@CheapThrills: I was thinking about getting some kind of charger like the imax too, but I read it gives wrong voltage etc. and has to be modified to work properly? Are there good hobby chargers for about 30$?
IMO Imax gives accurate-enough measurement readings to hobby use.
I would recommend getting an Xtar WP2 II (~20$) for charging purposes. I use my Imax only for charging more rare setups and for testing. Most common battery types have theis own dedicated chargers.
there are others way but probably the hobby charger is the cheapest/easiest solution
just consider that the imax b6 and clones can test a discharge up to 1A, b8 and clones up to 5A, sometime, especially with cheap clones, the result is not very precise due to the cheap resistors used
Read from some hobby threads that imax b6 and clones have 1% resistors, this by itself more than enough accuracy for flaslight use. It's even considered ok for multi Li-Po balancing, though not perfect. However, simply changing these to 0.1% resistor totally changes the playing field, making the b6 performing similar to hobby chargers many times more expensive.
The drawbacks? Well... resistors are SMD... :) so if you have surgeon hands and proper tiny tools then you can think about replacing them.
I think in an earlier post in this thread, I asked you "how you do that"..
Anyway, I am think I have reached Level 1 Budgeteer Apprentice .. I found the source, and was able to get 6 hi max 2600 for $26.00 plus $10 for shipping.
That comes to $6 each.
However, before I saw that, I went for the 2 Hi Max 2600 for $18.90 on Ebay which means I spent $9.45 for each cell in that deal. I am learning..
From what I have been reading you are correct. One report put them a little higher. Compared to the Ultrafires I have been running, I am almost sure the Hi Max are going to be a big improvement.
Also, I plan on going up the scale in the cell department. That is each time I order new cells, get something better. Most like I will end up getting those $17+ cells that I have been reading about..
The old saying of you "get what you pay for" still holds true..
Right now I keep telling myself I'll have all the flashlights I need. XM-L flood, XM-L throw, XR-E throw, X-RE flood to throw.. and I keep myself from writing ILIKEFLASHLIGHTS a PM about great throwers because I know it would end up in buying more. But yeah I'm satisfied with my flashlights.. kinda..
I saw that one too. Anyway, I am graduating up from those dreadful Ultrafires that came with my one of my lights.
When my Hi Max cells get here, I am going to see how far I can sling the Ultrafires!! But, then again, that not be right, need to dispose of them correctly. But, they are going...