CREE Q5 LED 345 Lumen Flashlight

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Here's what a guy I have been talking to told me about batteries.

___________________________________________________________

Don't underestimate the importance of the right battery. It can make some single cell lights over twice as bright to use a good quality cell. In reality both of those battery types come out with very inconsistent ratings but are around 2000-2200mah real capacity. They are generally old cells re-used from a battery pack however.

If you want some good batteries get some of the flame design 'True 2400' trustfire cells, or if you can some of the Xtar 2600's from a group buy deal on here. They are so much higher quality and a trustworthy reliable cell which can support high output too.

__________________________________________________________

He was talking in reference to the Ultrafire 18650 3000MAH 3200MAH and 3800MAH batteries I was asking him about.  Do not buy these cells.  They are junk.  

The Ultrafire Protected 18650 2400MAH is said to be pretty good batteries I believe.  I bought 14 of them from a guy off ebay.  

Here's a good place to buy those buy those Trustfire batteries.  

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-protected-18650-3-7v-true-2400mah-rechargeable-lithium-batteries-2-pack-20392

I'm hoping the ones I bought off ebay are genuine.

[TheTwistedOne]

Thanks for the info.

Here's a little review on the XTAR WP2 charger. 

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/875

Thanks!  I may have to get one of those.  I really like the idea of it essentially cutting off except for a monitor current when finished.

Some of the Ultrafires are worrisome (junk).  I've got a couple of UF 18500's.  The ones I got seem decent.  I use them to drive two Taskforce LED flashlights (originally 3aaa style I modded them and now they run on just one 18500 and are much brighter for longer). 

BTW, what kind of runtime are you getting out of that light?

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Your welcome.  Those guys there are ate up on flashlights.  And you guys thought  I was bad.  LOL!  These guys are the experts.  I'm just a rookie to these guys. 

http://budgetlightforum.com/forum

Here's what Zack told me also in a pm from that site in reference to the XTAR 2600MAH batteries.  

"If you don't want to bother with that then get the 'trustfire 2400 mah protected' cells from manafont and the 'xtar WP2 charger' too. You will recognise the batteries by their flame design on the wrapper, they are almost as good as the xtar 2600's, not as good quality/capacity but much better than any other ***fire brands. The WP2 charger is the safest and most reliable you can get for under $80 and it's only about $20 or so, so well worth it."

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I really don't know on the run time since for one I don't have good batteries yet, and two, I haven't really tried to see how long it will run without charging them once the brightness starts dropping off.  All I have is some of these cheaper unprotected Ultrafire batteries.  You don't want them they are junk.  But I did get around say 45-50 min off of them on one of my bigger lights.  With good quality batteries you should get a lot more minutes than that.  I'll have to let you know more when my better batteries get here. 

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

And here's another graph on 18650 batteries.  

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCc2VIhHRrw/TfEPZvt2WGI/AAAAAAAAB1E/sqEYIA2aK_U/s1600/Capacity.jpg

[TheTwistedOne]

And here's another graph on 18650 batteries.  

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCc2VIhHRrw/TfEPZvt2WGI/AAAAAAAAB1E/sqEYIA2aK_U/s1600/Capacity.jpg

I'll look at the budgetlightforums.  I've never been a member of a light forum.

The thing you have to keep in mind with these "claimed" capacity charts is what current draw the test was run at.  In that chart the capacity was tested at a 1 amp current draw.  For a 3000mah battery to meet the capacity in that test it must produce 1 amp for 3 hours.  If the current draw was 2 amps then the same battery should produce 2 amps for 1 1/2 hours to meet capacity.  The thing is it doesn't always work that way.  Some batterys are better at producing low current and some are better at producing a higher current.

In other words this chart is most appropriate if you are selecting a battery to drive a lamp assembly that only draws 1 amp.  If your lamp assembly draws 3 amps another cell may rise to the top of the charts in a 3 amp test.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

And here's another graph on 18650 batteries.  

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCc2VIhHRrw/TfEPZvt2WGI/AAAAAAAAB1E/sqEYIA2aK_U/s1600/Capacity.jpg

I'll look at the budgetlightforums.  I've never been a member of a light forum.

The thing you have to keep in mind with these "claimed" capacity charts is what current draw the test was run at.  In that chart the capacity was tested at a 1 amp current draw.  For a 3000mah battery to meet the capacity in that test it must produce 1 amp for 3 hours.  If the current draw was 2 amps then the same battery should produce 2 amps for 1 1/2 hours to meet capacity.  The thing is it doesn't always work that way.  Some batterys are better at producing low current and some are better at producing a higher current.

