I have an ultrafire c8 but I was wondering could I buy or if not would someone invent and sell an extension tube that fits between the head and battery tube that has a tp4056 charging ic and circuitry and barrel connector with provision to disconnect the driver while charging? I know there are other lights with the feature built in. square cut threads or sawtooth are fine.
why would anyone go through that much trouble if the light itself wasn’t designed like that? I am not saying it is impossible - but since the current C8 form factor is very popular I am not sure if anyone wants a bigger light.
taking out the battery to charge is not a big deal to me, I’d rather use my analyzing chargers than a circuit on board. plus, my other lights won’t have chargers anyway so I’d still end up needing a real charger.
the price point must also be low since the C8 is not an expensive light.
if the tube goes for 4-5$, the charging IC/board for maybe 2-3, another set of o-rings and time/craftsmanship/etc plus some profit it might end up costing 9-10$?
ultrafire c8 sounds good!
It wouldn’t need to be that bigger. i’d say all the circuitry could fit into an extra inch in the overall length, though it would be undoubtedly easier to build the circuitry into a battery extension tube. Because the c8 is modular it is easy to repair and upgrade as well as inexpensive. Of all the budget lights it seems to have the most efficient reflector without going to aspheric lens and throw is excellent compared to cylindrical shaped lights. It seems expensive until you realise that what shortens the life of a c8 is the failure of the aluminum threads so without frequent disassembly its working life is increased many times. I would be happy to pay that price or more.
It’s a good idea if you want it. It would be handy for many, but the way I look at it I’m not interested for three reasons. One is that I watch my LiIon cells as they charge and I feel them frequently for overheating so I can hopefully avert disaster before it happens, can’t do that if they are enclosed. Second is that adding complexity to any system also adds points where failure can occur (which usually happens at the worst times). My tiny “Quantum” has a built-in charger, but many have failed and a fix or replacement may not be easy. With a discrete charger you pop the cell in a different charger and you’re back in action until you repair or replace the dead charger unit.
On threads, square-cut ones last longer because when the surface which wears gets depleted the thread height and strength does not significantly change. With a triangular thread, when the face wears the height also diminishes, weakening the connection. And the diameter of square-cut can be made to tighter tolerances without binding which means less wobble and thus better parts alignment. Given the softness of the usual aluminum parts, square cut threads will last longer before failure. Cheap lights use triangular threads simply because they are faster and easier to cut, so seeing square cut threads is one sign of a better quality light.
Phil
With protected cells there is no reason that charging batteries in flashlights should be any more dangerous than charging in phones or laptops. I like that I can break the c8 down to its components with just my hands and if a charger fails then it is only the matter of unscrewing it and screwing the head to the battery tube directly. So a flashlight should be able to be repaired by replacing parts rather than just disposing of the whole light.
I also like the single mode of my current c8 as I find mode switching finicky, so that is quite rare on more expensive lights.
I’d like if the charging leds could be brought out to the surface of the tube to show when fully charged.
I could try to build it myself but I was hoping would someone here build as many as they want and sell one to me?
Not for $10. At any level below manufacturing it’s custom prototyping starting with a purpose built redesign of a tp4056 charge board to fit in the tube and then designing, cutting, anodizing a tube around it and fabricating a plug to seal it. I’ll admit I’ve thought about the possibility but only in terms of modding, not resale. It could happen, but not for $10.
engineering work could be 50 euro per hour and at least 5 hours to etch boards and lathe work so not cost effective for a one off unless I do it myself. ah well.
The alternative would be integrating the charging circuit on the driver board and then try getting a micro USB connector out. If you dremel out the cooling fins it might fit.
That is a bit rough for me. I already have two battery extenders to fit everything into and barrel connectors and a tp4056 board. I can fit all that in the tube, the problem is the barrel connector is not a switched type to disconnect the led for charging. I was thinking of using an irf520n fet to switch the led on when the light is used, problem with that idea is if the charger becomes intermittent due to a loose connection or powercut the light will switch on and flatten the battery.
Wouldn’t it be great if
there was a company who develops a set of parts that can be interchanged so customers could create their perfet torches?
I am thinking along the lines of:
- tubes thick enough to fit 26650s
- battery holders (plastic tubes so to fit 18650 and AA/AAA cells
in 3 lenghts so a torch could be made using 1AA to as far as more 26650 cells
tailcap with button
tailcap without button, both using a high quality double spring.
Buttontube simple just a button
Buttontube advanced, with charging components and statusled(s) (when bought sealed with yellow warning labe only use in single cell torches)
Driver tube with driver hold into place with decent rings with a wire connection point using screws (like in crew terminals)
LED tube, yes a different tube again pill hold into place with decent rings and connection using screws (so no soldering required to change led or drivers.)
Heads
Several sizes that screw over the LEDtubes providing cooling and a place to put compatible reflectors and lenses in.
reflectors
lenses
Sold with a nice DLSR camera style bag where different pieces could be stored.
One could make so much different torches with this. Just the hands and a screwdriver is needed to change a thower with 2 26650 cells into a lighter AA moonlight torch for nights at the campside.