I experience with protected 14500/16340 from Nitecore and Fenix were unsatisfactory. All went unresponsive after above two years with minimum usage. Especially those with built-in USB port, avoid at all cost.
I don’t really understand the 4x14500 battery choice…that is 28 mm battery width. Why not 1 x 26650….narrower, could use 18650 with tube. Am I missing something?
Maybe that is it, but they have used 3 x aa adapters in flashlights forever, and the adapter could be in series for 4.5 volts, so not have diminished brightness.
Come to think of it, with a wide center positive you could use 3 parallel 14500, 3 series AA in adapter, 1 26650, an 18650 in a tube, and with a little longer spring perhaps even a 21700. All would be 4.5 volts maximum.
Not to try and blow up the thread, but the only reason I use 14500 batteries is to get more power from a tiny light, but 4x14500 batteries delivers less current than a single 26650, so I am struggling to figure a good reason to have to deal with 4 batteries.
Yeah. That’s why there was no 4x14500 version of the LT1. It just didn’t make sense. Pretty much the only practical reason to do that form factor is for AA cells.
If AA isn’t necessary, it usually makes more sense to go with a single 18650, 26650, or 21700 cell. More power in less space, cheaper, and easier to charge. Add a diffuser cap to a 26650 light, and it makes a nice compact lantern.