please added me in… by the way any timeline plan?
I think it’s high time to stop discussing all kinds of options, variations, possibilities and whatnot.
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*New project
Aim:
BIG thrower that surpasses the latest super throwers like the TN42*
- easy build to keep cost down
- user friendly
- simple design so that as much as possible will want to buy & use it
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I propose to stick with the long tube, 8 cell configuration. Preferably like so that it can be used with just 4 cells, 18650 only.
EVERRYONE has 18650 cells and the chargers to go with them.
Let’s not make this an endless discussion, however interesting, and keep the end goal in mind.
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BIG thrower that surpasses the latest super throwers like the TN42
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Grtz
Nico
Will update the list late
No 4-8 18650 in two parallel carriers that need 4 cells wired in series it is.
(I am eyeballing some old notebooks 
and besides with 2,5A at the LED any 18650 will do and I saw the 3400 Panasonic’s for $11,11 at Gearbest recently so even buying new cells would not set somebody back that much)
With SRK/Q8 compability at the head side and a 46mm driver people should be able to mid how there heart desires.
I agree that with this mass and sine finning at led level and higher up to avoid rolling away the GT should provide ample cooling even for future IUP140 (Insane Ultimate Performance, you know the LED series Cree will bring above the Extreme High Performance )
I will say that it depends on price a little…but I am very likely in.
Using 32650’s was considered early on but rejected due to the fact most people do not own any 32650’s. Plus the tube to reflector proportion would be even worse. The 4x 18650 was the biggest we could go and still be hand held to improve the visual appeal.
I have never been a fan of the massive heads with toothpicks for bodies myself.
Just to throw some Idea’s (these idea’s where already suggested I think), 4 26650’s in a 2 row 2s side bij side config is not really a bad idea.
You’ll have a carrier with on the left side 2 26650’s in series and on the right side the same, together they form a 4s setup.
Because you use a carrier the tube doesn’t have to be that thick, however using 26650’s in this config will increase the diameter by 8mm. (measured at the batteries)
Or if you use 18650’s instead of 26650’s in the same config the diameter will decrease by 8 mm.
The balance will be slightly worse. 5ar should be able to see where the Center of gravity is in his design software.
I would still like 18650 over the other size due to general availability thanks to all the Vaping stores that have recently started to pop up everywhere, I could get some almost anywhere in an emergency, 32650 or 26650 not so much, would consider those bigger sizes if the design changed to the box form, but I like this traditional design better for this project, maybe the box design with bigger batteries for a XHP70 with an even bigger reflector in the future… :sunglasses:
This was another big factor, plus like was said, since this light will have such a low current draw due to being 4S any 18650 will work. So laptop pulls would be perfectly happy in this light making the cells themselves quite cheap.
4x 18650 in a 2x2 configuranion is good. It can be made from a tube, and plastic insert. Bypassing the need of a carriers and bringing the price down. Excellent idea. Or even better, it can be made for 4x26650 with one plastic insert, and for 4x18650 with another plastic insert. Same tube, same everything just a piece of plastic. No need of complicated carriers, no danger of mixed cells. Any 4 cells will do the job at 3.5A drain.
How? lengthwise wont fit. The length of the tube is still 2 cells.
Or do you mean, make at wide enough for the 26650 setup but use a plastic insert to bring it down to a 18650 setup?
Better Idea, using a carrier like this:
Can use both 26650’s as 18650’s.
A carrier is easier or necessary to make contact with the driver contacts (2 rings).
Another picture, orange are the 26650’s red are the 18650’s.
That begs for an oval tube seen from above, would hold nice and look very elegant.
And a squared of tube? No access to cells now but a square seen from above with rounded corners capable of holding 26650 cells (2x4) would that be so much bigger then round 18650 tube?
If not maybe a nice consideration for those wanting the absolute max runtimes. Yet it MUST be able to hold 4x2 18650 cells.
Don’t see harm in playing around with new ideas at this stage.
2х2 tube that holds 2 in front and 2 in the back. Not all for next to eachother.
Like first and last one:
The tube is aluminium and hollow, and you get a plastic insert that makes the space suitable for 2x26650 batteries, and 2 more behind them. It can be solid aluminium but plastic is used to reduce cost.
[+_][+]
[-_][-]
Like so.
And that plastic insert, can be swapped with a plastic insert that has smaller holes which can hold 18650 in the same configuration.
That will reduce price, will make the handle long and thick. Proportions will be good.
One thing to keep in mind is that the 4x 18650 tube is already on the edge of comfortable for smaller hands (several people that have used my SRK’s have mentioned as much). Since this light needs to be able to be used by anyone, any larger then a 4x 18650 tube will start quickly reducing the comfort for more and more users. Particularly when you factor in the weight.
It is significantly harder to hold onto a larger bar then a smaller one all else being the same. Even very small differences can have large effects.
Not a suggestion, but merely stating that the TR-J20 has extremely thick battery tube walls, and still houses 32650’s. It’s a beefy light, for sure, and I’m sure they were leaning towards heavier, not lighter, in all discussion when designing it.
When I did the extension for Richard, he sent the battery tube and tail cap for me to work with. I saw this tube and knew I had to have the light, promptly ordered my own based purely on how solidly the battery tube was made. lol
Okay then! Ditch the 26650 idea! Even lower cost and problems.
2х2 18650 8mm thinner tube. Plastic insert, cheap aluminium tube. No problems with carriers and connections.
But remember, 4x18650 is already very thin tube for the 13cm head. We do not want to make it like this:
There is just way too much fuss about the cells and battery tube. Texas_Ace and The Miller are not Tony Stark with unlimited resources. We should focus on making it simple. Otherwise it will kill the project. I suggest everyone be happy that you can be a part of this awesome project, but unless you come up with a revolutionary groundbreaking idea, please let the team enjoy this unpaid work and make it easier, not harder for them.
I think that was the point of the latest suggestions.
Didn’t know that, dont have a SRK like flashlight here to know how it feels.
So what about the little smaller side by side setup?
The only problem that I see is that the balance might not be optimal.
+1
Didn’t know that, dont have a SRK like flashlight here to know how it feels.
So what about the little smaller side by side setup?
The only problem that I see is that the balance might not be optimal.
How would you make the connection?
If you have one cell with the anode to the driver and the other with the cathode to the driver you’ll need separate contact areas on the driver contact side. (and maybe a spring?)
But if you turn the tailcap on the tube there is a possibility that they dont line up anymore, also increasing the possibility of making a short. Which you dont want with a 4s setup.
By using a carrier, which could be made out of plastic, with an contact board on one end that has 2 contact rings you dont have that problem.
Or am I missing something?
(weird, was editing my post but apparently I made a new one…)