DIY li-ion battery packs for Apex

[rlboyce]

Here's a discussion on CPF about adding a li-ion pack to your Apex: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?321961-Lithium-Ion-rechargeable-batteries-for-Apex-at-7.4v Obviously this would immediately void your warranty, but... it's a very temping idea, given the poor runtimes. Of course, you could just buy a light with better runtimes instead. : ) Let's just say, if I ever do something to my Apex that voids the warranty, I'm definitely swapping the AA case with a li-ion pack. I could do some calculations to demonstrate the increased runtimes, but I'm feeling too lazy right now. : )

[LukeM]

That's a pretty cool idea. Did some back of the envelope calculations and it looks like a 4 cell pack like Szemhazai is using could provide ~2.8x the run times that eneloops would. :)

[rlboyce]

Yes, that's quite an increase! That would equate to... one and half days of regulation on the 4 LED high setting. Nice!!

I still have to give the Apex a failing grade for the center LED runtime... even with that battery pack, you'd still only have 2.8 hours of runtime with a 130 lumen Apex. The ol' HP10 put out nearly double the lumens at 2.5 hours of runtime... all on only 4AAs.