26650 recommendations

[hughtrimble]

Hi all,

I have an umbilical dive torch which runs on two batteries (Mares XR LC 26650 5000mAh 3.7V) driving a 2000 lumen torch for just over 2hrs. They measure in at 69x26mm

I'm looking for a couple of extra batteries as these take a long time to charge, maybe 12 hrs with the supplied charger, and I'd like spares in case there's premature drain.

Questions:

1. I don't know whether to get protected or unprotected cells
2. I don't know what Amp rating to buy
3. Should I get greater mAh cells or will they be different dimensions?
4. Suggested brand? I've looked at Fogstar but they are no longer carrying 26650 cells. The batteries from Mares (a dive brand) are £30 each and that seems like a ripoff given they are very likely to be a rebadge job and given the cells I'm seeing online from e.g. Xtar are about £10-15.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[misolgit]

check out Fogstar

 

[misolgit]

Hi all,

I have an umbilical dive torch which runs on two batteries (Mares XR LC 26650 5000mAh 3.7V) driving a 2000 lumen torch for just over 2hrs. They measure in at 69x26mm

I'm looking for a couple of extra batteries as these take a long time to charge, maybe 12 hrs with the supplied charger, and I'd like spares in case there's premature drain.

Questions:

1. I don't know whether to get protected or unprotected cells
2. I don't know what Amp rating to buy
3. Should I get greater mAh cells or will they be different dimensions?
4. Suggested brand? I've looked at Fogstar but they are no longer carrying 26650 cells. The batteries from Mares (a dive brand) are £30 each and that seems like a ripoff given they are very likely to be a rebadge job and given the cells I'm seeing online from e.g. Xtar are about £10-15.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

soshine batteries from Ecolux

 

[Nice65]

I’d have said Fogstar, as I have a couple of them driving Emisar torches. Fogstar increasingly aren’t carrying many of the odd sizes just as torches are starting to use them more.

XTAR have a good rep over on BLF, both the chargers and batteries. I wouldn’t buy re-wraps, unless it’s from Fogstar, you just don’t know what you’re getting. Mind you, if a cell is going to vent with fire, underwater is ideallywhere you’d want it to happen

Any idea if your dive light runs in series or parallel? Like at 3.7V or around 8V at the led? I’ll have a look on BLF later, see if there are any other options available UK.

 

[hughtrimble]

I’d have said Fogstar, as I have a couple of them driving Emisar torches. Fogstar increasingly aren’t carrying many of the odd sizes just as torches are starting to use them more.

XTAR have a good rep over on BLF, both the chargers and batteries. I wouldn’t buy re-wraps, unless it’s from Fogstar, you just don’t know what you’re getting. Mind you, if a cell is going to vent with fire, underwater is ideallywhere you’d want it to happen

Any idea if your dive light runs in series or parallel? Like at 3.7V or around 8V at the led? I’ll have a look on BLF later, see if there are any other options available UK.

They stack vertically on top of one another so I'm assuming it can only be series? This is the head they're powering: 2*Cree XM-L2 (U4)

Protected cells sounds better...! But no idea if the stock ones are, also not sure whether they're high draw or not.

 

[Jared]

A Cree led has a max forward current of around 3A.
Any 26650 should be capable of providing enough continous current. So would buy the highest capacity available.

Ecolux direct is good for the odd sizes.

26650 Batteries

Shop Now: 26650 Battery 3.7V Lithium Li-ion Rechargeable IMR 26650 Top Brand Batteries. Free case. Fast Cheap Next Day Delivery across all UK. Orders placed before 1PM will be dispatched the same day!

www.ecoluxshopdirect.co.uk

And has the protected XTARs in stock.

 

[hughtrimble]

A Cree led has a max forward current of around 3A.
Any 26650 should be capable of providing enough continous current. So would buy the highest capacity available.

Ecolux direct is good for the odd sizes.

26650 Batteries

Shop Now: 26650 Battery 3.7V Lithium Li-ion Rechargeable IMR 26650 Top Brand Batteries. Free case. Fast Cheap Next Day Delivery across all UK. Orders placed before 1PM will be dispatched the same day!

www.ecoluxshopdirect.co.uk

And has the protected XTARs in stock.

