I have been looking for a light to meet certain requirements I have in mind but nothing seems to fit. I have decided to build a light that meets my needs but the major problem is the host. What I need is a 26650 host (zoomy if possible) from a manufacturer that also offers matching extension tubes. The goal is a light I can modify to run off of whatever batteries I have charged. A 26650 tube would allow 4x parallel aaa (x3 for 3.6v), 3x parallel aa (x3 for 3.6v), 18650, or 26650 (2x series) without being too large a diameter to conveniently hold. Disregarding voltage issues which will be dealt with via a selector switch or voltage sensing for direct/bucking power, can anyone suggest a suitable host?
After a lot of searching and reading I decided to order a Convoy L5. Would have preferred a side switch but the L5 seems to be a good place to start. It will be modded and receive a lucidrv and U2 3c led on a noctigon copper to replace the 1a. I will have to find one extension and aa holders to allow me to power it with 1x 26650 or 18650, or nimh in 3x aaa parallel battery holders or aa parallel battery holders. I’m surprised the L5 hasn’t received much attention compared to the other Convoy models.
Look at the convoy L2 also a non-side switch light. Atm, there is no extension tube (or 2 cell tube) but there will be with the new version. Take a look at this thread: Convoy L2...Guess who's back???.
Also, look at this supfire L5. http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=80&product_id=355
It has a side switch but no extension tube.
I looked at those two and many others while trying to decide. I spent many hours on the vendor sites often mentioned on this forum before even posting the question and already have two of the lucidrv from DrJones. If I was willing to give up on aa I would have gotten a Convoy L4 but I wanted to allow as wide a variety of power options as possible without the tube being too big in my hand. The additional tubes and batteries will help balance what would otherwise be a head-heavy light. I was inclined to go with a Convoy product due to the high regard expressed by many BLF members and the fact I caught a sale and was able to use a coupon discount that dropped the price even lower influenced my decision to go with the L5. This will be yet another major project among many and plans include fabricating a pair of additional pieces to house side switches - one straight and one angled.
It may even provide a bit of a push to finish the prototype double liner lock handle I’ve been brainstorming on for a bunch of unsharpened Kershaw s60v Boa blades I got several years ago. They were surplus unmarked blades for the multi-color Ken Onion model and prototype handle is 6061-t6 but final version handle will be ti-6al-4v. Of course there’s other projects like the ti watch case for my mother to house older swiss automatic movements, hand crafted canes, and the on-going project to build a home brewing kit from kegs.