Which type of usb charging port do you prefer on flashlight

Obviously both the battery you use and the charging circuitry in the light should be high quality for safe use.
This is no different or any less safe than having a high quality li-ion charger.

Built in charging does not require a special battery, it could be any battery you currently use.

Yes, I understand that I don’t need a special battery and we would all like to think that what we are buying and using are high quality and will work perfect without anything happening to them. Just me personally if, and it’s a big if, something does happen to a cell I would prefer it to destroy itself and not take my light out with it. That’s it. If the battery takes out a charger with it that is fine with me but I would prefer to still have my light intact and working for the back up cells I have in my pocket. Some folks spend lots of money to mod and fine tune their lights and make them truly unique. I am sure they wouldn’t want a cell, cheap junk or good quality, even quality stuff fails occasionally, destroying their light.

I do have a few of those cells with the charging circuit built on top of the cell itself so I can remove the cell and plug the micro usb cable into it. They are pretty cool and work fairly well but they do make the cell not fit in some picky lights. I guess if I had to choose I would take that over any light with on board charging.

Seems like people severely overestimate how often a cell “goes bad”.
Even if a cell does go bad there is pretty much no chance of it destroying a light.
Go look at some video of people shorting the cells, the worst that happens is they get hot and stop working.

Having the charging built into the cell just makes it a smaller and lower quality charging circuit, and limits the cells available unless you want to mod a high quality cell like a 35E to have that circuit.
Having it built in to the flashlight is basically the same thing as having it built into the cell, but you have the option of using any standard cell.

I voted Micro B because they’re currently super common, most all my other camping gear charge from them, so it means less cables to carry.

Honestly, if it had been an option I’d have voted lightning cable as I prefer the lightning cable to even USB C - it has the benefits of USB C and is currently more common.

I own nothing with USB C yet so don’t want to have to take yet another “universal standard” cable with me :slight_smile:

what exactly are you calling magnetic?

I know where you’re coming from there, waxing twilight.

I’m very picky about what lights I might buy with internal charging. At the moment, the only model I have like that is the Fenix UC35. Reputable brand, good reviews, tested to make sure my unit is behaving itself.

I don’t actually use the UC35, but I carry it as my backup 18650 light in backpack EDC. I don’t like the cold white LED, but it’s fully IPX8 waterproof, even if the USB port is uncovered, so it serves as a waterproof spare cell carrier and USB charger. I can even use it as a light if I’m really stuck :slight_smile:

Normally, I prefer to swap cells and take the depleted ones home for charging in a dedicated charger. The UC35 only comes into play when I’m travelling or I expect to go through several cells that day.

Here’s an interesting post from angerdan on DBSAR’s BLF Lantern thread:

The link that caught my eye was:

http://www.digitaleurope.org/DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=2630&language=en-US&PortalId=0&TabId=353

As of 20th March 2018, the major smartphone manufacturers have agreed with the EU to support USB-C in all new smartphone models within 3 years. That can mean direct USB-C support, or the provision of a cable allowing the phone to interoperate USB-C with some other connector.

Thanks for the hint to the poll :wink:

I voted for USB-C because (flash)lights with this newer standard will be still usable with the cables current in 5 years.
And i like the dual insertable socket/plug.

Here are some german language news articles, from which i’d found the english links i’d post at BLF:

Cool. I found the last couple of paragraphs in this one interesting:

I agree with the EU that devices should not come with a USB charger in the box, both to avoid electronic waste and because I prefer to pick a nice, universal multi-port charger for myself anyway.

Among other things, there will be a transitional period sooner or later where I have a mixture of old devices using micro USB and new devices using USB-C. Manufacturer-supplied chargers tend to be basic, single port units, so they only support one connector type. I’d far rather buy a universal charger with both connector types from Anker and just have one charger to carry.

i also agree that the charger shouldn’t be supplied now, i have several charger that i forgot completely about them
my charger has 5+1 Quick charge port+1 Type C port and it is enough for a geek like me

I remember the time around 2007, when miniUSB was the most common plug. Even when microUSB was released, i had a lot devices with miniUSB, which has been more sturdily in my opinion.
I hope USB-C will be as good as miniUSB.

HKJ did review the Xiaomi CDQ06ZM 60W Fast+QC+PD USB charger, which can replace my old Ravpower RP-UC07.
https://lygte-info.dk/review/USBpower%20Xiaomi%20Mi%2060W%20Fast%2BQC%2BPD%20usb%20charger%20CDQ06ZM%20UK.html
https://lygte-info.dk/review/USBpower%20RAVpower%20Bolt%204%20port%20desktop%20RP-UC07%20UK.html

To bad the Pirl Charger don’t support QC.
https://lygte-info.dk/review/USBpower%20Pirl%20Charger%204x2.7A%20usb.html

Well, I would never call a magnetically coupled charge connector simply “magnetic charger” either. But, you’re right that it’s probably the most common interpretation of that phrase. Induction chargers are simply called “wireless” chargers usually. Sorry if I caused anybody confusion (ironically :person_facepalming: )

It doesn’t work on my phone with a small thin metal disc. Although to be fair, the disc is ferrous so it probably messes with the magnetic field…
Where would the receiving coil even go on an 18650 tube light? The tail?

I have preference for USB micro because most chargers have this connector.
Switching to USB-C is only useful with high A charging. Considering the chargers in a flashlight usually are weak there isn’t a real benefit for USB-C.

Magnetic is I don’t want.

Best option:External charger
Second best:USB-C

Please no microUSB. Try my best to get rid of it everywhere

Many current power supplies have microUSB, but most new and all future power supplies will have USB-C.
Switching to USB-C is useful for easy plug injection, longer plug life and longer compatibility to power supplies in the future. In 2 years most chargers will be USB-C.

What the hell is so wrong with a lightning connector?

You can shove it in any side up or down and do it fast, it has a very small footprint, and AFAIK, pretty dang robust.

So now it’s gonna be another invention of the wheel essentially. :laughing:

Type C sure

The connector is fine, it’s just that nearly no devices are available for it. Only one company still sells products and in the future even this brand will use USB-C.
USB-C offers the same advantage and is more common.

USB-C if it must be USB. Proprietary cables make USB charging less than “universal”.

In any case, I don’t like having major points of water/lint ingress or needing to unscrew the light to plug it in (might as well swap the battery at that point). My ideal “always 100% charged and ready to go” light may have outside contacts and a basestation - something similar to wireless landline phone handsets. That way I can grab or drop in the light without needing to think about anything.