Design Talk : About flashlights

[John]

How about a side by side 2 X 18650 mini light.

Hardly mini 2 x 18650 is it?    it would be quite bulky  but you would have loooong run time and option for lots of power out if needed. 

Indeed. but it will looks like a small glasses box, easy to put into pocket/bag, won't rotate.

Ah oval shape battery compartment, interesting 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

To be honest you'd be really restricting your market by making a torch that runs on anything but AAA, AA or to a lesser extent CR123

[John]

To be honest you'd be really restricting your market by making a torch that runs on anything but AAA, AA or to a lesser extent CR123

+1

I think any market is hard in the flashlight world as most seats are taken by already established manufacturers including 18650,that's not to say you can't take a small slice of the cake if you listen to and build a light around what the customer really wants 

[NutSAK]

Then, Why not just use CR2?
Small, enough of energy. Right?

Small, yes.  Terrible energy storage for rechargables.  I personally only run secondary (rechargable) batteries in EDC lights.

[Woz]

Oh come on guys. The market for 100$ lights is quite small now, someone who gets a 100$ Chinese made light does not care for AA or AAA batteries. It would be a fan and flashaholic light. Surefire just has one AA light and sells well - but quite some users would prefer 18650 over 2xCr123a in a Surefire light. I guess a 100$ 2x 18650 side by side light might sell well - for it is new and an offering to flashaholics. A really powerfull well made long lasting light might be an option for my EDC needs. Make it a thrower (optics, am oval or 8-shaped reflector seems weird), ad a well made side clicky and a second, very low, setting, and I´ll get one.

I´d love to see one of those 2x18650 lights having at least 400 lumen on high, not more than 10 on low, no bullsmurf modes like strobe or SOS.

[Styerman]

I would not want a light that primarily runs on rechargables , that couldn't default to primaries in an emergency . Rechargables are unreliable , due to operator forgetfullness , fresh primaries are good insurance .

Chris

[space cowboy]

Ditto... I agree 100%

[NutSAK]

Rechargables are unreliable , due to operator forgetfullness

Wouldn't that make the operator the unreliable factor, and not the cell?  I've never had an unreliable rechargable (Li-Ion or LSD NiMH) cell, so I guess I would consider myself a reliable operator.

What is more reliable; a cell that the (reliable) operator has made sure is fully charged when he leaves home in the morning, or a primary cell that the operator has used for short bursts for several days?  In that example, the reliable operator would know exactly how much runtime is available from the charged secondary cell, but not so for the primary.  This is one of the reasons I carry rechargables in my EDC--I can more easily keep track of the status of the cell that's in the light, and rely less on backups.  

I do agree with you when you state that, whatever you carry, you should be able to use some type of primary as backup, and backups should be carried.  I would never own a light that would only run on secondary cells.  In fact, I can think of very few that are designed that way.  Can you give some examples?

[neoseikan]

Hi, Guys. In CPF, people persuaded me to produce an AA tube for Fenix E01 AAA light.
I am designing that.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=230381
Maybe you will be interested in too.

[NutSAK]

I'm interested!  Thanks for the heads-up!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That does sound good

[neoseikan]

People even want a D size body for AAA lights such as fenix E01...
I think it will be a good lamp.

[NutSAK]

People even want a D size body for AAA lights such as fenix E01...
I think it will be a good lamp.

I can understand the desire for a single D cell light, but a D body w/E01 head might be overkill.  However, the runtime would indeed be amazing.

I have a 1xD cell light that I really like for it's versatility.  There are several cells and combinations of cells that can power a 1xD light using adapters:

1 D cell
1 C cell
1 AA cell
2 AA cells (parallel adapter)
1 AAA cell