The 26650 Thread

Is there anyone here that has actually seen/used the shadow? I want one but I am not willing to buy the batteries and a new charger on a whim for one light.

Post 1 updated

Just in case you did not try, 3AA hosts are normally compatible with 26650 as far as I have seen, the closest I got is a zooming from taobao made for 4AA but this one could have a 32600/32650 instead.

*I am only talking about sizes, drivers might not be compatible and should be replaced.

I have one, very nicely finished, great throw, fantastic levels, for a light of this size and power the medium is perfect for most jobs and the low is really low, the strobe is very fast, nice thing is it doesn’t have memory so you never see the strobe unless you want it. Starts H,M,L,S, I love the settings.
You won’t be disappointed.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-bt-qs88-xm-lt6-1-mode-1000-lumen-white-led-flashlight-black-2-x-18650-2-x-26650-100214

Looks good, who’ll be the guinea pig?
A shame it’s single mode 3 would be nice, running flat out all the time isn’t always especially useful.
26650 capable charger.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-wf-188-rapid-charger-for-3-2v-3-7v-lithium-batteries-100-240v-44091
How the heck do you do a carriage return on this forum?

I have bought several days ago something I dreamed of, single cell 26650 3x XML flashlight :) 56$ with shipping, I hope it is worth something, but it should be :) Now it is just a question of one cell driver able to deliver 5 or more ampers...

Now available for $55.30

shadow 2x26650 available at intl-outdoor

nice price

http://www.intl-outdoor.com/shadow-jm05-t6-2x26650-850lm-flashlight-p-301.html

edit: this looks like a great candidate for hunting light - anybody know or can measure reflector dimensions?

Saw this Dongrui today at Manafont (never came across it before). Product page says it takes "1 x 18650/21660". What is a 21660? Do they mean 26650? It's also discussed here.

And don't forget the Fandyfire HD2010 discussed here, available here at DX.

Do 26650's fit in a Maglite C body? Require boring at all? What about length for (2) 26650's in a (2) C cell light?

-Garry

I'm curious about the 3 XML single 26650 lights that have been popping up on ebay (looks very similar to the beamtech bt4000 from Tmart). Curious enough in fact that I was bidding on one. Unfortunately the auction ended while I was on the road to the in-laws for dinner yesterday and I got outbid. Has anyone got one of these (or the one from Tmart)? I really like the idea of this light but it would be nice to know how hard the 3 XMLs are driven from a single cell.

There are some details of single xml version, it doesn't seem to be very well made, but may be considered as good beginning I think: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/5251#comment-105666
I already ordered some liquid to be able to weld aluminium to the driver, this driver pressing oring is not capable of high currents in my opinion, it should be solid welded. We do not know anything on driver, I suppose it may be the same as in 3x xml lamp, hope not, but have to be ready for it, looking now for best 1 cell driver capable of delivering enough power to 3 xml's :)

That looks very promising. I'm interested to see what you find in your search for a good driver.

OK, I got DONGRUI today, bought on ebay, it came in 10 days :) NICE! I will place photos and more, but at first glance, it is gunmetall coloured, coating is not very strong, original electronics sucks-2.7A by 4.2V and...1.5A by 3.6V :( Buuuut...I put my sandwiched Nanjg 105C at 3.8A and there is a new leader in my collection! Tight spot, a little blueish, but throws better than my TK35 modded clone and probably than Trustfire T1 XML T60 :) Reflector might be better coated, double orings, it is exactly 26650 size :) Heavy toy, but veeery nice, now I only wait for Shadow JM05, we will see if there is any difference. Anyway, I sell my C8 SST50, T1, this baby rocks :) More soon to come...

Eagerly awaiting full review with pics!

Oh, and can you provide a link for the Ebay seller?

-Garry

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160692798941?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

It cost more than Manafont, but I could see in my purchase history, that usually ebay sellers do have items on stock, as some shops don't.

