We’ve been brainstorming some future designs for our flashlights and wanted to throw a hypothetical scenario your way.
Imagine a scenario where new regulations restrict the industry from using traditional cylindrical batteries (like 18650s, 21700s, or 14500s). If we were forced to pivot to comply with these rules, what do you think would be the best alternative format to unify around?
Here are the hard constraints:
It has to be user-removable (no built-in, sealed battery packs).
It cannot be cylindrical.
Would we lean towards a standardized pouch cell like the ones used in drones or RC hobbies? A specific camera battery format (like the Sony NP series)? Or maybe a modular block design similar to what power tools use, just scaled down perfectly for EDC profiles and mechanic work lights?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on what form factor makes the most sense for the enthusiast community and demanding users if we ever had to make that leap. What would you actually be willing to adopt?
Why would there ever be “new regulations (that) restrict the industry from using traditional cylindrical batteries”?
Is this just a hypothetical situation for the sake of having a hypothetical situation?
If so, this sounds like a colossal waste of time and effort.
It does not make sense to me, they would restrict based on shape, not chemistry, size or capacity, can you link us to actual bills/ policies that propose it?
when you say warning signs on certain major platforms, what kind of platforms? Only the government can restrict, did they come out with a proposed law? can you link us to it? I’d like to read actual wording
yea, either that, or make them octagon or decagon shape so they fin in billions of devices that work with cylindrical cells.
Or you bribe politicians, contribute to their campaigns, to remove that law
I think politicians get already enough bribery money. Hanging them from the light poles would probably make much more difference and save us a lot of expenses.
Amazon is cracking down on their 5-year-old policy of not selling 18650 or 21700 or any cylindrical lithium ion batteries. You can find some but they will mislabel them as ni-mh or otherwise hide the fact of what they really are. You’ll notice that major brands of flashlights won’t typically reference the battery size or information in their listing when selling flashlights on Amazon.
Additionally in the US the UL and the cpsc have issued warnings against using “loose” 18650 and other lithium-ion cells. Both stating that these are not intended for consumer use.
And the cpsc within the last month is proposing new rules to crack down on ebike batteries and chargers and so forth and this could potentially impact loose cells also. This is mostly about strict testing and certification standards. And recall compliance issues.
So there is something here.
You’ll note that all major flashlight brands have already moved or are moving towards selling only protected batteries.
Additionally all of the battery manufacturers explicitly state that these are intended for battery packs with a BMS and other safety features. They also include language such as “not to be modified” and that would include adding a protection circuit on the top. So when a flashlight manufacturer applies their own label on the battery after modifying it that doesn’t change the original manufacturers restrictions and instructions.
Do you know of anything specific that is coming to regulate the use of cylindrical cells?
The problem I see is that with the current state of development of LiIon cylindrical cells, I can’t think of anything that would be nearly as good for flashlights.
I guess there are some pretty good pouch cells available. But of course that would mean major redesign of the flashlight. There is nothing I can think of that has better ergonomics and packaging efficiency than the tried and true tube flashlight. All of the now prevalent “flat” lights are a compromise. At least from my perspective.
If a retailer or manufacturer restricts them I’ll stop buying from that retailer or manufacturer.
If there’s an outright national ban on them then there will be a tremendous grey market for harvesting commonly sized cells from battery packs.
