Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: wrcsixeight
I'm still shopping for a zoomable Cree based single 18650 flashlight. I bought one cheapo on Amazon which does not impress me nearly as much as the Sipik 14500 clone. The clone when fully zoomed in projects a small tight square of intense light.
Do note the chargers included with many of Amazon's flashlight offerings are junk, and the included 18650 batteries could be capacity compromised cells pulled from old laptop batteries rewrapped and relabelled. Don't waste your money on the kits where batteries and chargers are included with the flashlight.
I bought one such light with the included charger which would take the included (protected)battery well above 4.2v( dangerous) and the battery itself which is not protected as advertised, lasts 1/15 as long as the panasonic NCR18650B 3400 mAh cells I bought before I realized they were not protected cells.
I do have a Nitecore HC50 18650 headlamp which claims 565 lumens. Its output is impressive when on this highest setting( of the 5 intensity levels). It is a level above the clones in quality, and possibly several levels below the best quality lights available.
Yes, li-ion safety is a critical thing, as abusive conditions will result in cell failure and release, and in these chemistries, it is organic fires and extreme exoteric release from the cathode. Dangerous.
That is the downside. If people who buy 18650 and the 14500 lights do not know how to handle them and charge them, its downright unsafe. I don't charge mine when i'm sleeping or away from home, i don't carry the battery in my pocket outside of a case.( You really don't even want to drop these, or even totally drain them either).
