C-cell maglite notice

[RedCowboy]

I thought 26650 cells would fit a C-cell Maglite, but they are much too tight, it will need to be sanded with a long dowel wrapped in sandpaper, and my own springboard and switch setup, so I am going to use another 26650 specific housing. I may fix this one as well, but be aware I tried several brands of 26650 and they are all too tight.

18650's with sleeves will fit.

I would prefer to keep the insulative and smooth inner coating rather than sanding down to bare aluminum.

The C cells are 25mm wide and these 26650's are closer to 26.4 at the top.

I was just talking with someone about this host, it looks good too with the fins.

New Nktech NK 9T6 9x Bulb XM L XML T6 LED 11000LM Flashlight Torch Lamp Outdoor | eBay

 

[BowtieGuy]

You are right Red, unfortunately, many C-cell lights are a little to tight for a lot of the 26650's. I've used 25500's in C-cells, for lower power builds, but there is a large loss of capacity vs. the 26650's.
Are you looking for 3 x 26650 capacity hosts only?

Edit: Here is a pretty nice 3 x 26650 light at Banggood.

 

[RedCowboy]

Yes, I want to build a double NUBM44 and need 3 x 26650's in a host with a good switch, the MX-900's with added section I use will work, but I wanted something black and different, I will probably use a 3 x 26650 specific host like the one I linked. They look good too.

The draw for 2 x 4.5a SXD's running 2 NUBM44's will be 4 amps at 12 volts or 6 amps at 8 volts so 3 x 26650's of good quality and IMR/INR formulation will do fine as they discharge.

If you know of other good units do share. :beer: ----edit-----Oh, yes, those look good, I like the fins, I should be able to get a good thermal bond to my sink.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TrustFire-T...765362?hash=item51bbb83ff2:g:Nk4AAOxy7nNTP11g

NEW NKTECH NK-9T6 9x Bulb XM-L XML T6 LED 11000LM Flashlight Torch Lamp Outdoor

THE TR-J12 above does look better and the head looks deeper too. Spec said 7.5 amps so the switch should be solid too.

 

[Benm]

It might depend on the actual torch though. C-sized batteries are supposed to be 26.2 mm in diameter, leaving a tolerance of 0.2 mm that should in theory fit 26xxx type cells. The problem is probably that they are not entirely straight, and even a very slight curve would prevent the lithium cells from fitting in well.

Perhaps Maglite has been a bit tight on the diameter to prevent the usual C cells on the market from rattling around in there, though that's just adjusting the product to accept cells that are generally a but under spec.

One issue is what the 26.2 mm actually means: the expected size of the cell, or the expected size of the barrel it should fit into. With 0.1 mm clearance the label could be the problem: even if a lithium cell itself is 26.00 mm diameter, putting the plastic label/shrink around it would increase the diameter to over 26.2.

 

[GSS]

What's the chance that Maglite's in specific are purposely made tight to keep someone from making the mistake of putting in 26650's as they are growing in popularity over the years?
It seems that its more of an issue on the newer ones. Am I paranoid in think Maglite might be trying to discourage laser mods?

 

[Benm]

I doubt that really. For some reason alkaline C cells seem to be a bit narrower that specified and i guess they just made the light so it fits them without rattle.

Also virtually all NiMH cells will fit in maglite bodies, and they go all the way up to a 6D cell version (mostly used as a club, but still a working flashlight). There is no reason lasers must use lithium batteries.

In fact a 6D might be a very nice (albeit huge) host with NiMH cells installed - >10 Ah at 7.2V at your disposal, and most NiMH batteries can handle pretty high currents (2C or more is no problem, giving you a whopping 144 watts for half an hour if you can cool against that).

 

[RedCowboy]

It's just that rib at the top of the 26650 that's the issue, I think their tolerances are just tight to prevent rattling batteries.

 

[Pman]

I used 2 18490 cells in my C mag host build with the plastic adapters and they fit normal with the correct tension without having to cut down the spring.

 

[RedCowboy]

I can use 18650's with the sleeves, but to power 2 x NUBM44's I would rather use 26650's , 3 in series. I didn't want to wait a month so I bought THIS: 15000Lm TrustFire 12X XML LED T6 Flashlight Torch Lamp Light 18650/26650 5 Modes
I will post some pics of the head cavity when I get it, I am thinking of just combining 2 x 44's and see if I can keep it looking like a flashlight without too much sticking out, or not LOL

 

[Pman]

Yeah Red, it's about how much the cost is verses the wait. It's a nice looking host and it's not like it's "that" expensive. Besides, I look at stuff like this as helping the forum out so thanks for that

 

[Light superglue]

Hi Red,

I know you have batteries rated 20A, but how many ampers do you think the several contacts between batteries in the host can transfer? Are they gold plated at least?

I was looking at aliexpress for a host with biggest head and found this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Alo..._2&btsid=08b4866d-6714-48c6-9e90-138f9a5c4063

The head is huge 88mm! Coud hold 4 NUBM44 with optics, or?
But, to one of similar flashlights there was a comment from a german user (they are very demanding customers and good in mesuring), who said that the highest current he mesured in the purchased torch was only 1.5A. What means all seller´s specs are exagerated.

Here it is:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/NEW...id=f795a9e6-7f85-41f3-b307-d379adbf0894&tpp=1

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi, Red,
Try cutting off the top of the wrapper were the rim is on the battery, it might help and if you need a tad more just sand it down a little more

Rich

 

[RedCowboy]

Hi, Red,
Try cutting off the top of the wrapper were the rim is on the battery, it might help and if you need a tad more just sand it down a little more

Rich

:thanks:

I may give that a shot, or just use 18650's and sleeves for the Maglite, these new multi LED lights are thick, I know they cost a little more but I think it's worth it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just received this flashlight today and it's better than I had hoped.
It's thick and sturdy, the machining is seamless at the extension and it's actually bright, it blows the MX-900 away, I will try it at night, I almost hate to gut it but likely will, or order another and gut the weaker of the two.

It draws 3.2 amps at 12.2 volts with 3 x 26650 EFest IMR cells fully charged to 4.17 volts each. The drop is minimal.

So 39 watts into the driver, likely 36 watts into the 12 leds for 3 watts in and 1.5 watts out of each of 12 diodes as a very rough estimate, it does start making warmth right away, but it is thick and I expect it can run for quite a while.

I know the Chinese stuff is way overrated, but it seems to keep getting better and better.

I will gut it later after I play with it, or I may order the 7 diode with the better fins and pick one to gut and 1 to keep.

But as a housing it feels solid, much more than I expected.

My camera always shunts from bright light and is not doing this justice.

 

[CaliKirk]

Damn RedCowboy, that flashlight is a BEAST! I'd say put a copper heatsink in that but youd probably need a shoulder strap to carry it around! I'd rep ya but can't yet

 

[Benm]

Looks like something worth keeping as a torch to me. How is the throw on this thing - it's obviously a huge light but with all those leds with their own reflector i might not be that good?

As for using it as a laser host: Perhaps you can get only the host from the seller, without the LED assembly. I reckon that would be a fairly expensive part of it, and if they get it complete from the factory they will probaby get some units where not all leds work etc. - basically scrap to them but just as good for use as a host.

 

[RedCowboy]

I am amazed how much throw it has, it lights up the houses across the creek behind my backyard and the trees behind them, my camera sucks, but this light is much better than I expected, I am going to have to find another host, this is too cool to tear up.

My camera simply does not do this light justice at all.