Olight i5R with 14500 Lithium Rechargeable 3.7v Battery - A Worthy Upgrade? 

I think you’re spot on. The i5R seems optimized for long runtimes using the 1.5 to 2.4v as you say. The i5T’s lack of regulation makes using 3.7v batteries fun but dangerous in my opinion. The i5R has not reached unsafe temperatures when using 14500s in my limited experience. The i5T on the other hand, does get extremely hot if left on for longer durations.

I agree and do the same, personally. I like that the i3T maintains its two-mode operation with 10440s.

Glad to hear it!

Yes, it’s interesting. I guess the good news is that the included battery is indeed the best for the i5R. No upgrade needed, in other words.

Thanks, good synopsis and helpful info. I avoid 14500s in Olights for now. Little to no boost in i5R and too much heat generated with the i5T. Do you have any recommendations for a good light using 14500s? Don’t know what to do with these batteries now lol.

@@PardonMyEnglish I am looking for something good for 3.7V cells, unfortunately, so far nothing has attracted my attention. I use the i5R and Nitecore TIP SE as an EDC for longer trips, I take larger tactical flashlights on 18650 cells. The second thing is that on your cells is given the value of 2500 mAh. which is total nonsense Li-On 3.7 14500 cells have a maximum of 900 mAh. and usually 750-800 so these yours are some "inventions" ;) What can you do with them? Wait until you find a flashlight powered by such cells or donate them to someone, they probably don't cost much. Going back to the topic of Olight there are many videos where people rave that i3T and i5T work on higher voltage just a question of how long usually the diode burns out quickly, but they don't talk about it anymore. Regards.

Thanks. I think I’m going to try the 14500s in the Lumintop Tool AA. I am still using 10440s in my i3T and it’s still chugging along nicely.

Thank you for sharing. Yes, the i3T’s output with 10440s is incredible!

Thank you for sharing! Must be something about the light itself that limits the output… Those LiFePo4 batteries can be used for thousands of cycles which is really cool. Sounds like you found the sweet spot!

Thanks!

Thank you! I appreciate that.

Nice. Yes, I also see the difference when the batteries are placed in different lights. Something about the i5R is limiting the output as you say.

That’s a good theory. Yes, the i3T with 10440s is an amazing combo in my opinion! Thanks for watching 🤜🤛

Gotcha. I actually have done this. Here is the link: Olight i5r vs. i3t with 3.7v 10440 Lithium Rechargeable Cell ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-orCxZQ2VKts.html

You are correct. The claim on the 14500s I purchased is extremely overstated. Fortunately those batteries did end up being protected as I found out in a different video.

I agree. The 14500 seems to make little to no difference in the i5R -and losing the low mode is a bummer.

You are correct, the claim on the battery is false. With that said, the batteries did significantly boost the output in the Olight i5T, just not the i5R for some reason…

@@PardonMyEnglish Do you lose the low also on the i5T? The i5T with the 14500 look much brighter. Its maybe 800-1000l.

Yes, the low mode is lost on both the i5T and i5R when using 14500s. And yes, the i5T with a 14500 has really incredible output! It’s just that the body of the light heats up to some unsafe temperatures if left on for more than a couple of minutes.

@@PardonMyEnglish Does it also have this strange ramping like it has with AA? I think it would be only good as a small compact defensive light. Something you use only for a few seconds to take someones vision. That is something I am looking for, A 14500 with high output even so it couldnt hold it long. A 14500 designed for 1000l also wouldnt hold it longer than 60 sec and than drop down.

I just tried it and there is no ramping effect when the i5T uses a 14500. Yeah, for short amounts of time it might be a good option.