Don’t use dummy cells, they are meant to pass current through them if it’s what I think you have. The dowel is just meant to expand the sliders and keep good pressure on the contacts but the contacts dont connect like a dummy cell.
Built in charger is not that good. This happens, but on these lights I get a finished battery at 4.19-4.20v. So with these lights not an issue.
I’m using it, but have a spare on the charger. With 21700 and bigger I’ve never drained a cell even on a long night of traffic control.
Charging ports fail and become water/crap magnets. This one is my sin. I sometimes work in lousy weather and often glue the charging ports closed. I’m so bad that I often toss a new duty style light in the pool for two days. Strip it and look for water. Some of these Astrolux lights fit the duty bill, just not the tactical one.
I prefer my favorite charger that I way over payed for but it has the following 20 features. This is me some of the time.
The highest setting I use on the MC3000 is 2.8 amps so that's what I'm using on these - goes pretty quick
Still not the safest setup. I make sure the battery is connected first to the dowel, then the dowel inserted in the charger. The red and black wire magnets tend to always find each other...
LOL - When I was a kid, most things I ordered came with a little gift of some sort, I liked that tradition and wanted to keep it going… The candy is something we used to do around Halloween when we could source the candy, but then I found that Costco has them year round. When I restock at Costco they always ask what the heck we do with so much candy. I usually tell them it is my wife… Other places may give a discount code, or something along those lines, but I prefer an actual gift of some sort. Biggest problem is keeping the employees from eating them all, or they melt in the summer time…
So while trying to find a similar size cell to find a cell holder. I found this List of battery sizes - Wikipedia and they now list the 26800 cell about 3/4 the way down. “Gaining popularity since 2019, the format for e-bikes and transport. Optimal ratio of discharge currents, life cycle and cost.”
just saw this, thanks for the heads up. I do have dummy cells, they're 14500/AA, I bought them for that purpose to use in a 9xAA light , so you're right I didn't think of that, they will pass current through them. But would a battery too? Either way, I'll use the dowel to be safe.
On another note-
ordered (2) more QB26800 today, and a vtc6, and shopping has gone down! Thanks aloft hobbies for taking a look Into this! I paid $5.90 ship for (3) cells today, even if it takes a little longer that's ok. I appreciate it!
Shipping sweets along with the product is not very common over here but it happens from time to time. Something I always recommend for occasions like this is Haribo's Goldbären. They also sell them in 10g mini packs for gifting. :))
Well, it was mashed flat and flowing outside the wrapper and all over everything. Was quite the mess to clean up. I suppose i could have put the whole box in the fridge but wanted to get the batteries out to check them out. I emailed them and asked them not to waste put chocolate treats in packages in July.
I did get the incentive to run to the store to purchase a whole bag of peanut butter cups... i love 'em. Yes, they are better kept in the fridge