Hi guys.
Some of you might have noticed that I am not particularly fond of rechargeable batteries in general, and Li-Ions aren't an exception. You might think that my behaviour is strange at least, but I can offer reasons for my opinions:
Some disadvantages of rechargeables aka "Why I don't like them":
- They need care, I do not have that time nor the will
- I do not like chargers running in my home with potential risks associated, especially when I am not at home or asleep
- I'd like to be able to change batts "in the field" with usually available replacements
- If the batts are empty, I'd like to replace them, not wait for a recharge
- I'd like to be sure to have top performance with a new load, and not degrading rechargeables
- It will take a long time to pay for the expensive Li-Ions and their charger compared with now cheap CR123s
- Rechargeables are potentially dangerous, especially Li-Ions and when used in series
- Rechargeables represent one more variable that can go wrong in an already complex system, making diagnostics harder
- The lifespan of Li-Ions seems to be about 3 years top … regardless of the number of cycles
... and all this just to avoid a few bucks per week for fresh batteries .... no way. And I really like fresh batteries ... ya know ... maybe something Freudian ... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
That was my opinion until a few weeks ago …
So … why this post then?
The culprit is JonSidneyB, the president ( /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) of JSBurly's, our very own PILA specialist. Jon approached me with a challenge … he would provide some PILA rechargeable batteries for various lights and I was to test them and eventually try to do the most objective review I could come up with. This fellow is so convinced of the power of his PILAs that he thinks I'll be an easy convert once I try them out … while I was pretty sure that nothing could change the foundations of my world so easily, especially not a rechargeable battery /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/touche.gif
Here we are now … testing the following set-ups:
I tested the batteries for about 3 weeks, used them in-house and on a small business journey including the charger, and tried everything I could to prove Jon wrong /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif …
The First Glance
They look good, well made and feel good in the hand. The positive end is quite flat and almost wants to hide, but otherwise nothing more to say. Likewise for the charger … relatively small with a solid feel.
Taming the Beast
Before using them, you have to think first. Which PILA will fit where and how will the converter and the LED digest the Li-Ion? This isn't trivial since certain combos will kill your nice light immediately, such as a BB/LuxIII and maybe even a BB/LuxV … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif
This was a whole new world to me and I almost goofed several times while playing flashaholic's Lego with my E-Series lights /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif .
Further more, some of the body-tolerances are a rather tight fit and I almost had to force the PILA in, but it worked every time, so no complaints here.
The PILAs are protected cells /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif , which is great because I didn't have to worry about damaging the cells in prolonged usage AND I felt somewhat safer … protection OF the cell and FROM the cell /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crackup.gif
Feeding and Maintaining the Beast
Charging isn't worth discussing since the charger accepts different batteries (up to two) with different energy-levels without a complaint and does its job quickly. It worked every time I used it, even when the batteries where warm from the previous use. The charger won't get uncomfortably hot either, and a nice green light signals the newly available "guilt-free lumens". Using this word for the first time myself feels strange indeed … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PILAs are of course maintenance-free … BUT you have to treat them better than you average throw-away CR123 since they will spend quite some time with you /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif . I learned with some bad experiences …
… that it is best to check for a proper fit *first* upon using a PILA in a new light. The tolerances are somewhat different to a CR123 and the relatively flat (+)-end might have contact-difficulties, especially when ditched by an idiot user (that would be me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif ).
I repaired it with a screw-driver but felt really really bad while doing so … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
The Power of the PILA /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif
Well … not much to say here that isn't common knowledge already. Those batteries are certainly performers, especially in high-drain applications. The U2 on level6 would not reach full throttle, but apart from this one, the PILAs pumped out the juice admirably.
However, they still cannot compete with the CR123 primary cells in runtime, especially not in low-drain applications or low-modes.
Ergonomics
The term "ergonomics" in conjunction with a battery seems strange at first glance, but for me, that is what it's all about. The choice of a rechargeable system should make the usage of your tool easier in several aspects of life to be worth the trouble. While the above points were merely a check-up for the perfection of the implemented technology, ergonomic considerations will be the deciding factor.
… money: while the initial investment is rather steep (you'll need at least one charger, maybe a car charger and several batteries), it pays off on the long run IF you use your lights on a regular basis. For the occasional user I do not see the point.
… time: not good. Effort investment is needed to use the PILAs whereas primary CR123s do not require any actions.
… ease of use: High initial effort investment, but once you've got it all figured out … piece of cake.
… handling: After having figured out how and in which light to use them, there's no problem at all.
