I am soooooo confused about batteries! What do I need for my flashlights!

I am a noob when it comes to flashlights and rechargeable batteries and I need some help.

Yesterday I ordered one of each of these:

http://www.solarforce-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FB&s=1&id=21

Now I am looking for lamps, rechargeable batteries and a charger to order from Deal Extreme, but there are so MANY choices. What do I need? What brand, protected or unprotected, how many mah (whatever these are?) and which charger? I just need 2 batteries and a cheap charger to charge one at a time if possible!

I mostly ask because some of the battery reviews mention that certain ones don't fit SF or Solarforce lights! Shouldn't all 18650's be EXACTLY the same size? And if it will fit 2 CR123's, shouldn't the 18650 fit as well? Please enlighten me, and any advice or suggestions are welcome.

PS What is this stuff about batteries exploding? I don't want any batteries to explode.

EDIT TO ADD:

is this one anygood?

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/lithium-battery-charger-for-18650-100v-240v-22576

Ultrafire wf-139 2 cell charger and Trustfire Flame 2400 mAh cells are probably the cheapest good bet. Any cheaper on the cells and you are taking your chances on getting relabeled laptop recycled cells. Chargers range from dirt cheap to ridiculously expensive. The Wf-139 is a good solid charger at a very reasonable rate. It has a car adapter that is sold separately but runs about $4-5 if you need it.

Oh and welcome to the obsession. I started with 1 light and I have more than I care to put in print as SWMBO might read this and then have proof that I know how many I have. I tell her I lost count.

Here ya go - links:

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/protected-trustfire-18650-37v-2400mah-rechargeable-batteries-flame-2pcsset-p-5560

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-wf139-37v-1450017500185001767018650-battery-charger-ac-100220vdc-12v-p-4058

Manafont is much quicker to deliver than DX usually so I used them for the links.

+1 on all of that

oh and you'll want to order some of these while you are there since the links you posted are just bodies with no emitter in them.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-cree-t6-3mode-memory-led-dropin-module-42v-max-p-5178

I agree with all suggestion above also:

Simple and easy to use and effective and wont overcharge your cells. Still place on a fireproof substance and dont leave unattended while in use. I Still own the Trustfire version as backup to my upgraded ones and have no hesitation is using it again.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-wf139-37v-1450017500185001767018650-battery-charger-ac-100220vdc-12v-p-4058

Best bang for the buck and true capacity levels, May not last as long as a $20 high end cell but they are 2 for $10 and should last a good while.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/protected-trustfire-18650-37v-2400mah-rechargeable-batteries-flame-2pcsset-p-5560

I just ordered this one drop-in also,about as good as it gets until you get into modded custom drop-ins.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-cree-t6-3mode-memory-led-dropin-module-42v-max-p-5178

I only own one SolarForce body which is an L2r and im putting a new drop-in in it and i just ordered a SolarForce L2 clone, But my Original is very high quality in its build.

Congratulations : You have chosen wisely for the two hosts ...

You want batteries and chargers and drop ins ? is that right ?

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/xtar-wp2-37v-liion-battery-charger-for-1450014650176701865018700-p-7249 Xtar Charger !

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-protected-18650-3-7v-2600mah-lithium-batteries-2-pack-26247 MAybe these 18650

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-protected-18650-3-7v-true-2400mah-rechargeable-lithium-batteries-2-pack-20392 Or these are popular

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-cree-t6-3mode-memory-led-dropin-module-42v-max-p-5178 This drop in maybe XM-L T6 3 mode

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-xml-t6-5-mode-6700k-450-lumen-smooth-aluminum-drop-in-module-with-textured-reflector-55026 ? Maybe if you dont want to worry about current or heat ?

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-xml-t6-1-mode-6700k-450-lumen-smooth-aluminum-drop-in-module-55025 This one interests me , a lot . Its sensible .

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-r2-wc-3-mode-0-100-led-drop-in-module-for-wf-502b-and-flashlights-alike-3-6v-8-4v-17593 I like this drop in a lot , and have two of them , Its XR-E offers seriously high run time if that matters .

@kjk200:

You order only bodies - which drop-in will be built in?

For example: The XM-L is a good flooder (big spot, but not extrem distance). Other drop-Ins are better for distance but have smaller spots (for example the R2 Drop-Ins).

What do you prefer?

Do you want to use only 18650 (=3,7 Volt) or 2 CR123 (=6 Volt), too? Only 18650 would be better, because many drop-ins work fine with max. 4,2 Volt.

For 6 Volt you have to search.

What's mAh:

Short words: More mAh, longer runtime of the flashlight.

But don't buy cheap crap like 3600mAh or 4000mAh - that's fake mAh - they are much less.

Take a look at the battery data base of the forum:

The flame trustfire are good or the Hi-Max of ebay - both have a good Price/Quality.

You are a beginner - please take protected batteries. They are saver.

Your DX charger:

I do not have any information about it (have never seen a test of it).

You wrote: Deal Extreme. It's a good shop, but often shipping takes a long time (for about 4 weeks), Manafont is faster (I think most users of the forum get the items after 2-3 weeks).

I post the products of DX and if Manafont (they have a better charger, which DX not offer):

18650:

DX

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-protected-18650-3-7v-true-2400mah-rechargeable-lithium-batteries-2-pack-20392?r=28318244

Manafont

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/protected-trustfire-18650-37v-2400mah-rechargeable-batteries-flame-2pcsset-p-5560?rp=161376

Charger:

Manafont

Cheap and good one, if you want to charger with USB:

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/xtar-mp1-usb-to-37v-liion-battery-charger-for-14650176701865018700-p-7247?rp=161376

This one work also ok (a friend use it) - it's cheap and everything work. I do not trust the product 100%, but since March it is in use.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ac-lithium-battery-charger-for-18650-100v240v-p-5641

Some of DX:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/18650-digital-battery-charger-3499?r=28318244

Hope this would hlep you a little bit.

I just ordered this www.budgetlightforum.com/node/2402 :) It should be safe and powerful :)