Robbie, you could walk into the Walmart here in my area and pick any lithium you like! They have mostly 18650, 18500 and 1400 available. Albeit no brand and no technical specs and at very high prices. There are also other stores that have them like Fry’s Electronics or similar. I see lithiums in retail stores all the time.
The SK98 can be easily modified with another emitter, just buy something suitable like some nice (optional high CRI) SST20s and swap the star inside the pill.
The stock switch has always been of poor quality, when I turned my SK98 into a 30W power burner the test lasted just a few bursts :-D until the switch raised the white flag (between 1 and 2 minutes total power on time LoL).
Last time I bought the SK98 I noticed they had swap their switch assembly provider (again!). Either way a fix can always be found.
I have ordered keeppower on Banggood, looks good enough for me.
I have way cheaper Soshine cells also, but those are unprotected.
https://www.walmart.com/search/?cat_id=0&query=18650
https://www.walmart.com/search/?cat_id=0&grid=true&query=14500#searchProductResult
Some of them can be shipped to your local Walmart store without any expenses. Not sure if every store qualifies. Please note that we here at BLF typically have “different” requirements for lithium cells, so I wouldn’t recommend Walmart products. But if they are branded and can come to your door/to your Walmart, they might be what you need?
edit:
as an example, this cell
https://www.walmart.com/ip/IMR-14500-Li-ion-Battery-2-Pk/51086802
can be shipped to my Walmart without any cost. I am assuming it is a real IMR, but there are no reviews.
I gave you good advice before. FastTech serves you proven decent Ultrafire SK98s. They're at $7.52 a piece right now, which turns into $7.14 after −5% BLF coupon or into $6.77 after −10% WELFARE coupon until May 3th.
It can be tempting to try random cheaper sales, but you may end up with unwanted surprises which end up costing more money and effort, like hollow pills or @#$% emitter retaining rings.
You allow yourself to get pissed if that is the case, by the way.
Welfare my dears :-)
In order to settle with the thread's title, this:
- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-TrustFire-3-7V-900mAh-14500-Protected/32790253351.html
- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4pcs-TrustFire-3-7V-900mAh-14500-Protected/32821888718.html
A long ago tested product by Henrik: https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/TrustFire%2014500%20900mAh%20(Flame)%20UK.html
Its not overly long and its actual effective capacity is 750+mAh class, well suited for up to 1.5A of drain rate. Will do nice in super crappy flashlights.
I bought my latest cells from Lion Wholesale
And I also purchased from IMR who I believe are in the state Texas as well.
You will not be disappointed with either of these vendors.
Being US based you will have fast service