Some RCR123A Runtimes

The power hungry Test Machine = Solarforce Mini L2 MC-E



The batteries :

1/ KD – PRCR123A 3.7v - 625mAh - $3.01 each
2/ Solarforce PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $3.95 each [ 800mAh claimed by seller ]
3/ Trustfire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $2.25 each .
4/ E-bay – RCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $2.20 each.
5/ Ultrafire – RCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $3 each [ Ebay ]
6/ AW- PRCR123A 3.7v – 750mAh - $9 each
7/ Ultrafire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $3.19 each
8/ Ultrafire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $2.50 each
9/ DX - RCR123A – 800mAh 3.7v - $1.64 each .
10/ Spiderfire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $4 each

P = Protected / R = Rechargeable / CR123A = 3.7volt


No1 KD – PRCR123A 3.7v - 625mAh - $3.01 each Length = 1.400inch Dia = o.650inch

Started @ Voltage 4.09 Amp draw 1.5
05 Minutes = V 3.90 A 1.6 ...Hot - The mini L2 gets hot after 3 minutes .
10 Minutes = V 3.74 A 1.4 ..." " "
15 Minutes = V 3.68 A 1.13
20 Minutes = V 3.47 A o.93 I noticed a bit of fade at this point .
25 Minutes = V 3.34 A 0.63 Flashlight is running much cooler
30 Minutes = v 3.17 A o.35 Just about at the end , not much output + cool running now .
35 Minutes = V 2.97 A 0.25 Amps start at o.25 but quickly drop to o.15 , id say the batt is just about exhausted .

No2 Solarforce PRCR123A – 880mAh - $3.95 each [ 800mAh claimed by seller ] Length = 1.350inch Dia = o.650inch

Started @ Voltage 4.10 Amp draw 1.8
05 Minutes = V 3.89 A 1.71
10 Minutes = V 3.83 A 1.59
15 Minutes = V 3.73 A 1.4
20 Minutes = V 3.51 A 1.07
25 Minutes = V 3.00 A 0.31
30 Minutes = V 2.71 A o.o6

No3 Trustfire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $2.25 each Length = 1.390inch Dia = o.655inch

Started @ Voltage 4.10 Amp draw 1.81
05 Minutes = V 3.86 A 1.67
10 Minutes = V 3.82 A 1.44
15 Minutes = V 3.68 A 1.32
20 Minutes = V 3.50 A 1.02
25 Minutes = V 3.04 A o.35
30 Minutes = V 2.77 A o.o8

No4 E-bay – RCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $2.20 each. Length = 1.315inch Dia = .650inch

Started @ Voltage 4.11 Amp draw 1.77
05 Minutes = V 3.87 A 1.66
10 Minutes = V 3.81 A 1.57
15 Minutes = V 3.73 A 1.45
20 Minutes = V 3.60 A 1.23
25 Minutes = V 3.46 A 1.01
30 Minutes = V 3.28 A o.72
35 minutes = V 2.84 A o.17

No5 Ultrafire – RCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $3 each [ Ebay ] Length = 1.310inch Dia = .650inch

Started @ Voltage 4.11 Amp draw 1.76
05 Minutes = V 3.93 A 1.8
10 Minutes = V 3.81 A 1.57
15 Minutes = V 3.70 A 1.47
20 Minutes = V 3.35 A o.8
25 Minutes = V 3.00 A o.1

No6 AW- PRCR123A 3.7v – 750mAh - $9 each Length 1.365inch Dia = .650inch

Started @ Voltage 4.12 Amp Draw 1.56
05 Minutes = V 3.89 A 1.51
10 Minutes = V 3.80 A 1.45
15 Minutes = V 3.74 A 1.39
20 Minutes = V 3.70 A 1.29
25 Minutes = V 3.54 A o.96
30 Minutes = V 2.95 A o.20


No7 Ultrafire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $3.19 each Length = 1.450inch Dia = 0.660inch

Started @ Voltage 4.17 Amp draw 1.88
05 Minutes = V 3.91 A 1.69
10 Minutes = V 3.78 A 1.43
15 Minutes = V 3.75 A 1.3
20 Minutes = V 3.67 A 1.28
25 Minutes = V 3.23 A o.58
30 Minutes = V 2.85 A o.o6

No8 Ultrafire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $2.50 each Length = 1.430inch Dia = .655inch

Started @ Voltage 4.16 Amp draw 1.86
05 Minutes = V 3.90 A 1.63
10 Minutes = V 3.78 A 1.49
15 Minutes = V 3.74 A 1.35
20 Minutes = V 3.68 A 1.34
25 Minutes = V 3.44 A o.90
30 Minutes = V 2.88 A o.13

No9 DX - RCR123A – 800mAh 3.7v - $1.64 each Length = 1.340inch Dia = .650inch

Started @ Voltage 4.08 Amp draw 1.71
05 Minutes = V 3.86 A 1.74
10 Minutes = V 3.74 A 1.44
15 Minutes = V 3.06 A o.30 and quickly dropping .

No10 Spiderfire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $4 each Length = 1.350inch Dia = .655inch

Started @ Voltage 4.08 Amp draw 1.68
05 Minutes = V 3.83 A 1.58
10 Minutes = V 3.78 A 1.51
15 Minutes = V 3.69 A 1.35
20 Minutes = V 3.55 A 1.02
25 Minutes = V 3.44 A o.86
30 Minutes = V 3.32 A o.58
35 Minutes = V 3.13 A o.33 but dropping ...

