Hey guys, I am looking to convert 9 AA to using stock emitter and driver. How many 18650 or 26650 batteries compareable to 9 AA? The 9 batteries are in removeable battery chamber of flashlight. Please advise. Thanks.
We need to know if the 9 AA are in series.
If they are :
9*1.5=13.5V (alkaleaks)
9*1.2=10.8V (NiMh)
A 3S configuration would be good :
3*4.2=12.6V (full Li-ion)
3*3.7=11.1V (nominal Li-ion)
But if it’s a 3S3P arrangement :
3*1.5=4.5V (alkaleaks)
3*1.2=3.6V (NiMh)
A simple 18650/26/650 would be good.
Or two in parallel.
Or three in parallel.
Or four.
You get it
What is the configuration of the batteries?
I highly doubt they are all in series.
Maybe 3s 3p?
Measure the battery pack voltage.
Hi guys, I do not have flashlight. Looking to buy it. Alkaleaks are powering this light. The length of flashlight is 10.75 inches from end of tail cap to top of head. So configuration is either 3p 3s or 4p 4s, 5p 5s
Anymore input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Do you know the Brand/Model# or at least the store so that we can try to look it up online? It won’t be 4P4S or 5P5S, because those would be 16 cells or 25 cells respectively.
David, sure. Here’s the 2 I am interested in converting.
http://www.promierproducts.com/Kodiak-Kolossus-2500-Lumen-Tactical-Grade-Flashlight_p_252.html
https://luxproflashlights.com/lp1315r.html
Thanks again for all input.
I couldn’t find anything about the LED in the LuxPro flashlight, but the Kolossus looks like it has a XHP emitter. If that’s true, it’s probably running the LED in 12V mode, and the batteries in 9S for 13.5V to the driver. You can put 3x Li-Ion in series to get 12.6V max. If the LuxPro also uses a XHP series emitter, then it should get the same treatment.
I don’t know anything about the Luxpro but, I have quite a bit of experience on Promier. Head, body, and tube are of decent quality. Driver, emitter, reflector, and thermal path are god awful. I am not sure about that light but all the other ones I have had and do still have the tube is not able to be removed. The driver is some proprietary thing that is pressed in and the emitter sits atop a aluminum pill that gets screwed into the head and makes contact with the driver by the way of a spring on the end of the pill and a dimple on the housing that the driver fits into to. No wires run directly from the driver to the MCPCB. The LED itself will be a terrible headache inducing blue.
That’s just my experience with them. Kind of pricey as seeing how to make it livable you are going to have to replace everything. If you can figure out how to anyway. I gave up on them honestly. Just getting a new driver to fit and work properly was beyond a pain in the butt.
I guess if you just wanted to throw a few 18650’s or 26650’s in it to make it a long run light that would work. I just think there are much better and cheaper options.
Good luck my friend, take care.
DavidEF, Toddcshoe, thanks to both of you for input. I am looking to make it a long run light. AA will be eaten alive with very short lifespan.
If you can get them to fit, put 3x 32650 for best run-time. If those won’t fit, 26650 is second. If those are too long, then 26500 probably is third. If by some miracle, the battery compartment is HUGE, and will take 18650’s side-by-side, then with a little bit of work, you could have 3S2P 18650 for fourth place. If all else fails, mod the battery compartment to take a 3S3P arrangement, and get nine of the highest capacity 14500’s you can find to fill it up.
DavidEF, Most likely using 18650 or 26650 because those are cells I have in hand. I am going to do similar MOD to the Defiant 1000 lumen ligh. I modded to accept CR123A, 18650, 26650.
BTW, how many should I use of 18650, 26650 using stock emitter and driver?
Thanks again.
I think you need 3x because of the voltage. I’m assuming the LED is XHP series, and the cells are in 9S arrangement for ~13.5V total. The 3S arrangement of Li-Ions will give you ~12.6V at max charge. It’s a bit short of the stock voltage, but if you consider the huge voltage sag of the AA cells at start, your 3S Li-Ion arrangement will blow that away! Unless they used a regulated driver, you should get greater output as well as longer run-time. 
Thanks DavidEF. I will have to figure out which of the 2 I want to buy and MOD. Then I will post results.