[♛ FreemeGB] Fireflies PL47 Gen II 4*XP-L/ Nichia/ SST20 Hi CRI 21700 Right Angle Flashlight - ENDED

The adapter makes a 65mm battery fit a tube designed for a 70mm cell… There would be no reason to use it.

The fault is also on these battery sellers for marketing these much longer customized/protected cells as “18650”. However Olight DOES call their cells “customized” after all…

Some sort of warning is probably a good idea, but I certainly wouldnt have expected someone to try a nearly 70mm cell +adapter personally. I dont think you can expect a manufacturer to predict everthing someone will do with a light/batteries, especually with how much variation there is in cells.

Not many people were expecting them to fit, I stil ldont really understand the desire to use them in a quad FET with LVP thats almost guaranteed to trip the protection circuit anyway?

It would be great to know what dimension of cells fit, but I have plenty of lights that require specfic batteries, whether size/max drain/whatever.

Really it’s not a flashlight problem, it’s a presale problem. Once the reviews are out everyone will know how it works and what it fits. There isn’t a brand of torch out which can fit every single brand of battery. I kind of agree with Burning PlaydOh; I’ve measured most of my 18650s and depending on the PCB they can be a few mm wider and longer than the size indicates, even without one. I have the Acebeam 21700 so I’ll try it soon along with my Wuben 21700.

Torches sold with batteries as standard usually cost more; maybe that is how Fireflies should go from now on. Adding a charging port would be nice too but not entirely necessary, though they’re very helpful for people who don’t have chargers for li ion batteries or even ones which fit the 21700. The more consumer friendly, the wider the consumer base/market as well. This would give everyone something to use until they buy their own. I know he offers them for sale as an add on, just make it standard.

Expecting to put an 18650 into a 21-70 torch is just asking for trouble. That’s a 5mm mis-match in length. Even on paper.

To try to match that up really requires springs, and things, and knowledge, and tolerancing, and standards, not just a crushing piece. Or best not even to try.

It seems more of this Tesla inspired nonsense is still to come, whilst random manufacturers make things up as they go along, in the hopes of seducing people into buying their knock-offs.

At least FF made a (perhaps pathetic) attempt to try to match them up somehow.

At least an 18650 to 26650 adapter is easily done, and respectable in an engineering sense. As soon as you have to put some inter-posing piece in-between and try to maintain conductivity and contact resistances, it all starts to go downhill very fast.

Give them a break, this is only their second attempt at a torch. What were you expecting from the headband ? It was obviously mis-conceived as soon as you saw the pictures, or just checked in to try to convince peeps that this could be a credible head torch. As if.

Lohtse, you should have thought a bit harder about this before ordering a bunch of them for your business requirements. Cheapest is not always best (though this is not cheap), and I agree with the other poster that the anodising and surface finish looks pretty rough, and won’t get any better with use.

Well, to try to be supportive, what do you think of the aux. LEDs ?

I received my first PL47 in the mail today even though USPS was closed. Could have been in there late last night after regular mail delivery was made. No tracking…no forewarning… just made the surprise better!

Lohtse, I understand your observations and frustrations. I did not know to remove the adapter and the solid brass button insert before FF showed that in their post. I too thought the headband was just too loose since it was packaged already on the PL47 but loosely around the middle circular part of the battery tube. I now see how it is suppose to be attached but won’t because as it is hard stiff plastic and I don’t want to risk scratching the head surface. The fitment is not in the instructions nor is it intuitive that the button even comes out of the 18650 adapter. You actually have to get your finger nail under the top edge and pop it out. The brass part of the adapter has a much smaller surface contacting the 18650 battery + terminal inside the black plastic tube, so if it is too tight the 18650 battery + button-top is the weakest link.

There are springs at both ends of the battery tube. I bought Samsung 50E’s and you have to tighten down hard before the light works. My thought to myself was “at least it works”. I REALLY have to tighten it tight and wonder what this will do to the springs and the electronic boards long term. I wish now that I had a smidgen shorter battery to use.

My “go to” headlamp is a Skilhunt H03 and I use it almost every day. There is a positive click sound and feel when turning on and off while on your head. Button feel on the PL47 less tactile and has less travel as one would expect. When wearing this as a headlamp I am not sure if/when it turns on I have had to take it off to check a few times. This will get easier with use and expericnce with the UI. Still going to use my H03 when chores require extra light.

So, the headband supplied is a bust and I bought an extra one. But, at $2.00, not worrying about it. The Skilhunt headband works just fine and I imagine all three of the AliExpress options mentioned by other members will work too as long as the rubber is comparable to the Skilhunt in terms of elasticity and durability. In fact, I have 2 other headband lights that also now work, Nitecore HC33 headband is on par with the Skilhunt. The best one I have to use with the PL47 is the one from my JetBeam HC20. It is slightly thicker rubber and the holes are slightly bigger in diameter, but not too big. Bingo! Now to find more of these cheap since we know that over time, almost any of these headbands will wear out with use. Hopefully FF will source better ones as feedback mounts. I am convinced that the PL47 will work as an everyday usage headlamp and is not too heavy. Just needs one of any number of headbands already on the market.

