This is how the unprotected cells sit in the holder. It's possible that protected cell could fit too. For those who want to buy the host only, or to change the driver only.
Too bad the host kit is overpriced. It should be around $30 including shipping.
I should have been taking a rest when that happened, prob between 2006 - 2010. Any links?
But yes I agree with you, 2S/3S/4S lights are potentially dangerous. Not everyone is like us/me, I take have 2 DMMs (in fact 3, but the other is a lousy one LOL!) and do voltage/current/lux checks so regularly for both HIDs and LEDs that people would think this is my full time job and my day job a part time job. The RC crowd is well aware of the dangers and actually they flirt much closer to the edge but they are probably even more technical due to the requirements of the hobby. For a RC heli, it takes so much learning with such a steep curve that not everyone can do it....so it does weed the field out some.
I always make it a point to use my best cells with these lights. Not TF Flames even.
Here's BVH's pack. :) http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?315371-Portable-Power-Supply-for-the-Locator
The R/C crowd always has fires. Only diff is, we are holding it, they are not.
Aliexpress does it too. Actually I like it.... got "history". At least they do not release the name/email address, its just a nick most probably forum nick which doesn't make sense. LOL! I use that to check if the company is ok to order or not. Thing is - we are usually not dealing with North American stuff nowadays esp in our context. I can use it to PM or ask in the forum someone who has the light.... For me I am now into the forums, I give info, and hopefully I get good info too (like this light).
Probably if this is CPF, then everyone is dead meat. LOL!
Sigh...actually I am not afraid of spending. I am more afraid of "not earning enough". Hope I am making sense.
"You can only save so much, but you can earn much more".....you can't get past $0, or more realistically $20.
Panasonic NCR18650 would definitely fit. Solarforce/XTAR/HiMax would probably fit, probably tightly. Actually the extra pressure would be good.
If one is afraid, then use LiFePo or IMRs. If one is still afraid, then you gotta ditch all your notebooks/iPads.
It was the Philippines, but close enough. :)
That last pack is crazy. I hope he gets some life insurance. If it were me, I certainly wouldn't bother w/ the metal box as that can only end poorly.
I have lots of Pinoy colleagues. Nice guys...but they take good risks. 
R/C crowd. They experience such stuff regularly, for planes and heli meets, most have ABC Dry powder on standby (the turbines are dangerous as well). Cycling on the road can get you killed as well even if you have a couple of XM-Ls and blinkies, I mean that's why it's called an accident.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlBtweZv7Fo&feature=related Look how fast how everybody reacted. A situation aware hobbyist is very different from a newbie. But i'd agree with you that the risks are real. For my 250W lightpipe, I was supposed to have 5 packs inside (per pack probably 4 x 18650s). Well, maybe "WAS" is a good ending....coz the packs aren't exactly top-notch...long story.
Cell batches can go bad too.... so notebooks can burn up, so many on youtube. But in the company, burn even at the airport. Not sure how the freq of that is regarding notebook fires vs flashlight fires (fires : users ratio)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlZggVrF9VI Damn looks like Dry powder does not work.
Anyway I love fireworks. :)
PS. Bro BVH is one of the 2 billion lux 60-inch carbon arc guys, he knows what he is doing if you check out the history. How do you solder AWG 0 wires used in that light anyway. LOL! But of course, the risks are always real. Laser risks are very real too. One of the Larryk14 1000W incan LiPo packs burned up too, user admitted mistake coz even though he is aware of the risks and technicalities, he chose to ignore the bad pack (not sure if it did not hold the charge or he tried to bring back to life the bad cells). Should have just tossed the cells. This reminds me, I need to toss out 3 x 18650s. Li-Co cells is not something that you wanna be cheap with, with the exception of TF Flames of course.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?191645-400W-HID-Thor
Dude in that first video is pretty brave.
Did you ever get that lightpipe? I was thinking of getting one, and probably would've if I didn't already have the 35w mozo (which is kinda crummy inside but ironically still better engineered that ghetto contraption), but now he's not selling. Oh well.
