Not true! The problem effects recharging and discharging. Several members have reported using an external charger to recharge their cells, only to note large cell voltage differences after discharge, thanks to a very poorly designed cell carrier.
Folks, please DO NOT BUY Acebeam flashlights until the manufacturer has definitively resolved the problem. I will keep everyone updated with test results of the newly designed battery carriers, assuming Acebeam makes good on its word and produces them. Until then, there are many other lights to satisfy the techno lumen junkie.
I never charge my batteries inside the flashlight, but I know that a lot people will find that more convenient. If it doesn’t work correctly, it’s better not to have it at all.
Good heads up Flashpilot but I think this model doesn’t come with built in charger…
It apparently affects all of their flashlights with cell carriers. Several BLF members have reported Supbeam/Acebeam flashlights without in-light chargers to show large cell voltage variances after discharge. So its not just the lights with in-light charging that are of concern.
So if you have one with a cell carrier, check your beginning and ending voltages before assuming your flashlight is safe to use.
Isn’t the battery carrier in the “non in-light charging” category just a bunch of connections basically, without any IC? How would that discharge cells differently? I just have a K40M, haven’t checked the cells yet.
That would seem logical to me. :bigsmile: There are now literally thousands of BLF posts spread out across several Supbeam/Acebeam threads. I only own the X50 and X60, both of which have the charging problem I described (with in-light charging).
Since the manufacturer has seriously dragged its feet for a long time while attempted to convince me that their faulty design was acceptable, I hope everyone will wait to see if they will do as promised before buying any more of their products. Also, you might want to reference the K50 GB and X60 GB discussion threads for a better perspective of what you are considering buying, along with the later discoveries of some of their inherent faults.
For cells in series it is important that they are identical. Otherwise it is possible that one cell that discharge faster may be "reveres charged" and be damaged/vent. But that also depends on the driver, if it has low voltage shut off, and if the cells are protected.
And the same cells (brand/model) with different ages may have been used/abused differently and may have different internal resistance and capacity. So when charging cells that are intended to be used in series it is good to have a charger that can test the internal resitance and capacity so you can verify that it still is the same, or very similar, for all of the cells. If you can't test the the cells, it is safer to only use protected cells.
Yes, but without actually checking your assumption may very well be wrong. And you actually said that you haven't checked the cells you use in your K40M.
It is commonly implied at BLF that it is good practice to use same cells (same manufacturer, same capacity, same age and preferably same batch) especially if they are in serial connection.
I think what DanielM meant is that he didn’t checked cells at what voltage level is every individual cell after discharging in his flashlight:
Exactly Sirius9, and I don’t see any reason why the cells in a dumb carrier would be discharged differently. I will check when I get home to add already existing data.
@flashpilot. After reading this I checked the cells on my K40. All brand new Panasonics, I get 4.06, 4.07 and 4.07. I know they are not very discharged but it does not seem too much of s problem for me so far.
Its about community. So far Acebeam has not met its burden as far as the community is concerned. It would be foolish as a community, to continue to buy Acebeam/Supbeam products from this forum. It says we dont care what they do, the next product just has to capture attention and the past will not matter. You might want to consider if thats what you want them to take from this.
ie: Sell us any shit, at any price, and we will still buy your next over priced release. And it is over priced, these arent $30 lights. At their price point, there should be no design flaws. And righting the wrong of the earlier models does matter.
The forum is a community, and right now the community is in process of trying to get Acebeam to correct an error, one they are already dragging their feet on. Are you part of that community? <rhetorical question.