Probably two stupid questions

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hi everyone,

I recently got my first real light… a Haikelite HK04 from another BLF member…and it’s great.

I was reading the instructions and am confused about 2 things

1. The instructions say “Unscrew the battery tube and insert the three 18650 cells. Note that the lamp requires button-top type cells. Take care to observe the correct polarity for each cell.”
That’s all OK but then it says “Double check the polarity every time before closing. The lower seated batteries must point with plus (nipple) towards the head. The higher ones must look with plus to the open back!. All flat ends look at the springs”

so I have a number of issues here… the light takes 3 cells so not sure how both “lower seated batteries” and “higher ones” can be referred to as plural (chinese translation of course so fine) but when I look at the unit all the springs are the same height and in any case, it says “all flat ends should look at the springs” …so what’s this all about lower seated and higher ones??

2. I put all 3 batteries in with nipples up and the unit works… on placing back into my miboxer charger, two of the cells have gone from 100 to 80% and one from 100 to 98%. Does this mean im running on two cells only…i honestly can’t see any markings on the light to help and as i said all the springs are same height and the batteries when dropped down the holding tubes all sit at the same height.

2

Thanks Robin, Looks like a decent video…shame i dont speak a word of Chinese lol… but pictures paints a thousand words…. is see from this video the light works with any amount of batteries so wonder if one of the cells wasn’t connecting properly

3

If they’re all making contact then they should be at the same voltage after you remove them from the flashlight. If you have a DMM measure the voltage after taking them out.

4

Yeah, It sounds like you have one cell not making a good connection. Also note the cell position, and try a different cell in that position and see if the failure to discharge is associated with that cell or its position in the holder you can also try cells one at a time in each position.