Frankly I think the lower power HID's are now obsolete, since the 3*xml puts out pretty much the same amount of light as the mozo if not the throw.
This reminds me, try not to use those !#@$!@# neodymium magnets for those shorter + flat top cells. For lights that have a flat/non-springed driver side, the magnets can shift and cause a short.
ie, the neodymium magnet rests in a position between the +ve contact patch and the outer negative contact ring. No issue when OFF. Switch it on, the circuit is complete. With a unprotected cell it can go on and on till the cell explodes. I actually experienced this in my UF-980L, the current actually somewhat melted the tailspring coz it went red hot, I felt the tailcap going warm and turned it off. Luckily the cell survived. (think youtube tests the cells to several mins of short before it goes into runaway). And if it so happens that the short is partial, so you do get output out from the front but somewhat dimmed, but you still think it is in low, the current draw would be say 1-2A for the LED and 5A on the magnet. No PCB. Tough man....
Actually unprotected cells are also dangerous in regulated lights. It will just draw more and more current should the voltage cut off in the driver fail. Do this enough cycles, one will end with a bang when the cell is not healthy and can't take it. 1-cell, 2-cell same thing. Doesn't mean > 1S is dangerous.
I hope I can use Xtar 18700 2600s with these. NCR18650 is unprotected. Key is protected + good quality cells + situation aware.
That's why I use SLAs in all my HIDs. Thought about it for a while, big Li-Po packs not worth it. If I get some 575W-1kW metal halide, it would be AC or SLA coz I would be using it from my house. LOL! Of course try not to light a match just beside a big SLA, it's sealed but that does not mean it cannot explode. LOL!
Check out the General LED Lights, I posted the story there (which will be deleted soon). :)
No s***, the TK monster is 250W and it is taking that much from 8 cells. 31W per cell, or approx 10A per cell. Sorry man, it does not work that way.
this? http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?314249-Lightpipe-250W-HID/page7
Those vesitianlite guys are pretty crazy though. In the first one the dude just walked right in front facing the light with his hand to protect his face. Ugh.....
In the US, all this high power stuff is used to grow weed indoors. :bigsmile:
Yep, look at the LED flashlights - General Info forum here as well, I posted some details......just today only.
The China guys are always crazy. Another auntie just sweeps nonchalantly with the white laser pointing in her direction, disaster waiting to happen. I nearly blinded myself with just 100W and i am sure it was the outer corona and not central hotspot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APbk6vcZR5E
In that video that I posted in the CPF thread, that was 7kW for a moment - they could not power the internal motors "moving head" coz that'd trip them breakers. (loud motors in fact, power!) This one : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-29iqg3Qg&feature=related
7000W of metal halide concentrated into a 50cm spot. Waving it around in a tentage with people in it, well done lads!
I like the tone of the Chinese lass.
Just use LiFePO4. Extremely safe
Some more testing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6njY0mg1TP4&feature=related (the popular iCharger 1010 inside)
I thought you guys do this in Las Vegas.... 315kW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DVSeoN9CYA&feature=related
In local Marina Bay Sands, they use pretty lower wattage lights, and too few too. Local astronomers are complaining though. They call it crass. LOL! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVd8rc1u4G4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngbDhjRpwCw&NR=1 (oh...so now I know, they used an Australian company)
Anybody have a link to a driver that would work well for 3 T5 XMLs if one were perchance to splurge on one of these hosts? I'm thinking this light would be much safer if it had a current regulated driver, no?
No point guessing bro, that was what happened with the Sky Ray 3xT6, so many negative comments in the beginning that it seems like a cheap chinese crap. We'll know when it arrives.... this reminds me, its not been shipped out yet. No light is perfect, not at such budgetary levels. For me I just enjoy the hobby and use them lights, look at the bigger picture. Same for photography too.... etc.
Hi 2100,have you received the light yet?
Nope.... I think Ric has not sent it out yet. Will email.