Well, my tubes arrived, and they lego perfectly with the S41S and the A6. The only snag is, they’re not bored widely enough to accept the protected cells I want to use. My original S41S and A6 tubes are fine. Flaky quality control from Astrolux / Banggood strikes again. Gah :person_facepalming:
Oh, well. The BLF A6 has been knocked off its belt EDC spot by a Desert Tan Convoy S2+ with an 8×7135 driver. The smooth reflector and XP-L HI LED of the S2+ allow it to throw its 800 lumen maximum further than the BLF A6 can throw its 1300 lumen maximum using its OP reflector and XP-L HD LED.
The extra throw from the S2+ is useful to me, so it looks like I’ll be gluing some big O-rings to it or something. Adding more aggressive knurling is one of the very few things I would change about the Convoy S2+…
I never thought about using a protected cell in the BLF A6, and I don’t think the A6 will do 1300lm with a protected cell? It needs a high drain cell for maximum output. But I rarely use protected cells for anything anymore, just on a few lights with no LVP that I’d have the possibility of leaving on by accident.
I found that an NCR18650GA with 10-amp cutoff on the protection board seemed to work quite well for me. I’m using the EagTac one - relatively short at 68 - 69mm. I also use it in my S41 / S41S. I won’t be getting the absolute maximum output possible, but it’s still pretty decent.
Hmm yes I see good point, from what I understand a good protected NCR18650GA will provide higher current than the usual protected cells. From what I’ve read the GA will not allow the A6 to reach full potential, but it’s a good compromise between output and runtime.
That is unfortunate the SS tube is to narrow for your purpose. I’m thinking the S41/S42 weren’t intended to use with any protected cells? But understandably more frustrating when the normal tubes fit them.
My tube is very poorly machined inside, about halfways down inside the tube it is thinner because there are bumped ridges/rings, I have 2 protected cells that are based on the GA:
3500mAh KD Light
3500mAh EVVA 10A
The KD Light cell will go about 3/4 of the way in.
The EVVA goes in completely and works, however it’s slightly snug, not really “tight” just very snug, to the point where I have to remove the tube to push it through to remove it, but it slides out pretty easy, just a slight friction. It would fit work better if the tube were machined properly.
Diameter:18.7mm (mine measures 18.6 at the thickest point where the strip runs under the wrapper)
Height: 69.0mm
You could try one, but I’m not sure if that cell would be the solution for you, maybe but looking at the way the tube is machined they’re likely are variances between production, as well as a variance between the cells themselves from batch to batch.
Maybe open a ticket with banggood and see what happens.
Thanks for the KD Light / EVVA info, that’ll be useful for future reference :+1:
Strictly speaking, the tubes are in spec, because they accept unprotected cells and the lights they’re sold for are only marketed for use with unprotected cells. For that reason, I’m not going to bother chasing Banggood.
I’m just irritated because I can’t pick an Astrolux item up - any Astrolux item - and say that the next one will be reasonably close, the way I can with a good company like Convoy. My Astrolux stuff is gradually migrating to my parts box to be cannibalised - some of the parts may end up being built into Convoy hosts in the end
I have noticed something interesting, though. I submitted a neutral review of the Astrolux tubes on Banggood, noting the lack of consistency from one to the next, and they didn’t publish it. Instead, they sent me an email diverting me to customer support.
Discovering that practice tells me that the Banggood review system is untrustworthy, so I’ll be bearing that in mind for future orders. There’s not much point to a review system that only shows you the good stuff.
