i think this is pretty new, and i don't know of any 2x14500 lights, at least not anywhere near this price. what do you guys think?
http://kaidomain.com/product/details.S020248
oh, and by the way, don't forget to call your mom today!
I don't see using 2x14500s. Maybe for longevity, but with the fact it's a 700ma driver, 2 nimhs would last a long time. Gotta love that 500 lumen claim. Be lucky if it did 100 lumens with 700ma and an R5. Maybe 120 lumens, but it's probably more like 500-600ma in real life.
I'm still trying to figure the electronics out, but with double voltage isn't double wattage produced from the draw (assuming no major change in efficiency)? So I have to wonder if -- assuming supported by the driver -- the LED might supply the 1.4A spec lumens? Mfgr seems to be using Cree spec for 1.5A at just under 500lm @ per the chart at the link. Perhaps more watts are available on full charge if 700ma is a nominal rating (surely the input low is nominal)?
http://flashlightwiki.com/Brightness_Bins
Hopefully some of the numbers are nominal, because 2 fully charged l-ions would be 8.4 and that could smoke the stated 7.4 max input. I'd want to know max in writing from the seller, but perhaps the max is a typo since they show the light with 14500s.
PS - OL/Justin, IF the pill comes out in one piece, perhaps this could be a decent AAA minimag option. I'd take one if you're interested in getting to a volume discount ($8.14 for 3).
If the description is correct, the current is regulated, meaning it does not matter the voltage (within the specified range), the current is 700ma.
It's not something I would mess with. I bought 10 different cheap lights and can't get rid of a single one, so no more for me. I'm locked into custom maglites, they have been the only thing that has ever sold. Even the Brynite hasn't sold, but if it were in a Mag 2D body (or 1D shorty), I bet it would have been gone already.
Thanks for the thought.
Yes, I get that regulated means the flow rate is controlled, plus or minus some tolerance.
Current is flow rate and volts is size of the pipe? So double size pipe at half the current is same amount of watts or energy producing light as double the current and half the volts?
What am I missing here? I guess I'm assuming the driver is built to accommodate and deliver the same watts or energy 'volume' at half the current/flow in a 2 cell version as compared to a 1 cell. I'm basing that on my own 1 and 2 cell XML lights where the 2 cell has much lower current draw yet and seems similar or brighter.
Yes, I was thinking of them not as lights to mod but as possible internal parts for the small AAA 2 cell magites. Would be cool if it worked like a P60 size does in a AA. I've got an R5 coming in a P60 already to see if I like it.
I am probably not the one to expound (is that a word?), on this, but the amperage is regulated, no matter what the voltage, so the driver will have a “sweet spot”, where it is optimal and efficient. Where that spot is, I haven’t a clue, but beyond that spot, the extra voltage goes out as heat thru the driver.
I may be totally wrong, as I do many times, but I believe that is right. Of course, without knowing which driver it is, I'm probably out on the limb with a bear following behind me.
Nope, buck drivers are fine with very high range of input voltage.
Here's a pic with example of buck driver:
You can see that at 16V this driver is actually more efficient than at 15V, despite Vf being only ~7V (3.5V * 2 emitters)
Maybe with 2 14500 it goes into direct drive?
V, I, P is Volts, Amps, Watts? for in and out figures? And 100-Efficiency is the loss (as waste heat)?
So a buck driver could be acting as I was guessing? Watts in is the somewhat less efficient watts/power out?
It is not for 2 of 14500, that just makes it flash and go black. It works very well with 2 times AA.
I am suprised and happy about the light, I expected a piece of crap......and got disappointed about that. 
It is well made, bright and has a forward clicky that gives momentary on with a soft press and constant on with a full press and click, perfect for a one mode light like this.
I recommend the light as a hot one for the $9.
There's a 1AA similar: http://kaidomain.com/product/details.S020243
Anyone know how easy these are to swap emitters?
I'd be a very unhappy buyer with that result . . since the listing states 2 14500s are OK:
"Battery Configurations: 2 x AA / 2 x 14500 rechargeable Ii-on batteries"
Were there instructions to say not to do what the sales listing says?
Chinese sellers always lie. USA buyers must learn the rules. Chinese sellers inflate, conflate and just plain lie.
As long as you know that, it is all bullshit? see?
Once you know that they always lie, you just second guess and gamble.
You should not be (if you don't have a pile of 14500s already). Roughly the same runtime from AA NiMHs.
If I was buying it to run 14500s it wouldn't be for run time but for more brightness at that similar run time. Most lights capable of both will be significantly brighter on li-ion with AAs typically maxing out around 250 claimed lumen (look at sellers that show ratings for both, or reviews at CPF & BLF). I agree some don't have a gain that is worth using 14500s, based on reviews. But run time is a LOT shorter if the light poofs with the 14500s. And that would make me unhappy. Very unhappy if I had asked as I said I would.
Steve - the trust deficit is exactly why I said earlier in the thread I'd need a clarification of the issue in writing. If the seller has a bad rep, I wouldn't even ask. I've bought products from US sales people that knew less about manufacturer claims than me as a buyer. I see no reason to expect different from Chinese sellers. Usually when I've done my best to find a reputable seller thing turn out well. I was quite pleased with the way a problem was handled after I bought a light from a mainland Chinese guy via AliExpress (many small sellers like Amazon or EBay) a couple months ago (HK Faith Technology Co., Ltd.: Tony Lau). He not only responded quickly and well, but he followed through on his promise to send a tested battery even after I had released funds to him and he no longer needed to do so. I'll keep buying from someone like that. There are good and bad people in any large group, I just try to find the ones who will do their best to address my concerns before and after sale.
Had almost forgot this thread - the nice thing about maglite pricing is the 2 cell AA was under $8 with case last time I looked in WalMart, so you can make a better light for less than they price the LED version. Keep stocking up on them.
Looks like this one: http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/trustfire-sa2-cree-r4-3mode-memory-led-flashlight-1aa14500-p-5556
If you like that light you'll love this. It's driven about the same 600mA on high but the beam/zoom is identical to a Sipik SK68 clone with an extension added. Only build quality issue when mine arrived was that the threads were bone dry but that was soon sorted. I rate the ZY-A25 as a must have for all those that like zoomies.
There is no reason for a two 14500 light to be brighter than AA.