Thanks for confirming my thoughts. So better sticking with big 5 OEM, than playing lottery with unknown manufacturers under different wrappers. Too bad most of my sources dont sell the OEMs and European stores charge ridiculous shipping. Are there any reliable stores at Ali, that sell original 21700s (like 50E, 40T etc.)? I found some but the reviews are mixed.
Aliexpress is like Ebay, a bunch of random stores that sell through the same website so you don’t really know what stores are legit and which are crooks. Some are known good and some you take a chance with. Lishen makes a good 4000mah 21700 and it can be found at Banggood under the LiitoKala brand. I’m not sure what cell is used for the LiitoKala 5000mah 21700.
Most of the Chinese stores like Aliexpress, Gearbest and Banggood sell the Chinese brand batteries. I guess it’s a lot cheaper than trying to import Japanese cells to China just to resell them.
Buying from China is cheapest, due to lower product cost and subsidized shipping. You need to buy a lot?
I typically buy from a USA store like MTN E. Costs a bit more, but faster shipping.
There are a lot of Chinese stores and their prices fluctuate. Kaidomain is definitely one of the better priced stores. Maybe someone can mention some more.
I’m new to the flashlight world but have modded a few lights the only us stores that I know of are mtelectronics that sells LEDs and mcpcbs and illumi for batteries
You need to find someone who has both like ToyKeeper or just ask the maker Hank. For the quickest answer, I would ask in a big review thread as I’m sure there are many folks that have both those lights.
From a lot of reading and asking I think more than once, the threads on various runs of D4 may or may not be compatible with the D4v2. It depends on the run. Good luck, though!
Regarding flashlights that can run on different size batteries: I watched a few of reviews on different flashlights, and the same reviewer shows he gets more lumens from a 21700 battery compared to a 26650 from the same torch. How is that so?
First you need a light that is sensitive to the battery power such as one with a FET based driver. Then you pick a strong 21700 battery and a weak 26650 battery and there you go.
Ok, thank you. I thought a 26650 should pull more lumens, and longer run times. I didn’t even think about the mAh aspect. I love this forum, I am learning a lot.