Favorite EDC battery format?

I still tend to use my J18 the most frequently of all my lights, and I still probably empty 26650s more frequently than 18650s, but I guess I’d have to choose 18650 since I cant fit my J18 in my pocket.

AAs and AAAs are for remote controls, clocks, monitoring devices and Wii, etc.

DQG tiny 26650 anyone ?

Mostly I carry a 502B with a 18650 laptop pull. When weather is extremely hot or I need to carry something smaller then It’s a single AA Eneloop in a small inexpensive zoomy.

I voted 18650.

Currently I have one on my key chain that uses a BLF Tiny12 driver with two stacked 7135 chips. It draws a constant 0.7 A into an XP-E.
I have others that draw 1.5 to 2 amps., but not regulated or controlled. I also carry a Pakistani two blade pocket knife. They both need renewing now and then, but I have time and like to do it.

Convoy S8 - so 18650

I have some 16340 lights - but they are too small so hold comfortably (I have big hands).

16340 for me, just like my finger, short and fatty.

16340. My EDC gets many short uses during the day so runtime is not an issue, while pocketability is, I carry the smallest possible 16340 light (but with dedomed N219b@2A for a bit of throw).

I’m always wearing skinny fit jeans so pocketability is a bit issue for me, 18650 is a no no. For this reason I carry 602C with triple 219A with Qlite 10 x 7135s. For around house I found SF-348 with 219A to be the best because for up to 3 meters use all I need is 30ish lumens high CRI single mode light.

Did you have to shave a lot off the triple optic and ledboard to fit it in a 602C? Do you have a picture, I'm really curious?

(sorry for the off-topic question)

They have a new 18350 Convoy S2+ and it’s very nice :slight_smile:

You need to shave 2mm or so from optics and star.I’ve used noctigon mcpcb and optics from triple nichia bundle from Kaidomain. Optics are not direct swap becase legs are wider than Carclo ones so you need to open up the holes on mcpcb. You also need to shave the pill because whole assembly is too short so you need spacer between mcpcb and pill. Spacer I made is only 1mm thick because I used 1.5mm AR lens. I didn’t used 18mm ones because I also filed down the lip on the head because I didn’t feel comfortable with fact that there is too much light looses with already “weak” nichias combined with “unsuitable” body for triple setup. Instead I used 20mm lens that I also shaved down 1.something mm. I will ad pictures later today :slight_smile:

18650 is my choice. I usually have a backup light on my keys which can be AAA, AA or 16340. But I don’t look on them the same as the EDC I put in my pocket.

Most 18650 tube or tube’ish style lights are no bigger to carry in a trouser pocket than an AA or CR123a torch.

I tend to EDC mine in my right hand pocket which I also put my iPhone. With jeans this is perfect, although a deep carry pocket clip is nice to locate the torch clipped on the inside of the pocket. Basically you don’t know it’s there as it conforms and runs parallel to your leg.

18650 offers the runtime, anything highish output on a 14500 or 16340, even an 18350 is only around 700mAh or so vs 2500-3100mAh for than 18650. That’s a huge difference. I can EDC an 18650 light for a week or more and not need to charge it, while the smaller formats seem to need charging every couple of days.

Didn’t vote because I’m not sure which.

I prefer AA but use a AAA on my keyring.

I wouldn’t use a 10440 or 14500 especially in a twisty that you keep in your pocket, today I felt a burning pain on my leg. It kind of felt like a spider or ant biting me so I whacked my leg a few times but I could still feel it, it felt lower than my keys but I took them out of my pocket anyway and noticed my DQG III AAA was turned on (must have turned on and off and on again to get in high) and was too hot too touch and that was just with a NiMH AAA.

I actually find a AA light too big to be on my keys, I did try it for a while but along with my keys its too bulky. And a separate light for EDC I wouldn’t find nesasarry, but before I had a AAA on my keys I always had a AA light in my car (and still do) and my car is never far away from me.

still edc my2aa arc-ls so aa

Ah, I already suspected that this was not a straightforward mod ;-) . I'm looking forward to pictures :-)

I voted AA/14500. To me, a true EVERYday carry is small enough to forget about. My D25A fits that bill. But my most-of-the-time-carry is a convoy s2/s6 (flood and throw, respectively). I’m thinking about giving in and buying a SC62, which could close the size gap enough to nearly replace the AA format altogether. They just suck for modding…

I like a 16340 as its easy to carry and forget, but its pretty much on par with the 14500s I own. I used to carry an 18650 in my pocket but found it annoying. I carry a SWM V11R with 16340 and a Trustfire Mini01 on my keys, the Mini has a CR123 in it.

Something tells me this subject needs a thread. Why are you floating with a lead acid battery around your neck? Shrimping? Floundering maybe?

For a little while I did with my 1st gen. IIRC it kept lighting up and required a lot of turns to lock it out.

No, he is sinking on dry land.
Moonlight is maybe 5 or 10 ma, lets say 9.2 ma. That gives 10,000 hours run time, 1.14 years.

After being through some major weather events with extended power outages I really appreciate the 18650 power and a single cell light with a moon light or very low power settings. I’ve never been given any free batteries either. When its really bad, the government folks get help from the private charities. Been there done that. Seen the National Guard getting fed by religious groups more than a few times.

The best thing I ever did was buy a DIESEL powered vehicle, I can always find fuel, the second best was getting a very quite Honda generator that sips fuel. I charge my batteries mainly off my Dodge Ram diesel when its really bad, I have over sized fuel tanks on the truck, I can go for weeks without filling up and have the ability to go get fuel far away if necessary to support my generator. I have enough 18650 batteries to last at least two weeks without recharging. The power usually comes on by then, even the worst ice storms and tornado don’t take out the power for more than 10 to 12 days around here.

For EDC I really like a C8, a small thrower is very handy. Even in the city I want something blinding bright for dark streets and questionable characters. A really bright beam makes for a useful tool. AAA light is worthless to me, my smart phone is brighter than that and I always carry it also. Those key chain lights are fine for unlocking a door but I wouldn’t call that an EDC light. I would carry at least something that could light up a room for two hours. :wink:

AAA, it does require charging fairly often but I find bigger than that gets a little uncomfortable for my taste. As a total noob I was wondering, if I use a 10440, instead of super high outputs can I get a more average NiMH output but with longer runtimes? I’m thinking not but please shed some light, it will be immensely appreciated!!!