Xintd x3 and protected 18650/26650

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

So my Xintd X3 just arrived today and my protected batteries don’t fit. I prefer to stick with protected batteries and was wondering if anyone has come up with a way to make this work?

I hope in the future Hank will come out with a revision that is slightly longer and maybe I can just get the body. But that may never happen.

Looking at the light I think the best bet would be to file down the head. The retaining ring that holds down the battery contact plate recesses into the head so I was thinking I could file it down to level it out with the retaining ring. The retaining ring itself can be recessed further if the ledge which the battery contact plate sits on it machined deeper (looks like there is plenty of space for the driver).

Any input from Xintd X3 owners?

2

A ring/shim on the end of the tube should work. Either end.

3

I might just do that. Very simple fix. Only thing is a shim would make the tailcap sit even further out and I can already see the o-ring.

4

And a quick question. I can charge my KK INR 26650 in a standard charger right (xtar vp1/wp2ii)? I’m pretty sure I read that somewhere but I wanted to double check.

5

Fwiw, thick housing wire is almost 3mm thick. I don't remember what it's called, but it was the thickest solid wire I could find at HD.

I charge my INR's like my ICR's and IMR.

6

Alright thanks, I’ll give the shim ago once I find the material for it. I realized the spring fully compresses before the battery bottoms out against the head so shortening the spring should help too.

7

I just took another look at my X3. You're right, there would be an ugly gap with a shim. Shortening the springs would help, but if you're still going to use the AA carrier, you might want to add a solder blob to the contact points.

8

I’m considering just moving the spring on the battery carrier to the positive end and soldering a small copper contact plate at the top of the spring. I find having something on the positive end of the carrier more intuitive.

Then I’ll shorten the spring at the battery contact board and I think this will allow me to use my protected 18650s.

Man I really wish this tube was just 5mm longer.

9

Me too. As much as I hate waiting a month for orders from Hank to arrive, I'd buy a second X3 if it was revised to allow protected batteries.

10

I shortened the spring so that when fully compressed the my protected pana3400s bottom out with the head (rather than spring before). Still sticks out the rear of the light but barely. If I don’t screw the head on all the way it works. I have to leave a few mm gap though.

I think I’ll just wait and hope there is a V2 with a longer body. I’ll stick with KK 26650s and AAs for now.

11

An update as I just really want to use protected cells in this.

So with the spring at the head cut, an 18650 is able to slide in just a bit further and sticks out the end only 1-2mm. Then at the tailcap, I removed the plastic waster that sits between the switch and rubber boot. This allows the whole clicky switch which sits in a brass retainer housing to sit deeper into the tailcap. It now sits further in than the surface of the tailcap that meets the body tube for the electrical connection. I also cut down the spring inside the switch under the copper cap because it was preventing the cap from sinking in all the way flat. At this point I think the protected 18650 will fit but a bit tight.

This still likely wouldn’t work with a protected 26650 because the 18650 can fit into the slightly recessed surface of the retaining ring in both the head and tailcap.

Now I just need to find a proper shim for the tailcap + get someone to cut me a shim for the head to body tube connection and there should be just enough space for the 18650 + a few mm for safety. I might just cut some sheets of aluminum into the proper outer/inner dimensions for the perfect fit