DQG 18650 EDC--World's Smallest 18650 Flashlight

[NightCrawl]

@djozz

On high Ric wrote it draws 2A, this will likely give a bit over 500 lumens OTF. As the lens is a plastic TIR I think you can not run it too hot or it will melt/deform, and also I think in this light (like the other DQG's) the led is mounted on the driver board. So I think 2A is very respectable for this small light.

XML at 2A puts out about 686 lumens. Assuming 20-30% loss that would be 480-550 OTF. So you are pretty much on spot there.

Are you sure about the lens? The one in my DQG AA feels so solid and has so few scratches..

And I dont know where you saw an LED mounted to the driver board on any DQG, but the DQG AA does have a screw-in pill.

[djozz]

@NightCrawl

@djozz

On high Ric wrote it draws 2A, this will likely give a bit over 500 lumens OTF. As the lens is a plastic TIR I think you can not run it too hot or it will melt/deform, and also I think in this light (like the other DQG's) the led is mounted on the driver board. So I think 2A is very respectable for this small light.

XML at 2A puts out about 686 lumens. Assuming 20-30% loss that would be 480-550 OTF. So you are pretty much on spot there.

Are you sure about the lens? The one in my DQG AA feels so solid and has so few scratches..

And I dont know where you saw an LED mounted to the driver board on any DQG, but the DQG AA does have a screw-in pill.

hmm, ok I do not own the DQG AA, just the AAA in which the led is indeed mounted on the driver board and the TIR is plastic, you just now made me less sure about my assumptions.

I do not know of any glass TIR's commonly fitted in flashlights. Anyway, I'm surprised there is a complete pill (led and driver separated) in the DQGAA, and in this new light -if you consider the length- if there is a complete pill it must be a very very short one.

[dthrckt]

I like this, a lot, but I wish it was black.

[djozz]

@dthrckt

I like this, a lot, but I wish it was black.

In the first post Ric mentions available in black/grey

[chrisc]

I just want this to hurry up and be released.

I don’t have a purpose for this but I want it!

[NightCrawl]

@djozz: Here you can see the pill:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?256592-DQG-Smallest-Series-AA-14500-Version-Smallest-AA-Light-in-the-world&p=2734256&viewfull=1#post2734256

And he said its plastic. I'm note sure about that, but if its plastic, its extremely though.

[djozz]

@NightCrawl

@djozz: Here you can see the pill:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?256592-DQG-Smallest-Series-AA-14500-Version-Smallest-AA-Light-in-the-world&p=2734256&viewfull=1#post2734256

And he said its plastic. I'm note sure about that, but if its plastic, its extremely though.

Thanks for the link, nothing beats good pictures . I see the led is deep inside the pill, close to the driver board on the other side, and the TIR is reaching into the pill onto the led, all making the assembly as short as possible, nice!

[mizjif]

Wow!! Like others have said: I need one!!

I’d love a 4-5k tint. XML or xp-g2 in that tint would be money.

[djozz]

d*mn, just tried to remove the led/driver board of my DQGIIIAAA to make a picture of the led sitting on the driver board (I removed it before, so no calamities expected) and while removing the foam insert a current regulator was ripped off the board with it (*##@!!!). Stopped there but now it won't switch to high anymore. Too tiny to solder back I'm afraid....

Result: no nice picture to show you, and no working flashlight *sigh*.

This is an expensive hobby in the end...

[neverfeltbetter]

@djozz

d*mn, just tried to remove the led/driver board of my DQGIIIAAA to make a picture of the led sitting on the driver board (I removed it before, so no calamities expected) and while removing the foam insert a current regulator was ripped off the board with it (*##@!!!). Stopped there but now it won’t switch to high anymore. Too tiny to solder back I’m afraid….

Result: no nice picture to show you, and no working flashlight sigh.

This is an expensive hobby in the end…

show us a picture :~

I just took a look a mine and with a very fine tip you should be able to solder the missing stuff back to the board.

[NightCrawl]

Yes, everything can be fixed. If you dont have a very small soldering iron, wrap some copper wire around the tip. It works! Its a hack job, but it really can save some hassle. Sorry for your potential loss though. :(

If its really dead, send an email to Ric. They sell the drivers alone if you ask.

