“REVIEW”: Lumintop FWAA – 14500 – Anduril 2 – Triple Nichia 4000K & 5000K [Pic Heavy]

[MascaratumB]

Although I’m not expert on these things, I will try to give some answers to your questions

@jon_slider

thanks for the battery suggestions…
I have an AA Tool, is there a battery I can buy that works both in FWAA and AA Tool?

According to some reports, and even my latest reports, on the batteries that work in the FWAA (even if it bends the spring) the unprotected button top Vapcells will work on both flashlights, as example. The Tool AA needs button top cells, and the FWAA might work with those too, even if not advised.

The Tool AA doesn’t need a high drain cell, so a Vapcell Gold would be enough for it. A black & yellow Shockli would also work. Both need button tops!

Shorter button top cells, such as the Sofirn 900mAh or even the Lumintop USB rechargeable (blue and white) won’t work in the Tool AA as they are shorter. They work in the FWAA, even if conditioned to the drain rate or protection circuit.
Other longer flat top cells also won’t work on the Tool AA as they don’t make contact in the + of the driver (ex: Efest IMR, Sanyo UR14500P, Vapcell H10, Shockli, ….).

@jon_slider

1. if the battery is low drain and UnProtected, the light cant force high drain out of it. Therefore output will be lower, and possibly low enough not to overheat the light.

Made 2 tests:

1. used a charged Sofirn 900mAh (unprotected, not “high drain) on turbo in the FWAA. It still got hot enough to make a hole in a pocket.

2) used a Lumintop 750mAh (USB rechargeable, protected, not high drain). Tried to reach turbo through 2H from OFF, and the light didn’t enter turbo, as the protection tripped. Turned the flashlight OFF, unscrewed and screwed the head back again, ramped from the bottom and it went to the configured ceiling, tried to double click for turbo and it didn’t work again. Unscrewed and screwed the head back again and let it stay on in the ceiling for a while and it still got hot.

@jon_slider

2. if the battery is low drain, And protected, an attempt to force high drain in an FWAA will trip protection. FWAA has LVP. It is best to use UnProtected cells.

Picking the test with the LT cell from a above, yes, it is probable that a protected cell (if it fits the FWAA) gets the protection tripped while trying to access turbo. And then happens, you need to remove and put the head back again.

And also true, it is recommended to use unprotected cells and high drain cells on the FWAA, once it will “suck” the juice out of them.

@jon_slider

3. the AA Tool has no LVP… but a trained operator can use UnProtected. The Tool has a reverse polarity ring on the pill, so it wont work with flat tops, it requires Button Tops.

I am not sure (can’t remember) about having LVP or not, but I guess it you are correct and it doesn’t have it.
The ring is what provides reverse polarity protection, but I would easily use an unprotected button top high drain or non high drain battery on the Tool AA.

@jon_slider

4. generally, protected cells are low drain button tops, unprotected are usually high drain flat tops

I am not sure if this 100% correct because - if I can recall correctly - there are some protected cells that are made to some relative high drain, whether they are or not button top.
Maybe here we are talking about bigger cells, I can’t recall any 14500 in that situation, although they may exist.
These are normally custom made batteries by request of flashlight manufacturers.
Also, you have flat top cells which are not high drain, ex: Sanyo UR14500P.