I’d like to get more brightness out of my AA flashlights so am considering getting a few 14500 cells (currently using Tenergy 2500 mAh). Mostly looking for brightness as I don’t use the lights for extended periods and heat/runtime usually not an issue.
Here are my current 1AA lights:
Romisen RC-G2 III
Thrunite T10
UniqueFire AA-S1 OSRAM
I have this Rodee charger used for my 18650s. Can it be used for 14500? If not, what kind of start-up costs to get a couple decent 14500 cells and a charger?
I currently this AA/AAA charger for my nimhs (I know it won’t work for LI). Posting it in case there is a replacement charger that can do both AA/AAA and 14500??? I’m noticing this V-6280 charger often gets my cells hot.
That charger you mentioned should work with 14500, albeit slowly, according to the reviews.
Be careful to check/confirm that 14500 is ok with your lights before trying them. I don’t have one, but the T10 info says 14500 not recommended (should be ok with the AA-S1). Look for voltage range, which should be up to ~4.2V for 14500s.
I myself am moving up from AA to Li-ions and ordered a Nitecore Intellicharger i2, supposedly decent inexpensive charger, compatible with loads of battery types:
Li-ion / IMR: 26650, 22650, 18650, 17670, 18490, 17500, 17335, 16340(RCR123), 14500
Ni-MH / Ni-Cd: AA, AAA, C
So it would take care of your AA and 14500 needs (although I personally will still be using my BC-700 for NiMH).
There is also a 4 bay option called Nitecore Intellicharger i4.
Like ohaya said, always check if your flashlights support 14500, quick search shows T10 might be usable, but with caveats.
You’ll love lithium ion cells, no going back after using them
The Thrunite T10 is fine on high & low but the medium mode sometimes flickers when using 14500’s.
I don’t know the other two.
For just starting out you could get a cheap intellicharger i4 v2 which will charge both chemistries so less hassle.
There are shortlists of what i consider good batteries & chargers in my LEDs & Other Stuff post along with tons of info & useful links you’ll want to learn about.
Uses 250Ma for charging rate is lower than needed for a 14500.
Budget solution - Trustfire Flames $5.64 for 2 http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10000523/1084200-trustfire-14500-3-7v-900mah-protected
and replace that charger - a Nitecore i2 would be OK for 14500's and about the cheapest I'd trust $15.05 http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001638/1119500-nitecore-i2-lithium-li-ion-ni-mh-ni-cd-smart.
above prices should be 5% cheaper if you use the BFL coupon code.
I use an i4 (white, i4 pro) all the time with 14500s. It lists 14500 compatability on the bottom, but if I recall, it charges at 750 mA per bank (2 slots per bank), so for lower capacity batteries like 14500, it was recommended to charge them in pairs in the same bank, which is what I do.
So what would someone just a single cell to charge do? What happens if you're charging 2 cells when one finishes before the other? Does the remaining cell get 750mA? I asked FastTech that last year and never got an answer.
When I got my first Sipik I didn’t even know what a 14500 was, so of course I simply used a CVS alki AA. Since I was use to lights like an incandescent AA maglite I considered this set up to be extremely bright. Then I discovered the 14500. Now full disclosure, at this time I am only using the cheap Ebay 14500 battery in 14500 as this was my first baby step in this direction. But I definitely noticed an increase in the level of brightness from the AA to the 14500. I cannot speak to run times between the two as I’ve not done a head-to-head comparison, but I can say that the 14500 is noticeably brighter.
I’ve ordered the Nitecore mentioned above as it was recommended here on the board. I’ve ordered some Sanyo 18650’s as also recommended. Quality 14500’s will be next on the list.
I just got a Olight S15 Ti and it plays really nice with a 14500. With a single AA it has 3 modes but with a 14500 or the 2xAA extender it goes to four modes. Since it’s the first light I care about that I really want to run 14500s in, the TrustFire flames 14500s aren’t going to cut it. So I was thinking either the KeepPower from Illumination Supply or maybe the AW from LightHound for only a buck extra.
***correction//// wallbuys HAD them on sale for $7.40 ///// .
I think the trustfire flames are very good too .. I wouldn't dismiss them ....bang for buck they may still be the best buy out there .
I have keepower sanyos ,tf flames and efest Lmrs.. ..and unprotected sanyos from wallbuys in the mail . I like everything I own ...until I saw the sanyo deal I was going to just go back and buy some more trustfire flames from fasttech . only difference I see between the original ones I got years ago from DX and fastechs is the color of the protection disk on the bottom of the cells..fasttechs silver / DX are gold
my advice is .. there aren't that many choices so you can safely buy almost anything in the middle .
I'd avoid needlessly overspending ....and i wouldn't buy junk
I choose my (AA) lights according to whether they will accept 14500 cells or not.
This gives me the option of running them “hot” or “cool” depending on their intended use.
Best of both worlds
no way are the keeppower sanyos twice as good as the flames .
i bought a few just to try them out and honestly they are a little long ..a little fat and .... i'd buy the flames again unless there was a real sale pulling me another direction .
The TF flames are good 14500s. Sometimes they can be hit or miss, though. For a couple of my new toys, I want a little better. Like the D25A L2 Ti Clicky I just got today. It doesn’t seem to work with an Eneloop or NIMH, but works fine with a 14500. Is it supposed to work with an Eneloop? The Ti S15 squeezes almost as many lumens out of an Eneloop but the 14500 gives it a fourth mode so I’m definitely looking for a few bad ass cells.
