18650 charger and battery recommendation for Surefire P1R

[mikespike2]

Hello CPF,

I picked up my first 18650 light, a Surefire P1R Peacekeeper.

Should I choose EVVA or Orbtronic for the protection circuit?
1. EVVA Panasonic NCR18650GA protected from MTN Electronics, - $9.95
2. Orbtronic Panasonic NCR18650GA protected (I think this is the cell used) - $13.99
3. EVVA LG 18650MJ1 from MTN Electronics - $9.45 Out of stock

And for chargers, should I stick with the Surefire charger or get something else?
I do like the idea of a mAh readout. I don't need 4 bays, 2 is fine.
Xtar VP2 $35 (does not show mAh readout)
Xtar VC2 $20
Nitecore D2 $19
Others...

Last question, can I use an 18650 with a Surefire KX4 head if I bore out the 6P? I don't know if the KX4 will work on the lower Vin.

Thank you.

 

[Timothybil]

Got in the ole time machine and went back to 2011. In thread there one user said using a single 17650 was 'kind of anemic', which I take to mean not too bright. But another person in the thread said he used his with two 17500 cell in his 9P and it worked great, so if you can find some 17650 or use RCR 123 cells you won't have to bore out your 6P.

Again in that same thread, Surefire said the KX4 would work on a G3, so two Li-Ion cells would not be a problem.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?315297-Surefire-KX4-voltage

 

[mikespike2]

Got in the ole time machine and went back to 2011. In thread there one user said using a single 17650 was 'kind of anemic', which I take to mean not too bright. But another person in the thread said he used his with two 17500 cell in his 9P and it worked great, so if you can find some 17650 or use RCR 123 cells you won't have to bore out your 6P.

Again in that same thread, Surefire said the KX4 would work on a G3, so two Li-Ion cells would not be a problem.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?315297-Surefire-KX4-voltage

Thanks. I have some Tenergy 900mAh RCR123 that I use in the 6P+KX4 now. The runtime is not long, and the cells may be tired. I would like to switch to a much higher capacity 18650 if it is compatible, and I will have them for the P1R. The boring out is not a problem for me.

 

[ven]

16650 will slip in without the need to bore. 2500 mah Sanyo cell.

 

[RobertMM]

I used my KX4 with 17670, 16650 and 18650. The difference in output versus 6V is noticeable, maybe 20-30% less bright but still useful for inside the house use.
Two IMR16340 was definitely brighter than both primaries and 3.7V single cells.

You'd do well with any offering with the GA cell inside, I personally think it's the best match for the P1R.

 

[mikespike2]

Thanks. I'm going to pick up Sanyo NCR18650GA and LG 18650MH1 protected cells from MTN Electronics and use the Surefire charger.

As you can see from the Lygte-info.dk plots, the LG has a bit higher voltage early on so that should keep the light brighter. I am not as interested in the last few mAh at the end the GA has. So I thought I would try both cells!

LG 18650MH1