18650 Worklights, do they exist?

Are there any 18650 worklights out there, aside from the type that use built in rechargable systems of course, there are plenty of those. I have something like this:

Which, despite being a super cheap add on when I was ordering something else, has turned out to be a really handy light around the house for little jobs in tight spaces, and a great emergency light too.
What it does lack though is the fact that you cannot replace the battery, you have to charge via USB, that has it’s pro’s and con’s.

What I would really like is a COB style light that I can easily swap out the 18650 cells, ideally using multiple cells for a long run time. Doesn’t need to be super bright like you might want from a torch, it will be used fairly close up after all. Flood and runtime are more important really.

I’ve seen lights like those with removable 18650 batteries, yes. My local Lowe’s and Walmart don’t sell them, but my local electrical supply shop has a few different sizes and styles. I’m sure you could find some online at our usual vendors’ web-stores.

I have done a good bit of searching and not found anything yet. The waters are muddied by the fact that many rechargeable lights use 18650 cells so it makes it hard to find those that have removable cells.

This says you can use 18650 or 4 AA batteries. It looks like there is a removable panel on the back of it . The pictures in the reviews indicate that can you use the panel to replace the 18650’s as well as the AA?

I kinda like these and might give them a try. I like the idea of multiple battery types in a work light !

https://www.amazon.com/OTYTY-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Emergency-Repairing/dp/B07GCBHMZ8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1538662584&sr=8-7&keywords=18650+cob+work+light

Now that’s a clever idea, I like that, be a great light for travelling/camping etc.

I agree and now I want them! :money_mouth_face:

I might try and look in the Chinese market to see if they can be found cheaper

Let me know if you find anything and I’ll do the same.

Multiple battery options is always a bonus for me, it’s part of the reason I always take my O-light S15R when I travel rather than my X5. With the o-light I can re-charge it, run it on 14500 or in an emergency run it on an AA, really handy feature.

There’s this one on FT:

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1941/10053214/9653554

(What is the difference between size S and L? No idea.)

Though at a 2nd glance I’m not sure the 18650 can be swapped easily.


Then there’s this one which is a bit different from all the chienese ones (TIR instead of zoomie, looks a bit better made) but the provided specs are not very clear:

https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Flashlight-Light-Flood-CFX1000/dp/B0798G4MFR

Both have magnet bases.

I posted a link to the Gearbest version of this light in another thread:
https://www.gearbest.com/led-solar-lights/pp_009306164569.html

Not a cob light, but wouldnt just about any 18650 based headlamp fit the bill? Most of them have floody beams designed for close up work, and most of them offer long run times in lower modes.

Yeah it might do. I said COB style mostly because those seem the best for a good floody light, like the one I had a pic of in the first post, it has a COB bar down the side and it has superb flood up close.

I use a headlamp for worklight very often.
But most stock headlamps are not floody enough…

Here is one option I found:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Hot-Sale-Portable-550-Lumen-CREE-XPE-Q5-LED-6LED-Beads-Headlamp-Headlight-Flashlight-Head-Light/1091355_32240997445.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.56.6d8a5df9YSSp6p

No personal experience with it though, but it looks like a COB light and can take a removable 18650 cell.

Thanks, I’ll check that one out.

I would really like one of such lights. BG sells them as well.
But I want something of good quality and I can’t find any trustworthy reviews, so I wait…

Yes I would really like something that, they never seem to come with a removable battery though.

I think the armytek wizard could be used as a work light, its a headlamp but can be a hand held too. They claim a 10m impact resistance, waterproof under 10m,built in magnetic charging, have a nice tint ( if you choose the warm model), strong magnetic base and a 10 years waranty.

You can have the wizard pro too for even more brightness or the elf c2 for the cheaper option and built in micro usb charger.

https://www.armytek.com/products/flashlights/multi-flashlights/armytek-wizard-magnet-usb-18650/armytek-wizard-v3-xp-l-magnet-usb-white-silver.html

NEBO “Big Larry”.

It’s not what you asked for as it’s x3AA, but it is a very very solid worklight, excellent wide beam COB mule emitter which also has a red flashing mode which is great as a bicycle rear-lamp, with a velcro tie around the seatpost, or as a hazard flasher on the roof of a broken-down car.

Strong (very strong) magnet in the tail.

Runs well on e.g. Eneloops.

Cold white, might not suit tint snobs, but it does the job better than anything else I have tried, in this class.

Would double as a cosh, or a Priest when fishing. Actually has (Priest, not cosh :wink: )

Cleans up easily with a rinse under the tap.

Not expensive.

I gave these as Christmas gifts to my relatives, and they are much appreciated. Probably still being used on Duracells, I did try to tell them, but that’s the real world for most.

Oh, I see they now do a “Pro” version, with magnetic USB charging. I might have to get one of those.

I just ordered one hoping the COB lights will be usable as a small area flood light. Too bad there is a strobe mode in the UI.


Update: The COB is really a line of about five LEDs. The beam has a dim center and a bright-blue (ugly) halo around the perimeter. Not very suitable for me as a small area flood light.

That’s an interesting looking light. I wonder if it has a “normal” round driver board like most handheld flashlights. If so, it could be changed. If it includes one of BLF firmware supported ATtiny chips, it could even be re-flashed if the driver is reasonably well made otherwise. :wink: