Why C Cells?

I’ve seen some posts looking for C cell lights and I have to wonder, other than so she can sell them by the sea shore, what’s the advantage of C cells? I don’t notice that much difference in the way D and C lights feel in the hand. C and D cells cost about the same but D cells seem to have about twice the capacity. So what’s the attraction of the C cells?

I have to disagree with you about the size and feel of C vs D cell lights. If you consider Maglites, C cell lights are DEFINITELY smaller in diameter than D cell lights. For this reason, they are MUCH better ergonomically than the D cell lights. But besides diameter, the C Mags are also significantly shorter than the D lights for a given number of cells. As an example, the 3C Mag is just a little longer than the 2D. So although the 3C is not as widely available as the 2D, it allows you to use more cells in about the same size light for more voltage. And with the Defiant XM-L lights, there’s an even BIGGER difference between the C cell and D cell lights.

When all the AA and D size cells sell out in an emergency, you’re stuck with Cs. C sized lights feel a lot smaller than D size lights in the hand. C sized rechargeables are a LOT more affordable than Ds, recharge faster and are easier to carry around.

Saying all of that, I must agree with you that $ fo $, C sized alkaline cells, just like AAA sized alkaline cells are not worth the money.

I don’t think C and D cells will totally disappear but it won’t be very long before there are no new products that use them. Maglite will probably be the last manufacture on earth making something for a C or D cell.

I can in the year 2055 that one old lady will have D cell powered radio and a C cell powered flashlight and will write letters to anyone who tries to stop making these batteries. By that time we will have batteries that are smaller than a dime but produce as much power as a car battery but the old people will still have their C and D cells. LOL!

I would choose C cells over Ds mostly due to weight, and that you can sometimes charge C NiMH cells in a charger designed for AAs but a D cell is longer so needs a dedicated charger.

Maglite 6C cell light of course.

C cells are essentially 26650s diameter and that light size feels great, thick enough to be a good heft and thin enough for good almost complete to complete circumference grip in the hand. D cell maglites are to fat for some hands, and are not as grippy even if you can hold them comfortably. I always like to hold other things in the same hand as my light, so D cell lights just dont cut it.

Sure, if you have a strong enough hotwire and run it with no lens.

I like both C and D cells for different reasons.
C cell flashlight feels like an ergonomic size for my hand, which I like.

D cell torches feel like a club, which I also like :wink:

I agree.

^for all reasons above^

.

And this one: UltraFire UF-5C

thats an interesting one. do you have it? if so, is the battery tube wide enough for a 26650 to fit in?

Not yet but I plan on getting it, been sitting in my shopping cart for a while.
.

And you got me thinking about the 26650’s too, and I found Bikenber73 says it can with THIS in THIS THREAD, (Post #4 )…very interesting indeed!
.

And thanks for asking and bringing up the subject, I’m going to order the extra tube with it now.

I used to have a polyethylene 2C light and a similar 2D cell light, which I still have. I used the C light more because I could hold it in my mouth, until I got tired of it and bought a light that fit on my head. Modern aluminum lights don’t feel good in the mouth though.

:open_mouth: !

Just put a terralux 140 lumen drop-in led in my 4C old skool Maglite, plus a new real glass lens. This Mag has memories from my police days back in the day.

Cool, direct beam now. bright enough for a vehicle flashlight plus club effect.

C cell lights always have a good feel to me even with L to XL hands/glove size I use.

I realize this is just about flashlights, but I have different “sets” of gear which I use for different purposes and to keep the logistics sane I go for battery commonality within each set, basing the battery size on whatever the most important part of each set uses.

Nothing in “C” anymore but there used to be so that set included a 2C light back then- a 2C holder direct driving six 5mm LED’s in a reflector from a cheap AA light, it was effective for it’s purpose and let me keep just one size of extra batteries with the set.

sudden revival in thread.

hmm

c cell may extinct in lights but still a popular use in cheap portable radio/boombox where rechargeables are not an option.

c cells are more common in radios and toys than flashlights now.
still something to be said for having lights that take them due to the effect mentioned above.
they will still be on the shelves in an emergency.