Lights powered off USB powerbanks?

There are some lights that don’t have built-in battery packs but use powerbanks instead.
Or come with external battery pack that can be ditched and replaced by a powerbank.
Or come with external battery pack that IS a powerbank (and can be replaced by some other powerbank)

So far I found 3 lights like that. All are headlamps:

  • Olight HS2
  • Nitecore HC70
  • Klarus HR1

I really like this kind of setup. Lightweight lamp on the head, heavy battery elsewhere.
Want more capacity? Use a larger powerbank. Want something lightweight? Use a small one.
And having a powerbank in a camping setup is just very useful - it’s nice when it doubles as a power source for some other light.

Are there any other noteworthy lights like that on the market? Not necessarily headlamps…

Note that USB PD allows for 100W output. That could power a nice hotrod. :slight_smile:

Xtar UL-1 (no longer being manufactured since lot of years ago…)

About a million variations of the “”CREE T6 5 6000LUMENS”:https://www.amazon.com/WasaFire-Waterproof-Mountain-Rechargeable-Headlamp/dp/B07W6PQNBT” bike lights? At one point they were known generically as Magicshines, then Magicshine moved upscale and started making clever stuff.

The Oight H1R and H2R Head Lamps can augment their internal batteries, when the magnetic charge cable is connected, and charging from a USB power pack, while being used. Extends the run times considerably.

It makes my H1R a long run time, light weight head lamp, when I have my 10k mah power pack in my shirt pocket, and connected to the H1R magnetic charge port.

I believe every Olight light, that utilizes the magnetic charge cable, has this capability.

I have the H1R, H2R, Peron, M2R, M2R Pro, S1RII, S2RII, Seeker2, Seeker2 Pro and can confirm they all function this way.

As long the brightness setting current draw, does not exceed the charging current from the USB power pack, it will charge the light as it is being used. If the brightness setting current draw exceeds charge current, then it may be possible to deplete the light’s internal battery, while charging from a USB power source. But it would still extend the run time considerably, while doing so.

Other USB cable charged lights, may have this capability, but I cannot confirm that.

I believe my BLF SP36 Anduril can do this, using it’s USB C port, but I have yet to confirm it.

I prefer the magnetic cable charger, since it does not damage the charge port, or cable, if the cable is yanked out by accident, or if the light falls while charging.

The one caveat in all of this is, the only Olight that I have, that has this capability WITHOUT REQUIRING an Olight proprietary battery, is the M2R. All the other Olights that I own, are REQUIRED to have an Olight proprietary battery, to utilize this capability.

I have heard the Olight Warrior has a double walled battery tube like the M2R, and can function like the M2R, in this capability. Someone who owns one would have to confirm.

BLF LT1 can be used with powerbank with no batteries inside.

I like those little nekkid boards that just slide into usb jacks. Usually keep a couple in my bag.

Even got some nice ones, fanciful WW with touch-dimming, etc., as well as plain stoopit unswitched that’re nice and compact.

Orfos pro:

https://www.orfos.us/

Jaxman M1

I love the ORFOS.

But the price…. No comment

Thrunite lights will work like this on low and moonlight mode. My Imalent HR20 works through all brightness levels. I pulled the battery on each of these and tested them just a few minutes ago.

Thanks for the suggestions. :slight_smile:
The main point for me was weight reduction. I haven’t thought about just using a rechargeable light and simply not putting the cell inside - this is inherently a worse way because the weight of the tube is irrecoverable.
But then - does it really matter? Some of the lights that don’t have a battery case at all aren’t actually lightweight. And being able to get a better light for a few extra grams doesn’t seem all that bad.

Or is the weight really irrecoverable? Probably almost all of these lights work when the head is used alone, w/out a tube at all.
Then all is needed is a 3D printed plug to close the head. And some mount - I don’t know how to solve this one.

Holy Cow! That’s a great “be seen” light, when pointed towards the ground. Hmm, combine the USB lights Lightbringer mentioned or this with a USB powerbank and cable, and get a (dry days only) DIY version.