Neutral Quark X with 14500

If my ultimate goal is to run a Quark Neutral X on a 14500 in an AA tube, should I get the high voltage (3v - 9v) or low voltage (0.9v - 4.2v) head?

I have done some research on here, but there seem to be a lot of different opinions spread across various posts. I'd like to condense the information to one post and make my decision.

A plus to the low voltage head is being able to use any AA format battery if needed.

I agree that being able to use a regular AA would be useful in emergency situations. But my only concern for this particular light is performance is a small form factor.

I'm also planning to use 14500s on a quark. I purchased a quark AA2 neutral X and an AA tube. Why do you need the higher voltage? Are you planning to use 2 14500s?

Get the low voltage.
What are you unsure about?

Either one of those should work, since the 14500 is a 4.2v source and both heads are designed to work well at max output on a single 4.2v li-on like a 17670. The 3-9V head should be brighter than the lower voltage head though.

The 3-9V head works with a single 14500, but it pulls >1,5A for the first minutes, which is over the limit for standard 14500. IMR 14500 will be fine. The low voltage head pulls about 1,2A in the beginning. Therefore the 3-9V head is a bit brighter, but not 100% as bright as with 2xRCR.
After step-down to reduced high the 3-9V head pulls about 1A and the low voltage head about 700mA.

js82 said:

I'm also planning to use 14500s on a quark. I purchased a quark AA2 neutral X and an AA tube. Why do you need the higher voltage? Are you planning to use 2 14500s?

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There is information out there that the high voltage will run a little brighter and longer. I have a AA2 tube, and I may try 2x14500's if I get the high voltage head... but I doubt they will fit, length-wise.

Lagerregal said:

The 3-9V head works with a single 14500, but it pulls >1,5A for the first minutes, which is over the limit for standard 14500. IMR 14500 will be fine. The low voltage head pulls about 1,2A in the beginning. Therefore the 3-9V head is a bit brighter, but not 100% as bright as with 2xRCR.
After step-down to reduced high the 3-9V head pulls about 1A and the low voltage head about 700mA.

Click to expand...

That's the kind of information I was talking about. Will a 17670 handle the initial 1.5A draw better? Maybe I should just use those since they will fit in the 123^2 tube that comes with the high voltage head. I would really like to get the size down with a 14500, but not if it's going to limit brightness and become dangerous/damaging.

Also, is it true that the low voltage head will drain a li-ion all the way down until the cell's protection circuit is tripped?

Whereas, the high voltage head won't work below 3.0V... so that will protect the cell?

I went ahead and ordered the Neutral 123^2 to get the high voltage head... may end up getting some 17670's to try in the 123^2 tube and compare to the 14500 in a AA tube.

I have a quark AA^2 X 280lumans. if i get a single AA tube and put a 14500 in it will it have a higher out put?

surgicalshot said:

I have a quark AA^2 X 280lumans. if i get a single AA tube and put a 14500 in it will it have a higher out put?

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No.

I have a NW Turbo X (3-9V) which I use exclusively with 17670. I get VERY close output to what I would on 2xRCR or 123's and for an hour the Max brightness is definitely noticeably brighter than high. Sometime around there it will suddenly start to dim dramatically. I always turn it off before protection kicks in.
I have a normal ol quark xp-g with low voltage head and with 14500 it will run at max until protection trips.

I know the Turbo X pulls more current than the regular X but thought I would add this anyway: 14500 will come on slightly brighter on Max than High but for so short a period it isn't useful at all, not to mention how bad it is for the 14500.
As has been mentioned, I would not run the high voltage head on one 14500.
If you ask me 17670 will give as good if not better runtimes than 2 x 14500's will too