Thanks to ILIKEFLASHLIGHTS for getting me thinking about this great light again. I've lost track of how many times I've talked myself out of it: "you won't use it, it's too heavy...."
There are probably all sorts of reasons this is a bad idea that I'm too ignorant to know, but notice the following parts that all come with a Fenix TK70 (except for the one in red which we'd have to Jerry-rig somehow):
The small tube that I've put after the head allows you to use a 4th D cell. Otherwise you can use the long tube alone for a 3 D light. Well, if the flashlight will run on 3 D NIMHs at 1.2 volts each = 3.6 volts, why not a single 3.7 volt cell?
Given that D cells are about 34.2mm x 61.5mm, here are the dimensions of several cells that might fit (perhaps with a spacer given the "red" part):
32650 32mm x 65mm
32600 32mm x 61.9mm
26650 26.5mm x 65.4mm
dorpmuller's suggestion (http://budgetlightforum.com/comment/reply/10258) to use four sub-C cells (in the long tube) would definitely help reduce the weight of this fantastic though unwieldy light, but if we could use one cell, we might be able to create a really stubby TK70 - if it's not to head-heavy. What do you think? Would it work? Has anyone tried it? Or are you going to have to stop laughing before you can tell me what's wrong with this? Anyway, thanks for your time.
You know what, I asked myself this question for a long time. I have the TK70 with 16x Tenergy 10000 batteries so I'm not worried about running out of them but making the beast shorter is a whole different luxury.
Anyone with experience conc. 26650s? I have King Kong but won't put in in the Fenix unless I know I won't fry it.
It can use 8.4V no issue with 2 x 32650. You use the 3 cell tube and i just use a dummy cell stuffed with alu foil and another neodymium disc magnet to help with the connection (it’s optional)…or you can use a solder blob. There is no danger of the magnet dislodging and creating a short as i put my dummer cell closest to the head and the disc magnet is used further back. (the tube internally is anodised as well). Others and I have used that won’t burn out. I use the Kaidomain’s 32650 but care must be taken for the voltage.
2100,
Thanks on both counts. I wasn’t sure how it would do with over 6v or if 1x32650 would work. NightCrawl’s suggestion about the Tk50 tube might be nice if it’s easy to get one (or a substitute).
It won’t be easy to get a TK50 tube. Fenix does not sell direct unless you have a serial number to validate that you are a owner and so can purchase a replacement.
The 3S tube works ok….with the 2 x 32650 at the end, the light is still in balance. 2S might be quite front heavy. 1S is unusable if you ask me.
I and others mentioned some info about using alternative cells here :
Anyway if you want to know the average reading of the TK70 (from about 20 sources), it’s about 85kcd to 100kcd. I got about 92kcd for my second unit….first unit was a wee bit higher.