… at home: A blast. Most of the disadvantages disappear.
… travelling: Depends on where you go (electricity for the charger?) and how long you'd need your lights without a recharge-possibility. For me it is too much trouble carrying the charger, the spares and additional CR123s, but in situations with heavy use in civilised environments it might actually be less painful to carry your PILA-system than a ton of primary cells.
… safety: It seems that the PILAs might be less safe than CR123, especially when used in series in high-drain lights, but I am no expert here. I personally do not like chargers working when not supervised by me.
… performance: Less than primary cells but quite acceptable, depending on type of usage.
… reliability: No problem I think as long as you don't use old cells … but in the years to come that might actually become a problem.
… versatility: Not as good as CR123, but as you choose your light system according to your need this point can be considered moot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif .
… geek-factor: Definitely very high /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Conclusions …
PILAs are great cells that seem to offer a very high quality standard and a high performance, they pass my personal quality-requirements with flying colors. However, in most important points they are inferior to primary CR123s, at least in my world. The one thing that saves them is cost, where they can annihilate all primary cells … but only if the lights are used on a regular basis.
So … if you use your lights a lot and can accept and / or overcome the disadvantages that come with a rechargeable system, the PILAs are a viable alternative to CR123s and might even be your only reasonable choice. For the occasional user I do not see a point here.
Am I a convert now?
No. The ergonomics of rechargeables do not fit my needs.
BUT … I had to shift my position somewhat and accept that PILAs do have something to offer for me, too, which is using them as workhorses at home to reduce the cost of CR123s significantly while switching back to primaries when leaving my home / castle.
Will I continue to use them? (Which, after all, is the question where we stop the talking and start the doing, thus the question might be considered more valid than the above one … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )
Yes, certainly I will. At home. And I am glad I have them now.
So Jon … you got a partial victory /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif … and I might even stop my crusage against rechargeable cells eventually. Maybe … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nana.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink2.gif
Any of you who are still undecided about those Li-Ions, feel free to ask all the questions you'd like and rest assured that my answers will be as realistic as it gets given my well-known doubts about rechargeables in general …
bernhard
P.S.: a note about PILAs and the Wiz2 driver: because of the cut-off point of the Wiz2 you will experience an abrupt and dramatic shutdown of the light that won't occur with 2xCR123.
Some of you might have noticed that I am not particularly fond of rechargeable batteries in general, and Li-Ions aren't an exception. You might think that my behaviour is strange at least, but I can offer reasons for my opinions:
Some disadvantages of rechargeables aka "Why I don't like them":
- They need care, I do not have that time nor the will
- I do not like chargers running in my home with potential risks associated, especially when I am not at home or asleep
- I'd like to be able to change batts "in the field" with usually available replacements
- If the batts are empty, I'd like to replace them, not wait for a recharge
- I'd like to be sure to have top performance with a new load, and not degrading rechargeables
- It will take a long time to pay for the expensive Li-Ions and their charger compared with now cheap CR123s
- Rechargeables are potentially dangerous, especially Li-Ions and when used in series
- Rechargeables represent one more variable that can go wrong in an already complex system, making diagnostics harder
- The lifespan of Li-Ions seems to be about 3 years top … regardless of the number of cycles
... and all this just to avoid a few bucks per week for fresh batteries .... no way. And I really like fresh batteries ... ya know ... maybe something Freudian ... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
That was my opinion until a few weeks ago …
So … why this post then?
The culprit is JonSidneyB, the president ( /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) of JSBurly's, our very own PILA specialist. Jon approached me with a challenge … he would provide some PILA rechargeable batteries for various lights and I was to test them and eventually try to do the most objective review I could come up with. This fellow is so convinced of the power of his PILAs that he thinks I'll be an easy convert once I try them out … while I was pretty sure that nothing could change the foundations of my world so easily, especially not a rechargeable battery /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/touche.gif
Here we are now … testing the following set-ups:
I tested the batteries for about 3 weeks, used them in-house and on a small business journey including the charger, and tried everything I could to prove Jon wrong /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif …
The First Glance
They look good, well made and feel good in the hand. The positive end is quite flat and almost wants to hide, but otherwise nothing more to say. Likewise for the charger … relatively small with a solid feel.
Taming the Beast
Before using them, you have to think first. Which PILA will fit where and how will the converter and the LED digest the Li-Ion? This isn't trivial since certain combos will kill your nice light immediately, such as a BB/LuxIII and maybe even a BB/LuxV … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif
This was a whole new world to me and I almost goofed several times while playing flashaholic's Lego with my E-Series lights /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif .
