brighterthanthesun
Enlightened
I have been reading about the 20700 cell replacing the venerable 18650 for a while now. Now that the 20700 cell is out, who will be the first to offer a flashlight using this new battery?
Which companies are willing to develop lights for unprotected cells? Either that or jump into the fray before battery dimension standards have stabilized?
I'm really bad at math, but I don't think that the increase in volume closely correlates to increase in capacity when it comes to MAh. I believe there is a diminishing return but would like to find out more as well. Thing with the 20700 cell is that even if MAh do directly correlate to increased volume, the 20700 still isn't very much bigger than an 18650.The difference in volume between the 18650 (16.54cc) and 20700 (21.99cc) is easy to calculate, but please check my math (I get a difference of 5.45cc).
What is the difference in capacity?
If I were a flashlight manufacturer I would ignore 20700 form factor entirely There is no point having 18650 and 26650 cells. Just to fill the gap?! Pffft
I would disagree with this and it really depends on where the industry is going. 18650 is, by volume, the best cell for both discharge current and capacity. Why? Major manufacturers, read not China, actively develop 18650. If they switch to 20700 then those cells will gain the technology and manufacturing advantage
I see 20700/21700 flashlights starting end of 2017 beginning 2018. I personally like the 26650 format as a step up from 18650, but that's dead. Highest capacity 26650 is about 5200 mah, twice that of the highest Chinese 18650 battery. Why because the only remaining makers of 26650 are the Chinese. Throw the very latest technology into the 20700/21700 and we're looking at early production potential 20 amp, 5000 mah batteries. Cr123A's adapter is a moot point as is 1"/25.4mm mounting rings. 30mm, 34mm and 35mm rings already exsist. I do see 18650 sleeves being made at least until 20700/21700 becomes common place. Samsung/BMW 21700. Panasonic/Tesla looks like 20700 is now the 21-70. Very likely we will see Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, Ridgid doing the same in 2017/2018. Metabo already is using the Panasonic 20700 in their LiHD battery series.
...Now that the 20700 cell is out, who will be the first to offer a flashlight using this new battery?
I missed the original posted question. Who will produce the first 20700 flashlight. Who ever it is that announces. Every one else that is relevant in the market will produce at least one in that first few months. Our current chargers will work, we have the LED's to take advantage of the increased potential. The only missing component is the cell it self. Regardless of cell protection or not most lights have that built in. Car makers don't produce new models each year because the last one was out of date. They do it to stay relevant in the market. To a lesser extent on computers and power tools.
People will buy them. Few are going to say I've already got a 18650 I'll pass.