So I’ve really been fixated with AA powered lights recently, yes I EDC a 17650 light and have plenty of 18650 lights and others but the “prepper” in me just loves AA lights.
I’m lookin for the most throw possible in a single 14500, the catch is it has to also run at 1.4v from a NiMH/alkaline [decreased output is fine but it needs to be usable from a single AA]. I’ve really been attracted to the quark turbo 2AA (or QB2A in new “foursevens” nomenclature) with a single AA tube but I’m slightly dissapointed with the AA performance (however its still acceptable especially since I could go back to 2 NiMH’s in the factory body if I needed)
I’ve always wondered (and seen lots of talk but no one’s actually tried) will the SB caveman head fit a quark body? They appear to be identical (I’m thinking same OEM-same design, same look, same exact pocket clip, obvisouly same market) that would be a much cheaper route for a single 14500 thrower (I already own a 1AA quark body). I’ve also contiplated forgetting the AA compatibility and going with the 2xCR123 quark turbo (QB2L) but that would make it 14500 only and the runtime would be very low.
I’m open to any suggestions, my goal is 200 meters, if I could see that far I’d be happy as could be, I’m not talking “down to .1lux” I want a usable, BRIGHT spot at 200meters. Pockatability isnt an issue, if its got a huge head that’s totally cool as this won’t ever need to be an EDC, really I just want it to show off and have a tiny hand-sized thrower at the dog park is my main goal (the sheep there don’t know a 14500 is something different from a AA)
A custom build is likely your best bet. And the same rules apply, bigger reflectors will throw further, even more so when combined with smaller emitters.
Either that or look at TIR or aspheric lenses. An XP-E2 driven as hard as you can given your powered requirements in a big reflector would work.
I have no clue how far some flashlight throws and what that means…but a cheap sk68 on liion throws far away…and has no reflector…so I guess a 14500 light with reflector and added aspheric lens should do it. So try some different sk68s and say how much more you need…
Also there was a xre based ultrafire light which throwed like hell, it looked like the c60 I had just with 14500 instead 16340…
Thrunite t10 maybe, I am really unsure how much throw you need….
I should have specified I want a reflector (or TIR), I do not like aspheric’s, they’re just not that useful in terms of the beam profile. Also I have a SC52 (CW) and it doesn’t come close to the throw I’m after, its bright and yes it’s fun to put off a wall of light from that tiny light but I want, no I need more throw lol.
I like the idea of a mini C8, idk how I could acomplish it, I have just ordered a C8 (& parts) for a build but I literally just ordered it so it’ll be awhile till I have it to play with. Does the head thread onto the body tube or is it one piece? Maybe I could find a 1xAA body for the C8 head, maybe another convoy light?
As far as what I’m looking for in non-technical terms, there is a old industrial building 200 meters from the field at the dog park (in a bad neighborhood) with all sorts of shady activity, I’d like to be able to light that area up on demand, to look for noises or scare people away and do that with the smallest package possible. Like I mentioned I have parts for a 3.4A, XM-L2 C8 en route and that’ll no doubt do the job, I’d just like it if I could find/build a 1xAA sized light that could also do the job.
I’ve found the SK68 to be very unreliable on 14500.
All my SK68s and clones tend to run fine out of the box on regular AA. If I put in a 14500 they work fine. But if I try putting in a AA after having used a 14500… they tend not to work.
Basically, putting in a 14500 makes them only work on 14500 permanently.
I have a dereelight javelin with c2h body and a XP-E R2 A4 pill 0.8v - 4.2v. It has served me well over the years and if i want, it will run on cr123a primary, 16340 rechargeable, any AAs from alkaline to nimh (it loves 3g XX eneloops), lithium primarys and 14500 rec. And the throw is great on AAs, but on an efest flat top imr14500 is more than what you want.
I have always been fond of the Romisen RC-G2, at Shiningbeam they have a custom with a neutral XP-G2 and xp-reflector (OP). I do not own one but I guess it will be a reasonable thrower for its size. (their description is inconsistent: it says XP-G somewhere and somewhere else XP-G2, so pay attention to that)
i found that happen to a couple of the SK68 clones i have, its like the 14500 “burned-in” the driver to work only on the higher voltages.
However my 2 original single-mode real “Sipik Brand” SK68s are still working great on either a 1.5 volt AAs or the 14500s.
On all of mine sk68 I have no problem with the voltages, no matter if original, clone or 3 mode…
The problem is there are too many variants, different emmitters different drivers and different optics. Everything which counts varies…that’s why I always say buy some different sk68 and see which you like most.rrrt
I don’t even know a fitting driver to exchange(the BLF mini driver fitted with some grinding and worked good but its not available anymore), so that is worse for you
But after using it with liion once you won’t use nimh again, it’s all about the better feeling that it could be used with another voltage thing…
That was my very first thought as well. Problem is, it will fry on 14500. I know, I tried it and burnt my switch to death. Also, it does throw well but the output is a bit outdated.
I’m interested in this topic as well. Basically a modern Rominsen RC-G2 that has the latest emitter and can handle 14500 would be the light the OP is looking for. I don’t know if it exists but it should.
its a good light, they upgraded some to xp-g2 and are selling off the xp-g ones, so thats the confusion
it will not throw 200m, its a great light for someone not into flashlights (i gave it to my folks), but its got an OP relfector, it does maybe 100 lumens, not constant brightness, but for the price its a great general use and simple light
