The There Are No Stupid Questions Thread

[slmjim]

Why are there almost no protected flat top 18650's?

I've only been able to find one, at an online vape site with no real assurance of it being genuine.

[Lightbringer]

@slmjim

Why are there almost no protected flat top 18650’s?

To be “protected”, you need the board on one end, usually the negative, and the sense-strip running to the positive end. To secure that strip at the positive end, you need a cap on top of the nekkid positive terminal, and usually that’s with a button-top cap.

Most are double-wrapped, with the sense-strip running between the 2 wraps, others like the panny-B just have Kapton tape covering the strip, which is then visible.

Most probably figure that if you’re sticking a cap on it already, you might as well make it a button-top so it’ll look like conventional cells and fit in holders, etc., without the need for nipples, springs, etc.

[djozz]

@slmjim

Why are there almost no protected flat top 18650’s?

I’ve only been able to find one, at an online vape site with no real assurance of it being genuine.

18650 batteries are made as flat tops because they are almost exclusively used in battery packs so a tab must easily be welded onto it.

Protected 18650’s are for a niche market that the producer never intended, protection therefore is always added as an aftermarket process by a different manufacturer.

I think button tops are added then because they are more versatile, and there are not many devices that exclusively work on flat tops.

[Wrathbringer27]

Anyone knows if this is available in black? Convoy tube holster (tan)

[Yokiamy]

i only know THIS one

[Wrathbringer27]

@Yokiamy

i only know THIS one

Yep me too but apparently this just came out. But a pity i dont see it offered in black

[Boaz]

Tennergy made what could be considered protected flat tops ...

My guess on why 3.7 volts is because nimh and nicad etc are 1.2v and three cells combined equal 3,6v which if I remember correctly was a number more commonly used than 3.7v. I'm sure there is a better answer ..but hey "there are no stupid answers "

[Threadneedle]

Candela and lux. How can they be simply explained to an idiot? (me)

[MascaratumB]

@slmjim

Can a HF 9-led 3-AAA giveaway light be modified in any useful way economically?

I guess it can
Take a look on these threads I was also inspired by the mod in the first link, so I made mine (2nd link)!

Mule from a 9-LED cheapie and the generosity of BLF members

First off, I just want to say this is the best forum ever. I don’t do much to contribute at all since I feel as though I am subpar compared to the great gurus here. In any case, since I so avidly real the forum, I have been fortunate enough to receive some stuff at the generosity of out members. For this mod, I got the XP-C module from a 2-AA LED mini mag from Old Lumens. I then got an 18500 LiFePO4 cell from mattthemuppet. So, thanks guys for your kindness, and here’s what I did with the par…

Mod of old 9 led flashlight

Hi BLFers! A couple of months ago, I started thinking to mod an “old” light I had. I didn’t want it stopped so I thought of something, took some measures, did some search online to find what I wanted, and I eventually get what I needed! Here’s the result of my 2nd flashlight mod! Quite simple, but I guess it was nice I’ll show you the pictures of the process, and post the links from where I found the components I needed. NOTE 1 : I got this idea during the night! When I woke up, I ca…

[MascaratumB]

My turn for some “stupid” questions

1 - Are there “ready to use” lighted forward clicky switches? If so, where can I find them?

2 - How good can a triple 14500 (XP-G2, 15mm or 17mm MTN DD driver) flashlight be? Is it too much for a 14500 cell, even with small “turbo boosts”? :question:

3 - Is there any slim flashlight head (ex: Thorfire TG06, or similar) that possibly fits the body of an Astrolux X5? If so, which one?

Thanks in advance for eventual answers to these questions

[Yokiamy]

@Threadneedle

Candela and lux. How can they be simply explained to an idiot? (me)

• Lumens are how much light is given off
• Lux is how bright your surface will be
• Candela measures the visible intensity from the light source.

[moderator007]

@MascaratumB

2 - How good can a triple 14500 (XP-G2, 15mm or 17mm MTN DD driver) flashlight be? Is it too much for a 14500 cell, even with small “turbo boosts”? :question:

If you use a Efest 650mah purple It might do pretty good judging by djozz”s test. Top 14500 cell out at the moment.
I’ll take a guess, maybe 2100 lumen’s at start and falling fast.

[MascaratumB]

@moderator007

@MascaratumB

2 - How good can a triple 14500 (XP-G2, 15mm or 17mm MTN DD driver) flashlight be? Is it too much for a 14500 cell, even with small “turbo boosts”? :question:

If you use a Efest 650mah purple It might do pretty good judging by djozz”s test. Top 14500 cell out at the moment.
I’ll take a guess, maybe 2100 lumen’s at start and falling fast.

Hum, nice to know that! I have 2 Efest IMR ready for it! Just need to find the “perfect” host to try it!
Those numbers are good, but of course will be quick fall, for sure! I will use it for small bursts probably!

Thanks for your answer

[klrman]

Why do we keep hoarding flashlights?

[lampliter]

How do those million volt hand held stun devices I see advertised produce that much voltage from a battery that small?

[Lightbringer]

@lampliter

How do those million volt hand held stun devices I see advertised produce that much voltage from a battery that small?

They’re “Chinese volts”, kinda like “Chinese lumens”. You know, how a 3×AAA light with Latticebright XP-E lookalike chip can produce 2,000 5,000 8,000 lumens.

[zespectre]

@Lightbringer

@lampliter

How do those million volt hand held stun devices I see advertised produce that much voltage from a battery that small?

They’re “Chinese volts”, kinda like “Chinese lumens”. You know, how a 3×AAA light with Latticebright XP-E lookalike chip can produce 2,000 5,000 8,000 lumens.

Now THAT is funny

[Lightbringer]

@zespectre

@Lightbringer

@lampliter

How do those million volt hand held stun devices I see advertised produce that much voltage from a battery that small?

They’re “Chinese volts”, kinda like “Chinese lumens”. You know, how a 3×AAA light with Latticebright XP-E lookalike chip can produce 2,000 5,000 8,000 lumens.

Now THAT is funny

Actually, I thought I was just being a wiseass, but:

8000lm

https://www.ebay.com/i/311963824250?chn=ps&var=610753387762&dispItem=1

8000lm

https://www.ebay.com/i/352164003192?chn=ps&dispItem=1

10,000 lm!!!1111oneoneone

https://www.ebay.com/i/391001550220?chn=ps&dispItem=1

:person_facepalming:

[moderator007]

And the really bad thing, is there are uninformed people that fall for it. :person_facepalming:
And they think its the greatest thing ever since a 2D mag is what there use to until I pull out my D4.

[thijsco19]

@Lightbringer

@lampliter

How do those million volt hand held stun devices I see advertised produce that much voltage from a battery that small?

They’re “Chinese volts”, kinda like “Chinese lumens”. You know, how a 3×AAA light with Latticebright XP-E lookalike chip can produce 2,000 5,000 8,000 lumens.

Yes and no.
Sure most of those ratings are exaggerated. But producing a high voltage from just a single battery is no rocket science. The problem is when you want some power. Meaning, increasing the amps. Those devices might have a huge voltage but there current is very low. Dont forget that just 20mA (out of my head, exact figure can be slightly different) trough your heart could kill you.
You might ask now, but why is a hot rod flashlight that is pushing 10 or more amps to the emitter not dangerous?
That’s because the voltage is too low. Our skin has a very high resistance and thus a low voltage wont hurt us. That’s also why many (‘insulating’) materials that are being used in or around electrical equipment are rated to a certain voltage. Above that there is a possibility that the electricity can go trough it.