Does anyone have suggestions for a low-cost 16340/CR123A single, mobile, case / holder? For example, to carry a single spare in one’s pocket or pack?
I know about the wonderful Delrin capsules at CountyComm, but they are ungodly expensive ($10 each), especially if you order just those (about $10 shipping).
I have a Coghlan/Coleman match tube for 18650s, and I know I could make it work for one or two 16340s with some padding/filler, but I’m wondering if others have found even smaller, low-cost tube-like containers for a single?
That’s that I was thinking, at which time, you might just as well tape it and put it in your pocket. Greetings from the county just south of you, by the way.
Just tried it the walmart ones are too short I.D. is Ok
These are a couple of years old maybe new stock is different?
I use a piece of foam top and bottom for insulation and to prevent rattles.
piece of black tape would work too.
Have you tried The Container Store? I've gotten tubes that fit single 18650's and 26650's very well. Polypropylene tube with a snap-on cap. I haven't been there in quite a while, they had smaller ones too but I don't recall if they where 18350 size. Two fit in the 18650 size one, though. They were in the travel section of the store.
Overready sells plastic flip top cases that fit 18350 & 16340.
Lots of “pillholders” out there—the issue is in determining the inside dimensions.
I even found an “aluminum keychain storage capsule” that fits a 18650 battery, but it took me a lot of trial and error.
I tape the battery poles, and tape around the capsules where the halves meet.
It’s just one more item in extended EDC/Bugout bag arsenal.
By far the cheapest and most convenient battery protectors are PVC/vinyl “End Caps”!
They are a firm push fit over the end of the battery, isolating the positive terminal which is all you need.
They are as good as waterproof and to test the concept I’ve been carrying a 10440 battery on my key-ring for months without it ever coming loose. I threaded some fine braided cord through a hole I punctured in the end and knotted it inside. Hasn’t pulled through yet!
You can find the correct internal diameters to fit most battery sizes on eBay in lots of 10-100.
BTW, a warning about the Coghlan/Coleman match holders…there are duds! I just found one with bad threads, and have to exchange it. Can’t expect much for a dollar, but still something to consider when buying them (try it at the store).
Of course one cap won’t completely protect a cell from physical damage, but its a handy way to keep assorted batteries loose in your bug-out bag or back-pack pocket. I’ve used those powermax caddies but they only hold one type of battery each and don’t actually prevent water or something like a piece of wire poking in there and shorting the cells…
For extra protection you can always slide another on the negative end of the cell:
If you’re handy with a knife you could cut out the end and slide them over both ends of your EDC beamer to protect it from all those drops and bumps - not so pretty though…
I’ve seen some sizes in Black instead of Red for the aesthetes…
I use a 14mm cap slid over a 12mm cap to create a basic capsule for my DQG 10440 charger: