Just a FYI…….I am not trying to be a smart AZZ or anything like that but , as a general rule the Ultrafire cells (especially the smaller sizes) have been proven many times by the people in this forum to be more or less junk and can be dangerous.
The internal resistance is usually pretty poor (high) among a number of other factors , such as a tiny cell wrapped in a larger casing to make the size right , with a wire connected to each end of the outer casing and packed with sand to make the weight right.
I would suggest getting some good name brand cells such as Samsung , Sony , Panasonic and such.
The protected or unprotected either one in a 50mm length will be fine and TK05. I would guess up to maybe 52 or 53 mm would still work ok , although it may start being a tight fit by then.
EDIT: I am thinking of the wrong light………51mm will probably be the max length on the TK05
Just throwing in a bit more in the way of details. The big problem is the whole series of “xxxFire” names never got patented or copyrighted so there are any number of fly-by-night folks who make random cells of unknown quality and then they get wrapped with “whatever” name.
So in fact you can actually get decent cells with a xxxFire name on them, but the odds are NOT good and really it just isn’t worth the risk.
It depends on the driver and what is flashed into the programming. Some step down using a thermal sensor , others step down due to a timer and at the point that timer is set at (1 minute , 2 minutes etc….)
Most lights now also have low voltage protection , which is a sensor or sensors that will send a signal to the MCU which in turn will cut the power level to the driver as the cell or cells start getting lower on voltage. Usually around 3 volts as a medium is where the power starts dropping off and then 2.7 to around 2.9 volts is where the Low Voltage Protection will shut the light down completely.
The “fire” in the name for the most part people avoid. There are a few cells such as some of the Trustfire and Thorfire and Windyfire that come to mind right off , that are actually decent cells.
Learning, ever learning. It would be helpful if businesses would add “junk” in parentheses by their products. There’s just something about spending more for batteries and charger than for the flashlight that galls me (obviously, this isn’t a serious hobby of mine).
As far as their stand point I really cant answer that.
It is a dual cell capable driver though , so it is possible that could be part of it maybe?
The light does not get hot by the 3 minute mark but if it was running 5 minutes or more it would start getting pretty warm by then and be depleting the cell at a much faster rate due to the constant current driver trying to get more from less from the depleting cell.
Having dealt with a number of Thorfire products at this point, I’m pretty sure they control costs by using a number of the same drivers, switches, and programming arrangements for multiple light branches.
For example, the 1,000 Lumen 18650 based TK15S does start to warm up fairly quickly and a three minute timed step-down makes some sense (though personally I’d have gone for 4-5 min).
Take the same driver and switch and put it in the TK05 and you’ve reduced parts cost, but you have people scratching their head as to why the light runs like it does.
Rick,
I don’t know of any way just by looking at the cells to figure out their provenance or quality level.
The best thing I can suggest is to use them with a bit of caution, don’t just leave them sitting in a light long term, don’t run them all the way down, and use a good quality charger that will abort the charge if something isn’t right.
Personally, I also bought several ceramic tiles from Home Depot and all of my chargers sit on a ceramic tile as a bit of extra fire protection.
If you decide to dump them and get something else, I’ve been happy with the Jetbeam branded 14500 cells but there are a lot of others out there too.
No there is not unfortunately , but with them being the 14500 size Ultrafire , I would almost bet they are not very good quality.
If you already have a charger though you can get some decent cells without spending a fortune really.
Richard at Mountain Electronics sells the Windyfire 14500 for $2.99 each ($2.89 for 2 or more) and he is a great guy to deal with as so many here do.
They are Unprotected , but the light itself has built in Low voltage protection and will shut off when the cells start getting too low , so really the protection circuit on the cell is not needed in the end , unless it is just something you feel better about using. http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_87&product_id=477
So, two UltraFires and a cheap charger here. Not getting off to a good start.
I’m going to buy an 18650 flashlight (likely a Convoy S9) and a smaller, 14500 light to carry in my bag. It looks like I should be prepared to dump a good amount of $ in a good quality charger that does both (and good batteries, too, of course). Or just get lights that take alkalines (I know, heresy around here).
Depending on what you want to start with really as to whether you spend “BIG” bucks or not………
A Nitecore D2 (will charge 1 or 2 cells) or Nitecore D4 (will charge from 1 to 4 cells) are both solid basic chargers that will handle NiMh/NiCd batteries in the – AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D sizes and also will handle the Li-ion cells from the 10340 size all the way up to 26650’s.
IMR batteries sells a lot of different chargers and they have both the above mentioned chargers , as well as a pretty big selection of batteries. Many times you can catch them having a sale and get pretty good prices on the batteries also.
The D2 is $15.00
Well, I guess I can still talk to a heretic (LOL).
If you are looking for a much better than expected 1xAA light, I was quite pleasantly surprised by the Fenix E12 Real World Review Here
As to chargers, man you can go down a serious rabbit hole there and I’m sure many will be happy to give you recommendations.
Right now I’m using a pair of NiteCore D4 chargers and have been very happy with them.
If you want to talk further PM me so we don’t keep hijacking this thread
Again I am not trying to be a smart azz …….But why go with 130 lumens for slightly more money than the TK05 and be limited to the AA only , when you can have double the lumens using AA or NiMH with the TK05 or 600 lumens with the 14500 ?
LOL, no that is a perfectly reasonable question.
In fact, things like that are EXACTLY why I do the “Real World Review” in the format I do.
First, let me be very clear that I LOVE the TK05, when used with a 14500 which it pretty much seems to have been designed to do. However run the TK05 on an AAA, and I actually like the Fenix E12 better.
Secondly, I still haven’t found anything better than AA or AAA Lithium primary batteries for a true “long storage” emergency light, especially for example one that is going into a bug-out-bag or is going to be kept in a car glove box. So running “just” an AA lithium… I’ll vote for the E12. Of course that goes out the window if someone gets around to making a “cold weather” 14500 like Nitecore just did with 18650 cells.
I am not trying to argue about it , and if you like the light just because you like it (design or what have you) then that I also understand , as I have a few that are favorites that might not have the output of others in the same class.
I can respect your reasons why you like the E12 , but the TK05 will run on those same Lithium primaries also wont it? and still give twice the lumen output of the E12.
Just trying to wrap my head around why you like the lesser output , unless it is like I said , for the design or UI or something of that nature.
