MUST HAVE:
small/ 87 mm or shorter, tube form factor, 25mm diameter or less
18650/ one
side switch/
blf a6 UI - 7 levels, can go up with short tap, back with longer tap
/reliable - the DQG Tiny 18650 IV does most of what i want but i have killed 2 of them doing nothing special
/moon- 1 lumen or so
/1500
5 levels - moon to turbo, linearly spaced [optically, which is more like same ratio between levels]
way to find the switch (usually a clip works if you point it the right way)
WOULD BE NICE:
charger
fuel gauge
memory mode on or off
configurable levels
under $35
DON’T CARE:
gift box
firefly
CANNOT HAVE:
zoom
flood
blinky modes that are too easy to reach (MANKER~!)
What I want is a Biscotti-firmware Convoy 1x18650 or 1x26650 (doesn’t matter what reflector size as long as it’s OP) with a side switch (could be the standard reverse clicky). We all can dream, right?
You need more than 22mm for tailcap, driver and reflector
Tailcap with pogo pin is like 3mm, reflector is about 15mm, bezel 2mm, LED on star 2mm
So we are already at 22mm
Having no heat junction from LED to head or a driver
4 modes - low (3.5 lm), mid (80 lm), hi (300 lm), and hidden turbo (850 lm)
has a side switch, but none of the other stuff you are looking for, but at “87mm” specified length, probably the only one that fits your requirement for length
So a 87mm long light with 65mm long cell?
—yep
been done
Even Zebralights with pogo pins are 96mm long
You need more than 22mm for tailcap, driver and reflector
—nope
replace reflector with TIR optic
replace spring with DQG foam washers
remove switch from tail cap
Tailcap with pogo pin is like 3mm, reflector is about 15mm, bezel 2mm, LED on star 2mm
So we are already at 22mm
Having no heat junction from LED to head or a driver
==that is a limitation with the DQG tiny - it gets hot
it also stays on turbo only 1 min
The light I’m liking right now is the mcarmy pt14. It’s small and bright with built in charging. Even the pt16 is pretty small. Very nice lights but I wouldn’t concider them budget. Though I did get mine for $35 on Black Friday special battery included.
—right, they are not ‘budget’. nice though. i;d not heard of them. thanks. i like to track everything that is ‘close’ to what i want
this one though uses 14500 battery, i want 18650, has about twice the energy and basically the cells are free [laptop salvages]… also i don;t want the ‘’swelled head’’ feature…
The description on Banggood says the DQG “Step down to previous mode after 60 seconds,5h,19h,350h,” Surely that isn’t every mode. Is it just turbo or high also?
There just aren’t many 18650 tube lights priced $35 or less that are 87 mm or shorter. I’ve been looking for this too for many years and the DQG Tiny 4th is the only one I’ve found. I’d even be willing to go as long as 95mm, but still haven’t found one. I was also considering starting a thread on this just to see what anyone knows.
I have a DQG 18650 Tiny 1st (91mm - twisty L-M-H) and it’s still as close as I’ve found in the last 5 or 6 years, almost bought the Tiny 4th a few times, but have held off because of the switch failure complaints. I keep hoping DQG will come out with an improved model. Lately I’ve been trying some 18350 tubes on various tube lights and I’m happy with those, but I’ll be watching this thread to see if anyone knows anything new for 18650. I’m surprised after all these years nothing has came out to compete with the size of the DQG.
Lately I’ve been considering one of these Sunwayman T26C, I know this isn’t going to work for wle because it’s about $6 over budget, only has 4 levels, no moonlight, memory cannot be toggled off, 6mm longer, and the head is 1mm wider, and with the convex lens of course it’s pure flood. But my thought was to try modding one to a TIR optic, but there may not be enough room.
_
.
This also isn’t going to work for wle because it’s not side switch, but I’ve been thinking about a Convoy S-series with 18500 using a Jaxman tube.
Making things tiny makes them less durable - this isn’t anything new, and the fact that ‘foam washers’ are part of their design can’t be helping things either. If you want a smaller light, get a smaller battery. If you want a more durable light, you’ll probably have to spend a bit more money too. The Armytek Prime C1 has most of the features you want for just slightly over-budget, and trades off on runtime instead of durability.
I know I’m always throwing the Emisar D4 out there. I guess i’m just in love with that little light. 88mm on my sometimes close measuring instrument. Which is basically my daughters school ruler. No modes, quick smooth and easy ramping. Stop it where you want it forward or backwards. Has memory for turning back on where you left off. Quick to turbo from off or on. Three clicks for a battery check. Tells you actual voltage, not a percentage of battery left. Four clicks momentary turbo mode. Six clicks lockout. Eight clicks beacon mode. Five dollars over your limit though.
Didn’t think of that. Looks like the DQG has a 24mm head and the D4 about a 30mm head at the widest with the squareish switch bezel. Could be bothersome if you’re not use to it.
+1
I haven’t checked precisely all your requirements but have also been in search of a compact 18650 to edc. Something not much bigger then a 14500 light but with more runtime and muscle if need be. The DQG has been in my jacket pocket for some time, but as soon as i got the D4 it lost it’s rank - even if it’s a tad bigger. From a few lumen to 3k+ with ramping and shortcuts to moon and turbo is just irresistible!
The only 18650 light that’s 87mm long is the DQG 18650 mini. There simply are NO other 18650 lights as short that use 18650. If one of your “must haves” is 87 mm or shorter, then you have but one option: buy another DQG Tiny IV.
Note also that you won’t be able to get the BLF A6 UI in any light approaching this size. The BLF A6 firmware is designed to work only with mechanical clicky switchies which are bulky. All the current model extra-small lights use much more compact and mechanically simpler electronic switches.
If you ditch the requirements for the A6 firmware, 87mm length, and $35 price more options are available such as:
Zebralight SC64w - 91mm long, 1400 lumen max output. Floody. Extremely well-built flashlight with good UI. Default UI works well, but the current model Zebralights have some programmability if you want to customize it.
Sunwayman T26c - 93mm long. Aspheric lens. Sorta like a zoomie, but without the zoom. Doesn’t seem that bright and UI is awful. Not recommended. Personally, the DQG Tiny IV is a much better light. Not that contrary to one of the posts above, the T26c IS a sideswitch light (I have one, so I know). It has a small metal-button sideswitch on the head.
If you’re willing to go up to 100mm and mod, it’s possible to build a Convoy S2+ triple with the BLF A6 firmware. Won’t have a sideswitch though. Tailcap switch only.
If you’re willing to go deep into modding you could try modding one of your broken DQG Tiny 18650 IVs. Not the easiest mod, but fun and well worth the result.