Many thanks Jared. Will the higher capacity cells be physically larger? The listed specs actually suggest they're .3 mm shorter than the lower capacity (but that resolution suggests measurement error) so I'm not putting much faith in their measurements.

Xtar 26650 6000mAh 3.7V Battery Protected

Xtar 26650 6000mAh 3.6V Battery Protected26650 3.7V Li-ion Rechargeable Battery for Torch, LightContinuous Discharge: 10A, Energy: 21.6Wh, Version: Button topOvercharge, Discharge, Short Circuit and Overload Protection. Read more in Product Details.

www.ecoluxshopdirect.co.uk

6000 mAh
Battery Size: ∅26.10 mm x 69.30 mm

Xtar 26650 5200mAh 3.6V Battery Protected

Xtar 26650 5200mAh 3.6V Battery Protected26650 Battery for Torch, Light, Laser, Diving TorchModel: X266505200PCB, Rechargeable, Power: 35WContinuous Discharge: 10A, Energy: 18.72WhFree case with each pair of batteriesRead more in product details.

www.ecoluxshopdirect.co.uk

5000 mAh
Battery Size: ∅26.10 mm x 69.60 mm

 

[Jared]

The trade tends to be higher capacity cells have lower continuous current discharge, and lower capacity cells have higher continuous discharge. And not related to size that much.

But for running a couple of leds, it shouldn't matter.

The only problem that could be size related is unprotected vs protected cells. Protected cells have PCB on top that can make them a few mm taller.

If the height is roughly same has your current batteries, should be fine. Probably a spring contact in the battery holder to account for minor difference.

PSA: don't measure the height of cell with a metal caliper/micrometer, will short and ruin your mic.

 

[hughtrimble]

check out Fogstar

Already did, but they stopped carrying these batteries

 

[hughtrimble]

The trade tends to be higher capacity cells have lower continuous current discharge, and lower capacity cells have higher continuous discharge. And not related to size that much.

But for running a couple of leds, it shouldn't matter.

The only problem that could be size related is unprotected vs protected cells. Protected cells have PCB on top that can make them a few mm taller.

If the height is roughly same has your current batteries, should be fine. Probably a spring contact in the battery holder to account for minor difference.

PSA: don't measure the height of cell with a metal caliper/micrometer, will short and ruin your mic.

Thank you and will do!

 

[Nice65]

Nkon also stock a fair few, the Keeppower are supposed to be good. I wouldn’t worry too much about protected cells. The protection circuit is to prevent the battery running below 2.8V, they don’t like being fully discharged. That’s the only protection you get, and it can leave you suddenly in the dark when the circuit is broken. As these batteries are such high capacity, they should be ok for several hours runtime and are best kept topped up after use anyway.

If you don’t have a charger, I’d get one like an XTAR VC2 so you can keep an eye on both being ‘married’.

Search results for: '26650'

www.nkon.nl

There’s a BLF thread about UK based 26650 batteries here. Protected don’t seem popular, and there’s a pic of a re-wrap that actually contained an 18650 inside a larger casing

Where to buy 26650 which ones? uk

Hi guys, Uk lightaholic here, ive brought multiple 18650s but the site i usually get them from doesn’t sell 26650, Just treated myself to an Astrolux EA04 and realised i’m not sure of a reputable site ot buy them from! I’ve found these links below anyone have any better or these good to go...

budgetlightforum.com

 

[hughtrimble]

Nkon also stock a fair few, the Keeppower are supposed to be good. I wouldn’t worry too much about protected cells. The protection circuit is to prevent the battery running below 2.8V, they don’t like being fully discharged. That’s the only protection you get, and it can leave you suddenly in the dark when the circuit is broken. As these batteries are such high capacity, they should be ok for several hours runtime and are best kept topped up after use anyway.

If you don’t have a charger, I’d get one like an XTAR VC2 so you can keep an eye on both being ‘married’.

