18650 Battery recommendation and good battery source in Ontario, Canada

I just got a budget bike light from MEC that takes 18650 batteries. The battery included inside is a protected 18650 cell (70mm long), but all the batteries I can easily find are not protected.

Any dangers in using an unprotected battery in the thing?
The light uses a Cree XM-L2 LED and is not regulated.
The light has a very visible battery indicator.

I am not sure if the light actually has proper LVP but given the above points, I don’t think over-discharging the thing should be an issue.

However, since:
A) I want to leave the battery inside the light and use the built-in charging circuits.
B) The light runs pretty toasty (not too hot to hold but still disconcerting) when being run at max output for extended periods of time, which is admittedly not something I do often.

I think a protected cell will still be much safer?

Any reason not to get an unprotected cell from my local vape store for my bike light? Where do I even get quality protected 18650 cells in Ontario, Canada at a fair price?

Thanks!

I hope you have fun here, TH1813254617!

For single cell flashlights/bike lights, unprotected cells are usually fine.

For your situation, an unprotected cell will work perfectly.

Getting a cell at a local vape shop will most likely be way more expensive than buying online.

I don't know which stores are in Canada, but I'm sure someone else on BLF can help you with that.

www.18650canada.ca has been a decent source in the past. Might not have premium cells in stock, hard to find though. Shipping might be a killer, but they are near you in Brampton.

Overall a Vape store might be cheaper for just a single cell.

Good point!

If you buy maybe 4 or 8 cells online, then shipping might not kill the deal.

But if you only get 1 cell, maybe buying locally is best.

18650canada, eh? Thanks for the recommendation, I had no idea they were in Brampton. Unfortunately, I won’t be buying from them given the recent stories floating around Reddit about them not shipping products, not answering emails, and not refunding unfulfilled orders.

I just realized MEC sells Fenix ARB-L18-3500 18650 ba… Never mind, they JUST sold out.

Which MEC light did you get?

BTW you can order from Fasttech or Illumn.
If you go with Fasttech run the link by BLF first to make sure your not buying junk.

Thanks for the recommendations!

Megots the MEC Apex 750 since it was on sale, methinks the Apex 900 might have been a better idea because that one comes with a Panasonic 3400mah battery.

I had to model and 3D print a new mount for it so I could throw out the woefully inadequate strap and use my Cateye mounts.

Here are some low res photos of a horribly, terrifyingly messy table. Oh, and my light and 3D-printed adapter plate, I guess.

Odd, they both say battery included on the listing.
The prices are a bit high IMO, does MEC still have a generous return policy?

They probably do, I don't particularly want to do that after my mod, though. My light does have a battery included, a 2600mah protected 18650 of unknown origins. I just want a couple higher capacity 18650 cells as spares so I can use that light on camping trips. No one likes the unexpected extended bike ride in the dark.

Had I not purchased this light, I would not have thought modeling and 3D printing a custom Cateye H27N adapter plate was possible (I don't even have one of those lying around to measure off of). Now that I know my haphazard design works, buying a proper budget flashlight with a wide beam on which to bolt my modified adapter plate sounds like an attractive plan.

BTW, that light actually cost 35CAD, since there was a discount on top of the current discount. Still a bit high, but okay for cycling gear not from Aliexpress.

Fair enough. If it can run straight off USB with a dead battery you might consider a power bank instead with USB out.

$30 is good. How did you get an extra discount?

That’s a good idea, it can run straight off USB. Why didn’t I think of that? I just need to buy a power bank, which is far more versatile. On the other hand, having a spare battery is still good for when my power bank dies.

Sorry, it was 35CAD. There was a coupon code for MEC-branded stuff that worked on top of other active discounts.

Your welcome :slight_smile:

Make sure it works though by testing it off your phone charger on a dead battery before buying a power bank.

I’m not on Reddit, but I know there were issues with a website called 18650Canada.COM in Alberta. There has been some confusion around here with that as well.

Ah, they are different stores? Good to know, I’ll try out www.18650canada.ca, then. Thanks!