In other words this chart is most appropriate if you are selecting a battery to drive a lamp assembly that only draws 1 amp.  If your lamp assembly draws 3 amps another cell may rise to the top of the charts in a 3 amp test.

I think you will fit in quite well over there at that forum.  There are some smart son of a guns over there that's for sure.  These guys build their own flashlights.  LOL!

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

RedForest UK is one of the smart ones there I have been talking to and has taught me some things about these lights and batteries. 

[TRKYHTR]

I am going to goon a rant here for a minute. I bought one of the flashlights that was posted on here. It took about 2 weeks before it showed up and then didn't have any batteries with it. No big deal I've got extra batteries. Except for the fact that it doesn't take a normal C or D battery. It takes a 18650 battery. I've never even heard of a 18650 battery. No big deal I'll just pick one up today while I'm in town. OSH; No 18650, Wally world; No 18650, Radio Shack has everything right: No 18650, they even looked online and couldn't find anything. So I stop by our office and have one of the receptionists look up batteries 18650 and see where I can buy it.....NOWHERE. It is only sold online.
     After it came in originally I figured out that it took a different battery and after a little searching I found some online so I ordered some with a battery charger. The only problem is it's coming from China, parcel post. So it will probably get here in a month or so.
     So I leave for my deer hunt tomorrow and I have a really nice looking flashlight paper weight setting on my computer desk and I wont be able to see this weekend. Sorry I'm just frustrated with this whole process of flashlights.

TRKYHTR

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Joe,

Sorry for the mix up.  There are some places that sell the 18650 batteries here in the US.  I want to add that I want to let you know that good batteries are what you want and not the cheap ones that won't hold a charge.  I found that out the hardway by buying these cheaper Ultrafire unprotected batteries off ebay. 

XTAR 2600MAH, or the Trustfire 2400MAH with the flames are some good batteries from what I have been told by Zack at the flashligh forum. 

The XTAR WP2 charger is the way to go as well when buying a charger. 

What light did you end up getting? 

[mikejd]

I ordered a monster flashlight myself. I just ordered yesterday so lets see when I get it. I went to there direct site to read a little before I bought they ship out of NJ so thats kind of nice. Also the I believe owner of the company seems to be a flashlight junkie himself so that also seems like a good thing. Ill keep you guys posted on my findings.


Mike

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I ordered a monster flashlight myself. I just ordered yesterday so lets see when I get it. I went to there direct site to read a little before I bought they ship out of NJ so thats kind of nice. Also the I believe owner of the company seems to be a flashlight junkie himself so that also seems like a good thing. Ill keep you guys posted on my findings.


Mike

I have seen his lights and ads on ebay.  He has some good ones.  Let us know when you get it.  Pictures if you would.  I would like to see some beam shots.  

[TheTwistedOne]

I am going to goon a rant here for a minute. I bought one of the flashlights that was posted on here. It took about 2 weeks before it showed up and then didn't have any batteries with it. No big deal I've got extra batteries. Except for the fact that it doesn't take a normal C or D battery. It takes a 18650 battery. I've never even heard of a 18650 battery. No big deal I'll just pick one up today while I'm in town. OSH; No 18650, Wally world; No 18650, Radio Shack has everything right: No 18650, they even looked online and couldn't find anything. So I stop by our office and have one of the receptionists look up batteries 18650 and see where I can buy it.....NOWHERE. It is only sold online.
    After it came in originally I figured out that it took a different battery and after a little searching I found some online so I ordered some with a battery charger. The only problem is it's coming from China, parcel post. So it will probably get here in a month or so.
    So I leave for my deer hunt tomorrow and I have a really nice looking flashlight paper weight setting on my computer desk and I wont be able to see this weekend. Sorry I'm just frustrated with this whole process of flashlights.

TRKYHTR

Buy a an AW power 18650 from Lighthound.com

http://www.lighthound.com/AW-18650-Protected-2200-mAh-Rechargeable-Lithium-Battery_p_105.html

You need to buy the button top model.  The high cap models don't have button tops and may not work with you light.

Read the instructions on the light.  MAKE SURE THE FLASHLIGHT WILL TAKE THIS BEFORE YOU TRY IT!  Some of the single cell 18650 (NOT ALL OF THEM) also will accept two CR123 batteries in place of one 18650.  The CR123S are readily available at Walgreens, Walmart, Radioshack...

Some single cell 18650 flashlights use a voltage regulator circuit that maxes out at 4.7V.  If you drop in two CR123s in one of those lights the 6Vs from the two cells will FRY the circuit!

If you can't find the lamp voltage range in the instructions sometimes it is printed on the lamp unit itself inside the flashlight.