[djozz]

@neverfeltbetter

@djozz

d*mn, just tried to remove the led/driver board of my DQGIIIAAA to make a picture of the led sitting on the driver board (I removed it before, so no calamities expected) and while removing the foam insert a current regulator was ripped off the board with it (*##@!!!). Stopped there but now it won't switch to high anymore. Too tiny to solder back I'm afraid....

Result: no nice picture to show you, and no working flashlight *sigh*.

This is an expensive hobby in the end...

show us a picture :~ I just took a look a mine and with a very fine tip you should be able to solder the missing stuff back to the board.

You encouraged me to try it, but at this moment I can't get the board out of the head anymore . anyway, here's how the disaster looks:

On the left side of the board is where the part is ripped off, the part still sticking to the foam is seen bottom right next to the flashlight head. Now that I see the picture, it appears like the complete solder pads were ripped off with the part. It's beyond repair after all

Getting a bit off topic now, let's talk about happy stuff again, the 18500 DQG....

[Werner]

I think that can still be fixed, only 3 or 4 pads to solder.
Scrape a bit from the blue color on the copper trace and then solder it on.

I am curious how much this will be…?

[MosesM]

@djozz

@NightCrawl

@djozz: Here you can see the pill:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?256592-DQG-Smallest-Series-AA-14500-Version-Smallest-AA-Light-in-the-world&p=2734256&viewfull=1#post2734256

And he said its plastic. I’m note sure about that, but if its plastic, its extremely though.

Thanks for the link, nothing beats good pictures . I see the led is deep inside the pill, close to the driver board on the other side, and the TIR is reaching into the pill onto the led, all making the assembly as short as possible, nice!

Here’s the AAA version. You’ll see that the LED and driver is one integrated engine.

[neverfeltbetter]

@djozz

You encouraged me to try it, but at this moment I can't get the board out of the head anymore . anyway, here's how the disaster looks:

On the left side of the board is where the part is ripped off, the part still sticking to the foam is seen bottom right next to the flashlight head. Now that I see the picture, it appears like the complete solder pads were ripped off with the part. It's beyond repair after all

Getting a bit off topic now, let's talk about happy stuff again, the 18500 DQG....

she is not dead yet.

thanks for the picture. there's a good chance you can repair this one. it does take some skill and good eyesight :)

the 18650 dqg looks like such a nice light, the chinese have done it again.

the 100ma low mode is too much for me but that won't stop me from buying two.

[Firelight2]

I wonder if I could mod an 18650 DQG.

I’m thinking something along these lines:

1. Replace star with 20mm triple XP-G2 R5 neutral 5000k and put appropiate optic on top.
2. Remove driver and replace with contact plates for direct drive.
3. Add QTC at head for brightness control.
4. Run on IMR 18650.

EDIT: hm. maybe this idea won’t work with this light. With the LEDs mounted on the driver board there wouldn’t be enough separation from the top of the batteries.

[FX-32]

Nice, it's really short.

Now it would be awesome to have a ~5cm long 16340 with XM-L2, That would be a really small powerful EDC.

[Werner]

@FX-32

Nice, it’s really short.

Now it would be awesome to have a ~5cm long 16340 with XM-L2, That would be a really small powerful EDC.

The mini 01 is about 6 cm long so there we have a nice pocket rocket.
But the great on this is the capacity of a 18650 which is about five times a 16340 or 14500

[FX-32]

@Werner

@FX-32

Nice, it's really short.

Now it would be awesome to have a ~5cm long 16340 with XM-L2, That would be a really small powerful EDC.

The mini 01 is about 6 cm long so there we have a nice pocket rocket. But the great on this is the capacity of a 18650 which is about five times a 16340 or 14500

That’s true, But I was thinking in something shorter can be made using integrated driver in LED’s board and TIR optics. Obviously you will get less runtime, but it’s nice to have a really small option. Personally, I don’t use my EDC for too much time to have a 18650’s capacity, for that reason a 16340 is enough for me. It can be shorter and brighter than an AA or AAA EDC.

[CheapThrills]

Actually, I like BLF Mini more than for example iTP A1 because it is a tad longer - easier to operate.