't regulated very good with 1x18650.

Hope that helps

svander07 · Sep 13, 2007

Can anyone comment on the output of the A8 Q5 using 18650s and runtime?

I purchased the a9 and 2 days later the A8 Q5 came out. There is a bit of difference between using 18650s ans rcr123sin the A9; I wanted to use only 18650s but the light is noticeably brighter on rcr123s. I too like the A9 tailcap better and the anti-roll ring (could have a better functional design), but am wishing for better regulation with 18650s.

Does anyone know if Tiablo will be making upgrades and accessories for their lights?

Over all great light and beam w/ OP reflector, just wishing for a flat output over runtime....

Outdoors Fanatic · Sep 13, 2007

svander07 said:
Can anyone comment on the output of the A8 Q5 using 18650s and runtime?

I purchased the a9 and 2 days later the A8 Q5 came out. There is a bit of difference between using 18650s ans rcr123sin the A9; I wanted to use only 18650s but the light is noticeably brighter on rcr123s. I too like the A9 tailcap better and the anti-roll ring (could have a better functional design), but am wishing for better regulation with 18650s.

Does anyone know if Tiablo will be making upgrades and accessories for their lights?

Over all great light and beam w/ OP reflector, just wishing for a flat output over runtime....

The A8-Q5 on one 18650 achieves maximum output with +/- 2 hours of perfectly regulated runtime. It is optimized to run at 3.7v, while the A9 is optimized for 6v-8.4v.

Patriot · Sep 14, 2007

Is the A9 at 8.4v brighter than the A8 or is the A8 just as bright with 18650? :thinking:

Dobbler · Sep 14, 2007

Patriot36 said:
Is the A9 at 8.4v brighter than the A8 or is the A8 just as bright with 18650? :thinking:

Yes, the specs and graphs indicate it is brighter for some period of time.

JNewell · Sep 14, 2007

svander07 said:
I wanted to use only 18650s but the light is noticeably brighter on rcr123s.

If you ran it that way you may have exceeded the voltage that the A8's circuit will take.

Click to expand...

svander07 · Sep 14, 2007

I have the A9, which to my understanding can use rcr123s just not well regulated for 18650s.

Nitro · Sep 14, 2007

Patriot36 said:
Is the A9 at 8.4v brighter than the A8 or is the A8 just as bright with 18650? :thinking:

Are you referring to the A8, or the A8-Q5?

svander07 · Sep 14, 2007

I am guessing he is asking about A9 and the A8 Q5....

Nitro · Sep 14, 2007

svander07 said:
I am guessing he is asking about A9 and the A8 Q5....

The A8-Q5 with 1x18650 SHOULD be just as bright as the A9 with 2xRCR123's. However, I have yet to confirm this.

Patriot · Sep 14, 2007

Yes, the A8 Q5 is what I meant.

Obviously the standard A8 will fall short of either Q5. Since I have a hand full of 18650s around it seems like the A8 Q5 would make the most sense for me.

Thanks Nitro.

P.S. It sounds like svander07 has run his A8 on a set of RCR123s and said it was noticably brighter...haha. I wonder if he has found the high output formula and got away with it...?

[edit] Actually it looks like he was using those in his A9.....oops, never mind.

gostanova · Sep 14, 2007

Nitro said:
The A8-Q5 with 1x18650 SHOULD be just as bright as the A9 with 2xRCR123's. However, I have yet to confirm this.

I have both and can tell you the A8-Q5 with 18650 is about 8-10% dimmer than the A9 on primaries, as measured with my homemade lightbox. This could be the circuit or maybe just the cree lottery.

Patriot · Sep 14, 2007

gostanova said:
I have both and can tell you the A8-Q5 with 18650 is about 8-10% dimmer than the A9 on primaries, as measured with my homemade lightbox. This could be the circuit or maybe just the cree lottery.

It would be interesting to see if others have noticed the same thing. I thought that the A8 had circuitry make up for the drop in voltage.

Nitro · Sep 14, 2007

gostanova said:
I have both and can tell you the A8-Q5 with 18650 is about 8-10% dimmer than the A9 on primaries, as measured with my homemade lightbox. This could be the circuit or maybe just the cree lottery.

Interesting. What about the A9 on RCR123's?

daveman · Sep 14, 2007

Patriot36 said:
... I thought that the A8 had circuitry make up for the drop in voltage.

Exactly, unless the A8 with Q5 emitter has some kind of circuitry to make up for the drop in voltage running a 18650, which I don't think it does, the A9 is definitely the brighter flashlight when it's running on 2 cr123s.

Mash · Sep 14, 2007

I like to run my lights on 186502 for obvious reasons, BUT they must take primary 123s as well, for emergencies, finished batteries while outside etc etc...
Now in regards to these Tiablos, what are the actual disadvantages of running the 18650s in the A9? It has been mentioned that this light is not ideally optimised in its regulation for this battery, so how does this show up in use?

Patriot · Sep 14, 2007

Mash said:
I like to run my lights on 186502 for obvious reasons, BUT they must take primary 123s as well, for emergencies, finished batteries while outside etc etc...
Now in regards to these Tiablos, what are the actual disadvantages of running the 18650s in the A9? It has been mentioned that this light is not ideally optimised in its regulation for this battery, so how does this show up in use?

Evedently it has been optimized for 6.0 - 8.4 volts. The LED wont be driven as hard at 3.7 - 4.2 volts.

How is this (A9) different from the A8 Q5?

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