Gifting an L21B to a family member, but I don’t expect them to own or buy a 21700 dedicated charging unit. I would consider giving them the rechargeable 21700 I got in my Lumintop Thor 3, but it actually doesn’t fit into the body of the L21B (it’s ever so slightly wider in diameter and longer than the F63; seems the additional height might be from the charging unit?)
My two questions are:
How do I know in advance the “true” side of the battery if they’re both listed as 21700?
Recommendation for a specific rechargeable 21700 that fits same size as the F63 and is also a good value for price battery
If the above doesn’t exist, recommendation for another great value throw light with onboard USB-C charging (under $50)
Thanks!
by NauticalCarrot
2 Comments
The product description should clearly state whether the battery features a built-in USB-C port or not.
Your F63 is just an unprotected flat-top 21700 battery, so there are plenty of options available. I’m not sure where you are located, but if you’re in the EU, [**Nkon.nl**](https://www.nkon.nl/en/) is a great place to shop.
If I were you, I’d go for a [**Reliance RS50**](https://www.nkon.nl/en/reliance-inr21700-rs50-4950mah-70a.html). It offers high capacity and a high CDR (Continuous Discharge Rating) without being too expensive.
For a good budget thrower with a USB-C port that pairs well with the RS50, the [**Wurkkos TS28**](https://wurkkos.com/products/wurkkos-ts28-3200-lumens-506m-edc-flashlight?srsltid=AfmBOoo11CZhwyW_ekBCSDkX8h2vfqK_JxPFwa9bc2duoTHKILgUkuP0&VariantsId=12102) is an excellent choice.
https://preview.redd.it/f55tgi85t1eg1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=52976d8d3b5b6f62665b08963cb6f75366518878
All USB-C ported protected button top 21700 batteries cannot fit in the L21A or L21B. They are all too long. You just cannot make them fit. And if you try, you’ll crush the springs, break the driver, dent the battery, or all of the above and likely destroy the L21 light.
On top of all of that, even if you somehow could make one of them fit, almost all of these cells are 10A CDR. And most emitters in the L21A/B are going to be 8 Amp or more, which will tax these cells, likely shut the light off when they demand too much current and trip the protection circuit.
If you want a good USB-C ported thrower, consider looking at the [Acebeam L16 2.0](https://www.acebeam.com/l16-20?srsltid=AfmBOopmjzFzF0g9olpjD7ppjF8NtJUI7tlVor4GJaT4qa29uSS5j_rW), the [Wurkkos TS28](https://wurkkos.com/products/wurkkos-ts28-3200-lumens-506m-edc-flashlight?srsltid=AfmBOopH0V-upxJcFxkRcT1-iD3YTtbzheeeFMr5CGaJylSGuy-S98BY&VariantsId=12102), the [Convoy M21K using the SFT90 emitte](https://convoylight.com/products/convoy-m21k-21700-flashlight?variant_sku_code=26654540-19121584-89202192-19121585-89099417-0-0)r or the [Sofirn SK40](https://www.sofirnlight.com/products/sofirn-sk40-3200-lumens-tactical-flashlight-with-dual-switches?srsltid=AfmBOopumsVmRW4UV4Ng936OM9i1oFlM4wMFGRExZGCzehT9c_ezSMTN).