First 5 Batts tested : [ 1 to 5 ]



2nd set of 5 [ 6 to 10 ]






OK did some calculations :

Flea Bay batt pushed some : 676mA to the 30 minute mark .
Spiderfire Pushed some : 619mA to the 30 minute mark .
AW did some : 620mA Give or take at the end , depending on just when it became depleted .
KD = some 545mA
Solarforce = 544mA





Trustfire = 513mA
DX = 342mA
Ultrafire No 8 = 528mA
Ultrafire no 7 = 590mA
Ultrafire Flea Bay No 5 = 535mA






OK there we go : Power curves included .

In order of Tested capacity to 30minutes = over 600mA
1/ Generic Flea Bay [ ?? ]
2/ AW
3/ Spiderfire

Over 500mA
4/ Ultrafire No 7 [ This is the one they claim 1000mA ]
5/ Take your pick = KD - Solarforce - Ultrafire or Trustfire , all just over 500mA

Over 400mA

Over 300mA
6/ DX battery , ??? Dont know what to say ...

i just spent 2 days trying to test my little spare ultrafire things, they are one year old, and on your device there , they would get about 5 minutes , i dont think i am going to chart them

i see your #4 has a most rescent date on it, cool, it would be interesting to see what it does in april of 2010.
mabey they should all be marked with date like bread and meat. (use before next week)

Very interesting. Price seems to vary widely, while performance is closely contested.

With the exception of #9, all these batteries were fairly comparable in your test. Unless the physical dimensions posed a problem on some of the protected cells, this result would lead one to go for the bargains (except #9).

Yeah , No9 did really flop big time .. I was expecting more from this batt , but there you go .

And the big surprise was No4 . I was taken aback by its performance , esp after hearing so much negativity towards anything flea bay .

Oh well ! I might try and work out how much was sucked out of the batts next ...

I cycled 8 pieces of #9 for capacity and the best was only 320mAH and the worst was 275mAH. :thumbsdow

Anyone with a link to the ebay seller or auction?

old4570 said:

Oh well ! I might try and work out how much was sucked out of the batts next ...

Click to expand...

Using the OP's data, here's some expanded Excel info on RCR123's I own, hope it's self explanatory.

Elliot said:

Anyone with a link to the ebay seller or auction?

Click to expand...

They are the generic Ebay 3.7volt batts often bundled with a charger . and 1000mAh claim ...

Mine came from here : stores.ebay.com/cwtco

old4570 said:

They are the generic Ebay 3.7volt batts often bundled with a charger . and 1000mAh claim ...

Mine came from here : stores.ebay.com/cwtco

Click to expand...

Interesting... the size on that battery is 17335. I've never seen that before. I wonder if that extra mm of width gives them just a hair more oomph?

thanks for the graphs

DHart said:

Interesting... the size on that battery is 17335. I've never seen that before. I wonder if that extra mm of width gives them just a hair more oomph?

Click to expand...

Interesting how the photo in their ebay listing for that purple battery says 16340 but a 17335 was tested here. =)
Also, from what I can see, they are selling 4 of them for 1GBP + 3GBP shipping. Equates to $1.50 a piece.

Matt, can you tell us which ones are protected and which aren't?
As I myself would not be using non-protected with most flashlights. =P

And the eBay description mentions 17mm x 33.5mm... hmmmm even though it says 16340 on the cells pictured. :thinking: Had to order 4 just to see what was up.

old4570 said:

They are the generic Ebay 3.7volt batts often bundled with a charger . and 1000mAh claim ...

Mine came from here : stores.ebay.com/cwtco

Click to expand...

However, don't buy the WF CR123's sold there, there are absolute rubbish .

bessiebenny said:

Interesting how the photo in their ebay listing for that purple battery says 16340 but a 17335 was tested here. =)
Also, from what I can see, they are selling 4 of them for 1GBP + 3GBP shipping. Equates to $1.50 a piece.

Matt, can you tell us which ones are protected and which aren't?
As I myself would not be using non-protected with most flashlights. =P

Click to expand...

Ones quoted as PRCR123A are protected /
Ones quoted as RCR123A are not protected /


Matt :wave:

old4570 said:

Ones quoted as PRCR123A are protected /
Ones quoted as RCR123A are not protected /

Click to expand...

Aha! Why didn't I notice that. Great stuff. Thanks. =)

stores.ebay.com/cwtco
Well thanks for the info abvidledUK, but I couldn't find the 17335 size 3.7 volt batteries. :mecry:

Elliot said:

stores.ebay.com/cwtco
Well thanks for the info abvidledUK, but I couldn't find the 17335 size 3.7 volt batteries. :mecry:

Click to expand...

Yep ! I purchased the 4batt Charger combo , and got what I got ..
They were not the same as pictured .

Look at the green 3volt rechargeables there [ flea bay ] , the only ones I can find that are marked 17335 ..

For 3.7v if the pictures are current ???
BL-ICR123A 1000mA
LC 16350
TR 16350
ICR 123A
FL 16340
LIR123A - Dont recommend = No 9 if there what DX sells .

Here is a clean picture in anyway :



I found the email for the purchase : And pictured were the TR 16350 Batts + Charger ..

Elliot said:

stores.ebay.com/cwtco
Well thanks for the info abvidledUK, but I couldn't find the 17335 size 3.7 volt batteries. :mecry:

Click to expand...

It wasn't my info, credit goes to to old4570

old4570 said:

The batteries :

3/ Trustfire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $2.25 each .

Click to expand...

Would this happen to be sku 19627 from DX?

If so, I did a test today on one of these cells and guesstimate these have around 570 - 600 mAh capacity.

Black Rose said:

Would this happen to be sku 19627 from DX?

If so, I did a test today on one of these cells and guesstimate these have around 570 - 600 mAh capacity.

Click to expand...

Yes - No 3 = sku.19627