Further more, some of the body-tolerances are a rather tight fit and I almost had to force the PILA in, but it worked every time, so no complaints here.
The PILAs are protected cells /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif , which is great because I didn't have to worry about damaging the cells in prolonged usage AND I felt somewhat safer … protection OF the cell and FROM the cell /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crackup.gif
Feeding and Maintaining the Beast
Charging isn't worth discussing since the charger accepts different batteries (up to two) with different energy-levels without a complaint and does its job quickly. It worked every time I used it, even when the batteries where warm from the previous use. The charger won't get uncomfortably hot either, and a nice green light signals the newly available "guilt-free lumens". Using this word for the first time myself feels strange indeed … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PILAs are of course maintenance-free … BUT you have to treat them better than you average throw-away CR123 since they will spend quite some time with you /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif . I learned with some bad experiences …
… that it is best to check for a proper fit *first* upon using a PILA in a new light. The tolerances are somewhat different to a CR123 and the relatively flat (+)-end might have contact-difficulties, especially when ditched by an idiot user (that would be me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif ).
I repaired it with a screw-driver but felt really really bad while doing so … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
The Power of the PILA /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif
Well … not much to say here that isn't common knowledge already. Those batteries are certainly performers, especially in high-drain applications. The U2 on level6 would not reach full throttle, but apart from this one, the PILAs pumped out the juice admirably.
However, they still cannot compete with the CR123 primary cells in runtime, especially not in low-drain applications or low-modes.
Ergonomics
The term "ergonomics" in conjunction with a battery seems strange at first glance, but for me, that is what it's all about. The choice of a rechargeable system should make the usage of your tool easier in several aspects of life to be worth the trouble. While the above points were merely a check-up for the perfection of the implemented technology, ergonomic considerations will be the deciding factor.
… money: while the initial investment is rather steep (you'll need at least one charger, maybe a car charger and several batteries), it pays off on the long run IF you use your lights on a regular basis. For the occasional user I do not see the point.
… time: not good. Effort investment is needed to use the PILAs whereas primary CR123s do not require any actions.
… ease of use: High initial effort investment, but once you've got it all figured out … piece of cake.
… handling: After having figured out how and in which light to use them, there's no problem at all.
… at home: A blast. Most of the disadvantages disappear.
… travelling: Depends on where you go (electricity for the charger?) and how long you'd need your lights without a recharge-possibility. For me it is too much trouble carrying the charger, the spares and additional CR123s, but in situations with heavy use in civilised environments it might actually be less painful to carry your PILA-system than a ton of primary cells.
… safety: It seems that the PILAs might be less safe than CR123, especially when used in series in high-drain lights, but I am no expert here. I personally do not like chargers working when not supervised by me.
… performance: Less than primary cells but quite acceptable, depending on type of usage.
… reliability: No problem I think as long as you don't use old cells … but in the years to come that might actually become a problem.
… versatility: Not as good as CR123, but as you choose your light system according to your need this point can be considered moot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif .
… geek-factor: Definitely very high /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Conclusions …
PILAs are great cells that seem to offer a very high quality standard and a high performance, they pass my personal quality-requirements with flying colors. However, in most important points they are inferior to primary CR123s, at least in my world. The one thing that saves them is cost, where they can annihilate all primary cells … but only if the lights are used on a regular basis.
So … if you use your lights a lot and can accept and / or overcome the disadvantages that come with a rechargeable system, the PILAs are a viable alternative to CR123s and might even be your only reasonable choice. For the occasional user I do not see a point here.
Am I a convert now?
No. The ergonomics of rechargeables do not fit my needs.
BUT … I had to shift my position somewhat and accept that PILAs do have something to offer for me, too, which is using them as workhorses at home to reduce the cost of CR123s significantly while switching back to primaries when leaving my home / castle.
Will I continue to use them? (Which, after all, is the question where we stop the talking and start the doing, thus the question might be considered more valid than the above one … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )
Yes, certainly I will. At home. And I am glad I have them now.
So Jon … you got a partial victory /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif … and I might even stop my crusage against rechargeable cells eventually. Maybe … /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nana.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink2.gif
Any of you who are still undecided about those Li-Ions, feel free to ask all the questions you'd like and rest assured that my answers will be as realistic as it gets given my well-known doubts about rechargeables in general …
bernhard
P.S.: a note about PILAs and the Wiz2 driver: because of the cut-off point of the Wiz2 you will experience an abrupt and dramatic shutdown of the light that won't occur with 2xCR123.
