From my highly non-technical & less than scientific research , my predictions for FW3A Battery Fitment are……
Most all 18650 Flat Tops will work.
Most 18650 Button Tops will not work. This will depend entirely on the height of the 'Button Top' installed on the cell... but it ain't looking good for "button tops".. .
These findings are based on the stated Maximum battery length of 66mm for the FW3A.
Since both pair of my calipers are hiding from me at the moment , the measurements listed below are taken mostly from LIION Wholesale & MTN… with a couple from Illumn & IMR.
MOST Flat-top cells will work for MOST lights that claim to require button-top cells, if you put a blob of solder on the top of the flat cell top so it can stick above the wrapper.
disclaimer: I can’t prove this. I just think it’s true. (and it probably is) YMMV :innocent:
I’m hoping it’ll fit button-top cells, at least. Earlier prototypes did.
I’m also hoping things will happen quickly. But I’m hearing that LH351D may be delayed longer than expected, because they were apparently not ordered back in December when I thought they were. And it sounds like there’s some sort of difficulty in getting them. So I’m kind of wondering if it would make more sense to use SST-20 instead.
I know it has come up before, which is why I mention it, but what do people think of the idea?
Here’s a very brief summary of the biggest differences:
LH351D has a wider, flatter, floodier beam. Probably more lumens.
SST-20 has a narrower, throwier beam. Illuminates farther away.
Both can still have hit-or-miss tints depending on the exact bin used.
To be clear, XP-L HI 3D is still a “yes”. If I understand correctly, XP-L HI should be able to go to production as soon as the driver fit issue is worked out. The question is only about the LH351D version.
I would, of course, want the XP-L version as soon as it can be done. Next, i would say do the SST-20, if it can be done sooner. Then, do the LH351D, when the good tint emitters are available. I think a lot of people would really like the SST-20, and probably plan to make that swap anyway. I would personally get one of all three, and then a second one of whichever I like best.
True. Though in this case it’s more like “flood or … more flood”. And if that’s still not enough flood, there are two levels of even floodier frosted optics which can be used.