I can’t remember where I got this. Might have been from Light Hound many years ago. Anyone know exactly what these are called and where they’re sold, if at all?
Do you have more than one? Might they stack to be used to make 18500 cells fit 18650 lights?
Unfortunately, I have only one. And I don’t recall exactly where I got it… I think it was Lighthound (retailer closed), but I could be wrong. The center metal piece is slightly raised so stacking would be possible.
I have an old incandescent PILA GL-4 that was designed for PILA batteries, but can fit two 18650’s. Flat tops work but there’s enough slack to make the contact a little finicky. This spacer solves the problem perfectly.
If you know someone with a lathe he can turn them for you. A brass rod an POM with a hole cut to coins.
There is a guy over on CPF that makes pills and slugs, plus spacers. But from what I’d seen, none that looked like this. I am not so desperate that I’d want to spend like $10+ for just one of these. I have to imagine these exist somewhere, already made, given that this one exists. It’s just a matter of finding it!
Overready has spacers of a couple different diameters 16mm and 18mm with a couple different lengths. Kinda pricey but worth it if you need them. Only difference is they are black plastic and the center button or rod is aluminum I believe.
If you don’t mind doing a bit of work yourself, you can make spacers from #4AWG copper wire and some plastic tubing. What I used is clear flexible PVC tubing from the plumbing section of Lowe’s. Get several sizes, and stack them to get the inside diameter just big enough to hold the wire tightly, and the outside diameter the right size for the battery tube you want to use the spacer in. You could also use plastic bushings, if you can find a size that works. A third possibility is to get a hole-saw that will drill out the right size “washer” from a sheet of plastic, and shove the #4AWG wire through the hole in the middle left by the arbor bit. Lowe’s sells sheet plastic too, and the hole-saws. Don’t have a Lowe’s nearby? Go to The Home Depot or Ace Hardware or True-Value Hardware, etc.
Thanks! I did find their page for Delrin Battery Spacers. They have them in 18mm diameter and various lengths: 5mm, 15mm, and 34mm. Unfortunately, the 5mm is out of stock.
If I needed to make a bunch of these, I’d probably go ahead and do as you suggest. Either find some plastic bushings (I imagine some bushings used for plumbing could work) or cut plastic discs from sheet plastic. I’d probably be better off waiting until Oveready is back in stock with their 5mm spacers.
Dunno if you’re still looking to “identify” them, but the dimensions are about perfect to be able to use unprotected flattops (~65mm long) in place of protected button-tops (~70mm long).
Tried stacking a few little magnets yet?
Seems that “battery spacer” is about the usual term. Is there a commercial solution for dynamically converting flat tops to button tops?
The trouble with little magnets by themselves is that they can become dislodged and short circuit. So, having them in a fixed position is essential, such as nestled inside a Delrin slug.
Unno, I thought he meant “identify them” as in what their function, vs what they’re called. (18500 to 18650, FT to BT, etc.)
I’ve only seen those things that let you stack FTs, like Simon sells. Samesame like what’s pictured in the OP, but lots thinner.
Yeah, I don’t like using magnets either. I got some 14250 cells that I don’t mind using magnets on in the charger but in a light? Nope. They move too much. I’d rather solder blob and rotary tool them off if I ever had to.
If you have access to the proper tooling you could cut down the long spacers. You could make several out of a 65mm spacer. Just a thought.
Understand your concern how about pairing good magnets with nylon washers? You wouldn’t have to get a perfect fit. The washer would prevent the magnets from wandering around if the light gets bounced around.
Nice find. I could use two of the 34mm ones to replace 3xC cells with one 18650, but at $18, ouch!
Take one of those foam tubes you stick under doors to stop drafts, and run heavy-gauge wire coaxially through the center. Great and cheap dummy cells…
How about like a nylon bushing ? or a roller for a curtain rod ?
if this is to just gain height on an 18650 just do a solder blob and be done with it .
After finally doing my first solder blob I realized how stupid I'd been for waiting so long ..it solved like a million stupid problems all in a matter of 11 seconds...
how about wood or .maybe a black rubber plug or thick washer .
Go to the hardware store and ask .. They live for this stuff .
Not sure about the OP, but for me it would be to convert a 3xC light into a single 18650 light, so I’d need something around 80-85mm long.
I’ve seen people make such fillers out of wood and metal rods, but I currently don’t have access to any tools to make one of these myself.
Lightbringer’s idea might be easily doable though.
Over on CPF, one of their reps is active and they did follow-up about the 5mm being back in stock sometime in mid to late April. Their prices are OK for the small spacers, but yeah… for that multi “C” cell adapter, it’s quite pricey. However, if you drain full batteries fairly frequently, it will pay off in the long run (recharging 18650 vs. tossing “C” cells).