adirondackdestroyer wrote: "Ok, I really don't know what any of that ment. (Sorry). Can you please explain that to me.
I want to get a Q3 and use Rechargables, if there is anything I should know about different versions of the Q3, that would be nice if you could tell me."
No problems -
didn't mean any of my input to sound (unecessarily) complicated.
Short version -
Both earlier and newer versions of the Q3 appear to work well with the higher voltage - 3.6/3.7V rechargeable RCR123 - as reported on CPF.
Explanation -
the two versions of the (different DC-DC step-up) circuits are essentially by-passed with a battery voltage that's higher than the Vf of the LED -
so the rechargeable RCR123 at rated 3.6V or 3.7V will direct-drive the Q3 -
ie: the circuit(s) are not doing anything and the LED is driven directly by the 3.6/3.7V rechargeable battery - hence the reported substantial increase in brightness levels (and short'ish runtimes of about 30-40mins).
Now note these are the higher voltage - rated 3.6V or 3.7V rechargeable RCR123's in the Q3.
The less common 3.0V rechargeable RCR123 would probably work more like the regular non-rechargeable CR123A batteries.
Cheapo wrote: "So the Q3 gets significantly brighter with R123s?"
Yes, very much so (at least compared to using a regular CR123A in my earlier version - that draws about 700mA) - it is very noticable - so it would seem a pretty substantial increase
- my conjecture - since the 3.6/3.7V rechargeable RCR123 is direct-driving the Luxeon III at about 740-800mA - this is putting about 3watts directly into the LED - without any losses due to the circuit - (unless my understanding about how these step-up circuits stop working is wrong)
I want to get a Q3 and use Rechargables, if there is anything I should know about different versions of the Q3, that would be nice if you could tell me."
No problems -
didn't mean any of my input to sound (unecessarily) complicated.
Short version -
Both earlier and newer versions of the Q3 appear to work well with the higher voltage - 3.6/3.7V rechargeable RCR123 - as reported on CPF.
Explanation -
the two versions of the (different DC-DC step-up) circuits are essentially by-passed with a battery voltage that's higher than the Vf of the LED -
so the rechargeable RCR123 at rated 3.6V or 3.7V will direct-drive the Q3 -
ie: the circuit(s) are not doing anything and the LED is driven directly by the 3.6/3.7V rechargeable battery - hence the reported substantial increase in brightness levels (and short'ish runtimes of about 30-40mins).
Now note these are the higher voltage - rated 3.6V or 3.7V rechargeable RCR123's in the Q3.
The less common 3.0V rechargeable RCR123 would probably work more like the regular non-rechargeable CR123A batteries.
Cheapo wrote: "So the Q3 gets significantly brighter with R123s?"
Yes, very much so (at least compared to using a regular CR123A in my earlier version - that draws about 700mA) - it is very noticable - so it would seem a pretty substantial increase
- my conjecture - since the 3.6/3.7V rechargeable RCR123 is direct-driving the Luxeon III at about 740-800mA - this is putting about 3watts directly into the LED - without any losses due to the circuit - (unless my understanding about how these step-up circuits stop working is wrong)
Last edited: