ONLINE! Haikelite HK4S groupbuy - Quad SST20/40 26650/21700 flashlight

Unfortunately there is no beamshot, neither here nor on the sales page.

I just received a “delivery delay notification” from bangood. Are there any information available, when they will restock the HK4s again?

Now they list also using the 26800 size battery. Any confirmation of this?

Just ordered the last brown SST-40 5000K in stock

Just received the HK4S awhile ago.

Apparently this is a 26800 flashlight.
By default, it comes with a short tailspring (really long body tube).
Using unprotected flat-top 21700 battery (eg. Vapcell G50 21700), or even a longer protected 26650 (Keeppower), the tailcap spring will not make contact at all with the flashlight.

With the default short tailspring, I could only have the flashlight make contact when I use a protected 21700 battery (I have one from Rofis MR30).
(unfortunately, I do not have a 26800 battery. I do have a 26700 LiFePO4 battery which I bought for ‘testing’ only — and just like the unprotected 21700 batteries, it won’t make contact with the default short tailspring)

Fortunately, the accessories package does include a longer tailspring, which means the short tailspring has to be pried out (I thought it was difficult to pry, but it pried out easily), then replace with the long tailspring. Now the flashlight works with regular unprotected/protected 26650 batteries or flat-top 21700 batteries. Now I wonder if just plugging in the long tailspring in the tailcap will have good contact resistance?

using these 4 different batteries to test if they will make contact with the HK4S body tube
(protected 21700, unprotected 21700, protected 26650, unprotected 26650)

notice there is a big clearance/gap when using unprotected 21700 & unprotected 26650 (short tailspring will not make contact on the battery at all)

using a protected 21700 will make contact with the short tailspring, there is still some clearance space (will probably fit the 26800 battery type, mentioned in the included manual)

difference of the default short and long tailspring (default short tailspring installed; long tailspring included in accessories pack)

forgot to mention, the positive side (head/driver) is a big copper button instead of a spring.

~

other note: it uses a somewhat old version of Anduril:

  • no 15-clicks version check
  • no factory reset
  • has manual/automatic memory mode toggle (estimated Anduril version is 2019-06-02)
  • has 2-level brightness when in lockout mode

Copper button? That's potentially bad - copper oxides quick if untreated, or scratched up. Hope it's brass, not copper, as they usually are.

I'm not surprised about old Anduril, but the 26800 thing is a surprise, guess for Martin too.

I'll add a bypass on the long spring, then it's good to go. I've popped/pried out many of these type of springs before.

For those not familiar with the 26800 battery. It looks like only one manufacturer makes it and it’s a pretty good battery. I use one for the Nightwatch NSX4 running 4-XHP50.2

Use the Olight magnetic charger.

I have old 26700's but not these new 26800's. Only found this one place to buy 1-2 on Ali, about $28 for qty 2 shipped, ~$16 for qty 1 shipped.

Any other place to buy them, possibly cheaper?

Sorry, I thought it was copper, probably brass…

I have no connection or profit in this company. But these are the guys I got the 26800 batteries from for only $4.75 each. This section is probably 99% of what we here would be interested in. Some prices are much better than others some not so. I’ve ordered twice from them, once on a Tuesday and shipped the next day. One order on a Saturday shipped the next Monday.
https://alofthobbies.com/power/batteries/lithium-ion-individual-cells.html Their out now.

Great prices, looks like, across the board. 35E's for $4.07? Nice! Just gotta check shipping.

Shame no stock in the big ones though. I'm surprised - don't think I heard of these guys before.

Just checked shipping: real odd. 2 cells is ~$6 (ok) while 4 cells is about $15 (yikes!). Might still be worth it for qty 2 26800's, we'll see. Plus they are shipped from US.

Got the light today after sitting in warehouse jail.

December 21, 2020, 1:44 pm
Departed USPS Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER

December 14, 2020
In Transit to Next Facility

December 10, 2020, 11:51 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER

It does take the 26800 battery. Very bright runs off Anduril UI. Fully tightened it will dent the 26800 batteries positive post. Having a raised post it’s a cosmetic dent. Tail must be fully tightened to complete the circuit but the tube to head junction can be left loose with 1-2 turns left to go. Weight is probably perfect, however I tend to like them a little heavier for heat sinking.

Good to hear. Mine was ordered Nov 29th, still no sign of it in the states. The QB26800 is still out of stock at Aloft Hobbies as well.

Got both my Haikelite HK4S 6500k and Astrolux FT02S 6500k 50.2 today, they seams good supplement to Astrolux MF01 Mini and Astrolux FT03. The HK’s hotspot (relative to the Mini) are narrower but the rest are nicely distributed. Not any experience so can’t be more specific. The silver coating seams much better. The sand are of FT02S are also nice.

Got mine today, ordered Nov 29th. Once it hit FedEx on the west coast, it moved fast. It looks great: in brown with SST-40 5000K's, the anodizing matches up well with my brown HK90, maybe slightly darker.

Out of desperation, I ordered one QB26800 battery from the Ali store here, $12 but came to $21 shipped w/taxes. For some reason it's showing $208 in shipping now. They really don't want to sell these things...

The QB26800 should be arriving in a couple days - it's close.

Did some rev engineering and looks like a small FET acts as about 350 mA, so you can run FET+1 firmware. I loaded Anduril 2. Also upgraded the LED wires up to 18 AWG, added a 20 AWG tail spring bypass.. Can pull ~22 amps from a 40T, 6210 lumens @start (TomE lumens), 5480 (maukka cal'd). Measured 51 kcd at 5 meters.

The QB26800 is back w/cheaper shipping to US now at the Ali store, under $4 shipping, qty 1. But Aloft Hobbies still has no stock.

Reduce the height on the brass + contact or it will dent the top of your 26800 cell. The top post on my 26800 got pressed in a few mm’s, just cosmetic.

K, thanks! Will do.

Does this have regulated driver?