Search results for: '26650'

www.nkon.nl

There’s a BLF thread about UK based 26650 batteries here. Protected don’t seem popular, and there’s a pic of a re-wrap that actually contained an 18650 inside a larger casing

Where to buy 26650 which ones? uk

Hi guys, Uk lightaholic here, ive brought multiple 18650s but the site i usually get them from doesn’t sell 26650, Just treated myself to an Astrolux EA04 and realised i’m not sure of a reputable site ot buy them from! I’ve found these links below anyone have any better or these good to go...

budgetlightforum.com

Cheers Nice, much appreciated.

I have a Pila IBC charger already for 18650 and rcr123 cells (which I quite possibly bought after your and some of the other Jamies' recommendations on BB), so getting one that can do those plus the 26650 would be handy.

Xtar seem to make an endless variety of chargers, and many of them seem to have very similar specifications, but with minor differences depending on the site doing the selling (typical).

This one looks good, perhaps an updated version of the VC2 you listed but with a slightly different readout and also USB-C

Xtar VC2SL Battery Charger

Xtar VC2SL Battery ChargerXTAR VC2SL Compatible with: 10440/14430/14500/14650/16340/17335/17500/17670/1835018490/ 18500/18650/18700/22650/20700/21700/20650/25500/26650/326503.6V / 3.7V Li-ion / IMR / INR / ICR / NCR Rechargeable BatteriesAAAA, AAA, AA, A, SC, C / D Ni-MH/Ni-CD 1.5V Rechargeable...

www.ecoluxshopdirect.co.uk

 

[MrEd]

I have had good results with xtar batteries, over several years, I also found charging them on my nitecore charger was a bit quicker than the proprietary charger that came with my torch

 

[Nice65]

Yes, the VC2SL is the one I have. You can slam NiMh in it too and it’ll recognise them.

Nice feature is it’ll go gentle on smaller batteries or those at low charge.

 

[Wullie]

I use Keeppower 16650 (protected) in several Malkoff and Surefire lights and recommend the brand . Highly regarded on CPF as well.

 

[hughtrimble]

I use Keeppower 16650 (protected) in several Malkoff and Surefire lights and recommend the brand . Highly regarded on CPF as well.

I ordered the Xtar ones along with the VC2SL charger on Saturday, but good to know that there are other reputable makes out there, thank you for the recommendation.

 

[Wullie]

I ordered the Xtar ones along with the VC2SL charger on Saturday, but good to know that there are other reputable makes out there, thank you for the recommendation.

Solid choices, please report back on how they work together.
I use the Xtar MC1+ for my 16550 batts, always worked well.

 

[hughtrimble]

Solid choices, please report back on how they work together.
I use the Xtar MC1+ for my 16550 batts, always worked well.

They've arrived, speedy delivery from the company. I've been charging the two 26650 in the VC2SL but they simply won't go above 0.5 A even though the charger and the cells are both capable of up to 1 A or 2 A.

I contacted Ecolux and the owner called back right away; if I discharge them and recharge and they still don't go above 0.5 A he wants to know, so that's good customer service thus far.

 

[Nice65]

They've arrived, speedy delivery from the company. I've been charging the two 26650 in the VC2SL but they simply won't go above 0.5 A even though the charger and the cells are both capable of up to 1 A or 2 A.

I contacted Ecolux and the owner called back right away; if I discharge them and recharge and they still don't go above 0.5 A he wants to know, so that's good customer service thus far.

What voltage are they reading? Amps is just how much juice the charger is supplying. If the voltage is low the charger starts them off at low amps. Mine are reading 4V and charging at 1 amp.

 

[hughtrimble]

What voltage are they reading? Amps is just how much juice the charger is supplying. If the voltage is low the charger starts them off at low amps. Mine are reading 4V and charging at 1 amp.

View attachment 93234

They were at 4.1-4.2 V with 0.5 A. They were charging for about 9 hours and whenever I checked, it was 0.5 A. I'll discharge them and retry as the Ecolux owner suggested. If this continues I'll discuss what to return, whether it's the batteries or the charger.