Torch::
It came wrapped with protective stuff in an envelope. Inside there was 18650 to 26650 connverter. Outside I give 4+ in 5 degrees scale, it is anodised/covered with titanium/gunmetall colour. The cover is not very resistant to scratches, it came already with some and some point decoloured spots, it may be a problem in future. Reflector is not very well made, some stains on it etc.

Shape and form fits great in men hand, not too long, not to short, in spite of 47mm head it lies nicely in trousers pocket, you fell it more than C8 (44.6mm), but less than TK35clone (51-49mm). It has GITD switch, can do a candle mode without any problems, it came with things attached to end you can see on pictures.

Weight:

It is solid, big radiator, head of fat aluminium only with hole for ref and led pill. Exactly:

Dongrui - 281g
C8 - 213g
Klon TK35 - 336g
T1 - 401g

How it looks comparef to C8 SST50:


In parts:


Led cables are not bad, driver is pushed into messing ring and this is pressed into led aluminium pill. Unfortunately there are no holes to screw pill into head, I had to do it with spring and mcpcb holes.

Original driver (5 modes) showed by 3.6v only 1.5A at tail, by 4.2V it was 2.7A. Quite a lot of light. But not enough for me :) I put there sandwiched Nanjg 105C with 3.8A measured at the tail. Original driver looked like this:

After changing the driver my smile had to be removed by a surgeon ;) 37mm deep ref and almost 50mm diameter is focusing well! C8 SST50 is no competition to this light, so for comparism I took teoretically stronger 2 cell flashlights: moded to 2.8A XML TK35 clone and ordinary Trustfire T1 XML T60. All with good, fresh charged batteries went with me for a walk ;)

Don't look at first pictures at colours, my white balancewent wrong, cTK35 and Dongrui are Bluish, as T1 is quite warm.

Raw sample dark as in the ass picture:

T1:

Cloned TK35 modded:

Dongrui:

IMHO Dongrui throws nearly or better as T1,but it has more close light and thanks to that you can see things closer too. cTK is a flooder, lighter closer, dimmer further.

Now closer shots, unfortunatelly one is not sharp :(
T1:

Dongrui:

cTK35:

And now wall about 30m away:
Sample without anything:

Left Dongrui, right cTK35:

Left Dongrui, right T1:

Here colours and light power is perfect. In my opinion Dongui is veery similiar to T1, but difference in light colour may be fooling me. Anyway, I am very pleased with my new toys and I look forward to original (?) Shadow JM05 :)

To insert images, just click the "Insert/Edit Image" icon which looks like a boxed tree. Then paste the URL of your image in the "Image URL" entry. In the appearance tab you can set the size (tip I read - set the first dimension box to "100%" (including percent sign) and the image will resize relative to browser window size). I believe this is all you have to do. Be sure to leave off the "IMG" codes.

EDIT - Here's a thread on inserting photos.

Nice review! Sounds like I'll pass on this for the less expensive FandyFire HD2010 discussed here.

I am curious to hear, was it fairly easy to mod that TK35 clone? (ie. New driver install.) I thought that driver would be difficult to remove. My issue with that light is that from your beamshots it appears to be mostly flood, and I'm in search of maximum throw with useable spill along with max runtime. Do you have any posts concerning your TK35 clone mod to point me to?

Thanks,
Garry

Clone TK35 is sooooo easy to mod :) You just sandwich 0.2Ohm resistor over existing already 2 of them on the board :) But it is flooder, never will be a thrower I think. I thought of this HD2010, but 55mm reflector is quite big into the pocket, and for throw i have STL V6 :) You can mod it to 1 cell short version :)

I got 2 26650 lamps today. First JM05, it is better finished than dongrui, driver is better (3A @4v and 1.4A@ 3.2v), led is better, ref is better, hotspot is smaller, it will throw better, but less flood for sure.But driver stopped switching power :( It is always on high, I wait for Wang answer what now. Anyway, good lamp.

Second one is 3x XML single 26650 cell from ebay Uwelectronics (same host as HD2010). It has only 2.4A on fresh cell at tailcap, so it is not really bright one, driver seems to not very strong :) I will change it today I hope, anyway, more photos and reports later :)