18350 lights from Modlite and Cloud Defensive are coming this year. Why should you care?
Light and battery technology is always evolving. Large names such as Surefire and Streamlight dominate the market, but smaller boutique manufacturers such as Modlite and Cloud Defensive are making inroads with their high quality, high output lights. While Modlite and Cloud Defensive have been providing either handheld or rifle lights, or both, they have both announced their pistol lights. These pistol lights will use smaller rechargeable batteries, specifically the 18350.
CR123A Batteries
Full size and compact pistol lights have typically one or two CR123A batteries. These batteries would be found in a huge list of lights, including the Surefire X300U, Streamlight TLR-1HL, Streamlight TLR-7A, Streamlight TLR-7 Sub, Streamlight TLR-8, Inforce APLc, Inforce Wild 2, Crimson Trace CWM-208, Sig Sauer Foxtrot1x, Nighstick TWM-850XL, Nightstick TCM-550XL, plus a myriad of lights you can find on Amazon, eBay, or from other manufacturers. The CR123A batteries are compact, have a long life, withstand temperature extremes, and have a long shelf life. CR123A batteries are rated for 3v, continuous 1.5a, and pulse 3.5a, and are not rechargeable. The batteries we buy typically have a storage capacity of 1550mAh.
Manufacturers are constantly looking for an “edge.” This is good for us, as we get higher quality, higher performance, smaller sizes, and reduced cost. Light runtime, light output, light size, and light features can be improved, but light designers need the batteries to support their efforts. Higher output and rechargeability are two current trends in the pistol light industry. A high output light helps the operator better detect and control threats. Rechargeability means lower operating cost because batteries do not need to be replaced as often.
18350 Batteries
18350 batteries have been around and in use since 2005 (or earlier — I cannot pinpoint an exact date). Using international cell size designations, they are 18mm wide and 35.0mm long. Today, most 18350 batteries utilize lithium ion, which is the same stuff powering Tesla Model S. When packed into an 18350 battery, the primary benefit is the ability to pull energy from the battery extremely quickly — translating to a brighter light. In addition, they can be recharged.
Advantage #1: Brightness
18350 batteries can allow a continuous draw of 10a, with 15a pulse draw. That’s a huge difference compared to the CR123A, which allows 1.5a/3.5a. The higher continuous draw allows the 18350 to provide much higher current to the LED, which can then turn that into a brighter output, either by increasing the PWM duty cycle, or by simply having a LED that draws more current.
Advantage #2: Recharging
The other obvious benefit of these batteries is that they are rechargeable, reducing long term cost. Unlike proprietary or sealed batteries as found in certain Olights or the Surefire XSC, these batteries can be sourced and kept charged as spares.
Offering from Modlite
Modlite has announced their PL-350. We found a description here at Milspec Retail.
The PL-350 has a staggering 1350 lumens and 54,000 candela. It’s also interesting to see that Modlite chose a 5700k color tint.
Offering from Cloud Defensive
Cloud Defensive has also announced their 18350 light via Instagram, as follows:
This light appears to be a little shorter than the Modlite / X300, and comes in at slightly less output, at 50,000 candela and 1100 lumens.
We are excited to see lights from both manufacturers. Each of these lights should advance pistol lights a major step forward. The 18350 batteries help support these advances.
Are There Available Lights That Run 18350 Batteries?
We found one light, that runs on 18350 batteries available for purchase. It’s the ThruNite TW10. The spec sheets show 900 lumens, and 3960 candela. The lumen output is decent, right in the range of other full size lights. However, candela is significantly lower… by a factor of at least 3 of any of the other full size lights. Runtime on this light is long — over two hours. While I don’t think this light will is a professional level lights, such as the Modlite or Cloud Defensive above. However, I do think the TW10 might give us a glimpse into the future of pistol lights. We plan to test one out and see what we can learn.
Yes, We Care about 18350
In short, 18350 appears to be a key piece of the pistol light future. It provides higher current capability and rechargeability, supporting the next generation of high output lights, as well as supporting the current trend of rechargeability. We also like that 18350 lights can be removed and fresh ones swapped in when necessary — such as when running a low-light class.
