Tiny 10180 Battery Questions

[Hank33]

I found this one at Aliexpress for $40. Comes in titanium, brass or stainless and includes a trit tube and the battery. Its got the XP-G2 R5 1A.

I might get this one.

[Agro]

It’s a differently styled DQG Fairy cousin, DQG Spy. Styling aside, these are the same.

[Hot_Brass]

Nice sharp knurling! HB

[Hank33]

The list of 10180 flashlights seems to be growing and growing now. :D They are all quite good choices really. I think for now I'll get the SC01 from Sofirn first and the others soon.

It's got TIR lens and uses SST20 4000K 95CRI. Plus it's stainless and includes the battery. All for $17 USD. 300LM too.

[gravelmonkey]

Great choice!

All this talk of the DGQ Fairy is making me sad as I’ve mis-placed the charger and replacements are hard to get.

I wish Sofirn would do the SC01 with a 10440 tube option, I’d be in for one of those to improve runtimes plus you’d have onboard charging.

[Hank33]

Oh hope you find it soon. I had a similar situation just the other day. Was looking for my neodymium magnets for days everywhere and finally found it in my battery bin!

The 10440 tube is a great idea. I would get one right away. Hmmm I think I’ll go bug Sofirn about it!

[gravelmonkey]

@Hank33

Oh hope you find it soon. I had a similar situation just the other day. Was looking for my neodymium magnets for days everywhere and finally found it in my battery bin!

The 10440 tube is a great idea. I would get one right away. Hmmm I think I’ll go bug Sofirn about it! :partying_face:

Would be first good idea I ever had…

Though, would probably have to be a simple extension tube as the main body houses the charging parts…

[Sunnysunsun]

I’m planning on making a 3D printed charger for 10180s but it’s going to take a while. I’m currently researching ways to sort out RPP since all these cheap little charging chips I’ve come across don’t have battery side polarity protection and I don’t want the charger to go up in smoke when you put the battery in backwards.

Should be ready in a few months time since this will be my first pcb design project and oshpark takes a while. Our local public library has 3D printers available to use which is great but I need to learn how to use 3-d modeling software first.

[Unloco]

I just bought a DQG Spy SS, battery included, no trit… at FT.

https://www.fasttech.com/products/3787202

Estimated Shipping Date: 5/4/2021

Edit.
I have the DQG charger

The charger with the Spy brass body.

“In stock” at FT

[zoulas]

The 10180 is a novelty battery for a novelty light. Cool invention but it cannot be relied upon for emergency use. If your light has an electronic switch like the nano, the parasitic drain will likely eat up the battery while the light is in your pocket. When you need the light, guess what? You are screwed.

[Hank33]

Great feed backs but I think I’ll just skip 10180 flashlights for now. I already have 2 chargers and I don’t what a third one. Plus If I use my Opus, it might ruin the little guy. Kind of like burned toast.

[NeutralFan]

[quote=d_t_a]

@zoulas

I have the SkyRC MC3000, but I’m not sure how to charge 10180 battery which is a bit too short to “touch” the slider.
HKJ’s review mentions “need to use spacer” for 10180 battery, but I’m wondering, are there ready-made spacers or need to DIY.
I notice that adding some extender (maybe a magnet) will typically increase the resistance noticeably (slowing the charging time — specifically the CV phase, if resistance is high)

This is how I charge my 14250 batteries. I just add a magnet to the positive contact, put into my Opus BT-C3100, and charge at 200 milliamps. There should be minimal resistance since the magnet is solid metal.

[Jabe1]

Steve Ku of Veleno designs used to sell a “nano” charger for 10180 cells. I have one that I got with a quantum dd. USB charger and it works well… if you can find one.

[d_t_a]

[quote=NeutralFan]

@d_t_a

@zoulas

I have the SkyRC MC3000, but I’m not sure how to charge 10180 battery which is a bit too short to “touch” the slider.
HKJ’s review mentions “need to use spacer” for 10180 battery, but I’m wondering, are there ready-made spacers or need to DIY.
I notice that adding some extender (maybe a magnet) will typically increase the resistance noticeably (slowing the charging time — specifically the CV phase, if resistance is high)

This is how I charge my 14250 batteries. I just add a magnet to the positive contact, put into my Opus BT-C3100, and charge at 200 milliamps. There should be minimal resistance since the magnet is solid metal.

Thanks for the idea! I’ll try to find a long cylindrical magnet (any idea if neodymium “rare-earth” magnets are good conductors or will add a big amount of electrical resistance?)
I suppose the electrical resistance is OK since most chargers may be charging at a bit higher current, and the resistance sort of lowers the charging current?

[mattlward]

I use the Xtar XP1 to charge these at a more or less proper rate.

[CR888]

@zoulas

The 10180 is a novelty battery for a novelty light. Cool invention but it cannot be relied upon for emergency use. If your light has an electronic switch like the nano, the parasitic drain will likely eat up the battery while the light is in your pocket. When you need the light, guess what? You are screwed.

Of the roughly 45 lights I’ve bought in the last year I’ve luckily yet to need any of them in an ‘emergency situation’ but I get your point. I did however buy 5 extra 10180 batteries when I bought a L/top Nano as the shipping cost was more than a single cell, I think 5 was like $15aud. Also got the 10440 tube so maybe the Nano is right now for emergencies lol. But with a full battery it has quite a useful runtime even with the 10180 I couldn’t run the thing dry going for a 1/2 hour walk. I wonder what light is king of the ‘emergency situation’…I suppose it depends on the emergency.

[gravelmonkey]

@zoulas

The 10180 is a novelty battery for a novelty light. Cool invention but it cannot be relied upon for emergency use. If your light has an electronic switch like the nano, the parasitic drain will likely eat up the battery while the light is in your pocket. When you need the light, guess what? You are screwed.

Parasitic drain is a fair question, I’ve left my DQG fairy for long periods of time without charging it, I suspect that there is no parasitic drain.

Sofirn SC01 has a different mechanism (its a ‘screw the head off to access the charging port’ kind of light, I do not know whether this has parasitic drain…. anyone?

It’s not too demanding to keep it topped up at any rate, same charger for my phone so always have a cable.

[Scallywag]

I’m not sure I consider keychain lights for “emergency situation” criteria… That said, they’re better than nothing in a pinch.

[Hot_Brass]

Is there still a parasitic drain on the GT Nano even thougth the button LED is turned off? Thanks,HB

[CR888]

Yeah it’s got a super weak red switch led that is barely noticeable. I just unscrew tailcap 1/2 turn to avoid drain when not using light.