Tint is fantastic with the 219B’s as expected. Turbo is plenty bright but will only use that level for show and giggles. Once I get more comfortable with UI and the touch of it, a mid level brightness will make it a great choice for painting walls or whatever other chore there is to do during the day…or night!

Sooo… a 26650 > 18650 spacer is easy but this conversion isn’t for some reason?

The simple solution is to understand the actual dimensions of your batteries before putting them in lights. Since these li-ion cells weren’t ever even really designed to be used loose (and certainly not with varying sizes due to protection circuits, button tops, etc.) that would seem to be the bare minimum of preparedness to me.

I’ve used the included 21700>18650 spacers in two e-cig mods with no issues at all for months until I got some 20700 and 21700 cells.

If you have to tighten it down hard to make contact… why do you think it would be wearing on the springs? Sounds like the cells you have are slightly under spec and you have to get the springs closer by tightening before it makes good contact.

The alternative would be that the tailcap isn’t making good connection with the contact area on the battery tube itself but that would be easy to test by trying it with different cells/spacer + 18650 cell.

Are you sure the o-rings on both ends of the battery tube are still in the correct grooves? I had a similar issue with my Q8 when I got it because they had been pushed into the wrong one when first assembling the light with batteries.

xtar h3 and nitecore hc30 headbands fit perfectly.

This one looks very similar to the Skilhunt H03 headband

This one is closest to the JetBeam HC20 design. I just ordered 6 of them.

Of the 100’s of lights that I have, this one is the only one I have to really crank down on to complete the circuit. Like I said, at least it works. I do love it but also want it to last. Tried with a short flat top 30Q. With the adapter, too long could complete circuit. Same battery without adapter still needed to crank it hard all the way on to get a circuit. Seems to have something to do with battery tube section making contact with the bottom inside of the tail cap. 50E already showing circular scrap marks from the spring on the negative end. Both O-rings are and have been in correct slots.

Next might try something like a copper O-ring with outer diameter equal to inside diameter of end cap. Not even sure that has a chance of helping. Fine, thin aluminum V-shaped threads won’t last long doing what I have to do to get the light to work. Might ask FF to send another tail. They just shipped my second PL47, with magnet separate this time and second ROT66 a few days ago. Preordered a E07 today so may ask Jack to send another tailcap with that order. ’Nuf complaining…love the light and has a great 3 year wanrranty. Just going to enjoy it and try to stay in the moment!

Are threads really V-shaped on this flashlight?

BTW looks like I might get mine before the weekend if I’m lucky enough.

Firstly why would I have know better? Already stated I have never used the adpater before, secondly we have not bought 10 lights I have a REQUIREMENT for 10 lights for clients and I put the batteries in anyway. We have TWO lights and both batteries had been damaged when myself and partner placed the batteries in the adapter when they arrived. As to other post about 18650 you can use and 18650 button top in the PL47 with out the adapter and theres is little to know movement. Our intention in the end is to use 21700’s we have waiting for them to arrive… But as they are also able to run using 18650 which we have a shed load of we intend to use them until the 21700’s arrive…

Our issues are the headband thats being sold with these lights not being fit for purpose and that there was no indication as to what should or should not be done with the adapter… The Other issue we have now come a cross have also been communicated direct to firefly….

Well, this is not really a product meant for a mass market, it’s not foolproof like for example Petzl headlamps. I guess that’s why leaftye is saying that you should know better. Like others have said, the variety of dimensions and shapes of all of the ‘18650’ cells on the market makes it almost impossible to make an adapter for them. It is designed for 21700 and you have to always be extra cautious while performing such equilibristics :wink: I do understand your disappointment but these are issues that might always happen, especially going for first batch of an innovative products from tiny companies. There is no standardization and manufacturer did recommend to use specific 21700 cells. You did put Olight cell, while build around 18650 cell, not really fitting dimensions. It will just never be as simple as poping three AAA batteries…
PL47 was designed as a right angle torch primarily, NOT as a headlamp. It was after our requests in this thread that Jack decided to add that unfortunate headstrap. I was expecting it to be crap looking at the pictures but I’m ready to experiment with other straps I have or even look for one that will fit well. We can obviously blame Fireflies for not checking it (what he defo should do) but again - it was clear from the beginning that it was an afterthought and this flashlight was not marketed as a headlamp.

And so enduth the lesson…And lesson learned……

But still he could have done better on headband… Took me 5mins if that to fi d one suitable…And cheaper…

Ha. A gun could be marketed as a pointing device, but it’s still going to be a gun.

In my opinion, a right angle flashlight of this diminutive size makes for a perfect headlamp. Has for many years. Even the old 2xC, 2xD military right angle lights from years ago, were attached to helmets—as headlamps. Just because, the headstrap was ill chosen and maybe not considered—prior to blf folks asking, “so where is the head strap—this looks like a headlamp.” does not change the fact that for a majority of the folks purchasing this lil’gadget are gonna find a way to strap it to their skulls.

The only real issue i see is whether or not we’re going to light our heads on fire.

Yeah, you’ve got a point. I guess that’s the core of angle lights popularity, I also never understood people carrying these lights in their pockets on daily :wink:

Speaking about helmets I remember that Armytek makes bombproof hard hat helmet mounts. Maybe that would be a good bet you lohtse?

:smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

any links?

saddly would not work but thank you for the heads up!