The There Are No Stupid Questions Thread

[JasonWW]

@Dioda

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.

What country are you in?

[Natewar]

Where to buy Mcpcb and led emitters wholesale or cheaper then buying say from kaidomain.com

[JasonWW]

@Natewar

Where to buy Mcpcb and led emitters wholesale or cheaper then buying say from kaidomain.com

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.

[Natewar]

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

[Lightbringer]

Illumn has PCBs and other goodies, I think. LEDSupply, too, for TIRs, etc.

Fasttech has a whole parts section for LEDs, drivers, reflectors, hosts, you name it.

[anonymous_user]

I plan on purchasing a ROT66 gen II, which batteries are recommended and where can I purchase them from?

[slmjim]

I've noticed a pattern of tiny holes in many driver boards, particularly in the traces. What's the purpose of the holes?

slmjim

[Agro]

@JasonWW

The “Big 5” are Japanese manufacturers. LG, Samsung, Sony, Sanyo and Panasonic. Sanyo and Panasonic merged a few years ago so you sometimes see the same cell under either of those names.

Sanyo and Panasonic merged, as you noted.
Sony was sold to Murata.
Molicel is a top player as well.

Yeah, the list is quite outdated when stated this way.

Maybe we should still be talking about the “Big 5” while meaning “LG, Samsung, Sony/Murata, Sanyo/Panasonic, Molicel”?

[Agro]

Leddna has some MCPCBs and emitters as well.
Convoy has MCPCBs

[Lightbringer]

@slmjim

I’ve noticed a pattern of tiny holes in many driver boards, particularly in the traces. What’s the purpose of the holes?

They’re vias, plated-through holes to make a connection between the 2 sides.

[slmjim]

@Lightbringer

@slmjim

I’ve noticed a pattern of tiny holes in many driver boards, particularly in the traces. What’s the purpose of the holes?

They’re vias, plated-through holes to make a connection between the 2 sides.

Got it. Thanks!

slmjim

[JasonWW]

@Agro

@JasonWW

The “Big 5” are Japanese manufacturers. LG, Samsung, Sony, Sanyo and Panasonic. Sanyo and Panasonic merged a few years ago so you sometimes see the same cell under either of those names.

Sanyo and Panasonic merged, as you noted.
Sony was sold to Murata.
Molicel is a top player as well.

Yeah, the list is quite outdated when stated this way.

Maybe we should still be talking about the “Big 5” while meaning “LG, Samsung, Sony/Murata, Sanyo/Panasonic, Molicel”?

Yep, my info is old.

It seems Molicel has 2 plants, Taiwan and Canada.

Murata/Sony seem to have plants in Japan, China and Singapore.

Oh well, they are still cranking out the top notch products.

[Ucm45]

I’ve tried some searching and haven’t been able to come up with a definitive answer.

Will the tubes and tail caps from the emisar D4v2 thread onto the original D4 or are the threads now different?

[JasonWW]

@Ucm45

I’ve tried some searching and haven’t been able to come up with a definitive answer.

Will the tubes and tail caps from the emisar D4v2 thread onto the original D4 or are the threads now different?

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.

[djozz]

@Ucm45

I’ve tried some searching and haven’t been able to come up with a definitive answer.

Will the tubes and tail caps from the emisar D4v2 thread onto the original D4 or are the threads now different?

I use a D4 tail on my D4V2 because it makes the light a few mm shorter (it has no space for a magnet), it is a perfect fit.

[Scallywag]

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!

[Swabs]

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?

[JasonWW]

@Swabs

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.

[Swabs]

@JasonWW

@Swabs

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.

[JasonWW]

Battery manufacturers can use different chemical mixes to optimize the battery. For instance you can look at the Samsung 30T, 40T and 50E. The 30T has the lowest capacity but the highest amperage and the 50E has the highest capacity but the lowest amperage. Then the 40T is right in the middle.

The 26650 container holds about 50% more volume than the 21700, but they are only made by smaller battery companies and they don’t usually have the best mixes. There is only one 26650 that has 5750mah and the rest are lower.

So each size battery has a range of capacity and amperage. The person who did that test you mentioned probably chose a more powerful 21700 and a less powerful 26650.