4.088v and 4.16v 02/14/2016 - 18:50
Ok, this isn’t anyone’s fault, so I’m posting this because only my fellow BLFs can truly understand my pain. I ordered one set of each in two separate orders on the same day. They both arrived at the local USPS distribution facility on 2/2 and the Cu/SS set was delivered to me on 2/3.
The Al set never arrived and the last tracking scan was it’s arrival at that USPS facility on 2/2. I have to assume that after two weeks it isn’t going to ever show.
While I’m trying to sort that SNAFU out, I thought I’d share the unboxing of the Cu/SS set for anyone who wants to see it. My wife makes an appearance at the end and, honestly, that’s probably the highlight of the video. 
Nice, video cone!
I had to put it on full-screen, though, in order to see much of anything.
And your better half’s response was priceless. O:-)
Nice video. Your wife seems at least somewhat enthusiastic about the flashlights. I bought my wife an Olight S1 to clip into her purse, and she didn’t even say thanks, nor has she bothered to learn how to use it. I think I’m going to take it back.
Thanks for posting updates, this is kind of a neat test of the Windyfire cells. For my 14500 cells, I opted for the 9A AW IMR. After initial testing of the light through a couple cells, and setting up, I swapped a 24hr rested (4.18V) cell in last Monday, and I have not really used the light, just turned it on a few times, tapping through the modes maybe 2 or 3 times since then. Nothing too serious, but I have fired it up, cumulatively probably less than a minute, maybe less than 30 seconds. Tonight the cell reads 4.07V. For comparison, though I left 2 of my other cells discharged to 3.85V rather than keeping them at the ready, I have another cell that came off the charger last Sunday night along with the one in the light. Tonight it reads 4.16V.
Maybe a new cell test thread could organize a group cell test, with members simultaneously taking readings of various pairs of different labelled cells each night, one sitting and one ununsed in a light under the low tail-light load, and posting results.
The hard part of this is to just leave the light there and not use it at all. I’ve changed cells twice today on my AL X5.
Here you go cabfrank Xtar cell BOGO
It is only a 3-day sale and ends today!
BOGO doesn’t mean much when they’re charging $15/cell :-x
It does make it $7.50/cell which is reasonable.
Very nice video Cone! My wife was impressed as well with the SS/Cu set, which honestly if these lights don’t impress our wives then no light will! She actually told me that I probably should have gotten another set for such a good price. So, I found that to be a good time to inform her that I already had gotten another set without the box
I don’t see what’s so special about 20A maximum discharge rate, and page doesn’t specify what the continuous discharge rate is. Efest has 3000mAh cells they rate at 20A continuous, 35A max for about the same price from sellers on eBay and Amazon, but there are complaints, possibly from resellers confusing the two specs, possibly from Efest exaggerating. Its hard to tell when a user finds a spec out of whack and goes on negative review crusade. Ticked off users complain the loudest.
I appreciate the info Couster and Dale! Didn’t mean to stir the pot here, but I believe others would agree, this battery info is very helpful for us newbs. I don’t have any unprotected 18650’s so I did order a couple of the LG HG2’s and also plan on picking up some 30Q’s and purple Efest, so I should have a pretty well-rounded set of 18650’s
I see members swear by their LG HG2’s and 30Q’s, and some love and some hate Efest’s. I can’t be the only AW fan… anyone else? And why no love for Sony VTC3’s, VTC4’s or VTC5’s? Capacity not high enough? Expense? What makes you other cell suckers tick?
As I stated earlier, I believe the new Sony VTC5 A probably could surpass all other cells I know of when it’s just about maximum current from a fully charged cell. light-wolff tested them. They keep a higher voltage than the 30Q’s for the first few minutes, this effect becomes stronger as discharge current increases. Therefore I think it might squeeze some extra lumens out of our high power builds.
For the X6 though, I think 30Q’s or HG2’s (or Efest 3000mAh 35A) are the way to go.
!
!
Finally got my X5 working it is a monster so bright for such a small light.
The copper smells when it heats up lol
Run time on these AW cells will not be much i guess only 650MAH
Great video, cone! Enjoyed that. 
Thanks, Dash. A cinematographer I’m not, but, ya, I should have probably taken the time to do a few closeups.
Thanks, Robert. My wife is a daily flashlight user and has several on her nightstand and around the house. She doesn’t normally EDC the same way some of us probably do- and she would never admit to being part of a larger movement- but she has a blade in her purse and an Olight EOS i3 on her keyring along with a whistle.
It helps that she does a lot of things outdoors that are gear intensive, so she does understand the need for gear and tools.
It’s a bit of a bummer about your wife. For her own safety and convenience, I agree with you that some basic gear and the knowledge to use it would certainly bring peace of mind to you both. I wouldn’t give up on her just yet.
Thanks, Brett. At the end of the day, girls are still girls. Bright and shinny will always impress them. And, judging by the reaction our sons had to the lights, it isn’t just the ladies who find these impressive. There was a lot of “This one is mine” bickering which ended in everyone being disappointed when I said they were not going to be users.
Thanks, Djozz.
When I showed both lights to my wife, straight away she said “So the small one is mine?”.
I persuaded her to take my smaller Maratac CR123 Cu, but I think she already like the illuminated tailcap on the X5.
Can’t blame her though.
Any news about the spare wooden box for aluminum sets?
Thats exactly what my wife said.