I'll get right to the point:
I run the flashlight on Nitecore's 18650, 3400 mAh cell, by which I mean: I sometimes switch it on for 10-20 seconds in Turbo for when I need to see far into the distance. That's it. My primary light sources in the field are other flashlights and a headlamp.
I want to maximize the reach I'm getting with the MH20GT. Given the designation, runtimes are not of any concern. I did get me an adapter tube for 2XCR123's, so I would have a backup, in case the 18650 runs out of power. *The beam is almost as bright as what I get with the 18650.
I've already had a discussion in this forum about which cells are best (max output) for the MH20GT and came to a conclusion that the marginal increase in brightness was not worth the disadvantages that came with an IMR cell.
Later on, when I acquired the Olight SR1 Baton and found out about the unusual properties of its stock RCR123 cell, I realized that I could probably use a couple of them in my MH20GT. So, my questions and concerns are as follows:
First of all: the voltage. Primary lithium CR123's are ~3.2V. A couple stacked in series are about 6 and a half volts, which the MH20GT can handle just fine. However, stacking up two freshly charged 16340's adds up to 8.4 volts, which is TWICE the voltage of an 18650(!).
So? Can the MH20GT even handle something like that? In the specs they don't say nothing about 16340 Li-ions, just the plain CR123's. If I was them, I'd place the over-voltage protection threshold at right about 7 volts. But hey, who knows what they did there!
If two 16340 Li-ions do work in this flashlight we can proceed.
Which ones would be better then?: Right now, I have just the cell that came with my Baton and it's this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olight-RCR1...Li-ion-Battery-for-Camera-Torch-/391662985443
But since I wouldn't need the in-flashlight charging capability I should probably go for a couple of these cells:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olight-1634...on-Battery-Pair-for-S10-M10-etc-/311610584982
The 550mAh rocks in the Baton! And I know that nothing (protected) tops the currents this baby can put out. Is the 650mAh cell just as good in this regard? Or am I asking too much?
The most important question is actually this: DOES IT MAKE SENSE?
What kind of increase in output would I get, compared to the Nitecore's 18650 that I already have and am pretty happy with?
If we're talking something like 5-10 percent, then screw it! If it's 20% or more - I'm game!
What do you think? (Has anyone even tried 16340's in the MH20GT?)
I run the flashlight on Nitecore's 18650, 3400 mAh cell, by which I mean: I sometimes switch it on for 10-20 seconds in Turbo for when I need to see far into the distance. That's it. My primary light sources in the field are other flashlights and a headlamp.
I want to maximize the reach I'm getting with the MH20GT. Given the designation, runtimes are not of any concern. I did get me an adapter tube for 2XCR123's, so I would have a backup, in case the 18650 runs out of power. *The beam is almost as bright as what I get with the 18650.
I've already had a discussion in this forum about which cells are best (max output) for the MH20GT and came to a conclusion that the marginal increase in brightness was not worth the disadvantages that came with an IMR cell.
Later on, when I acquired the Olight SR1 Baton and found out about the unusual properties of its stock RCR123 cell, I realized that I could probably use a couple of them in my MH20GT. So, my questions and concerns are as follows:
First of all: the voltage. Primary lithium CR123's are ~3.2V. A couple stacked in series are about 6 and a half volts, which the MH20GT can handle just fine. However, stacking up two freshly charged 16340's adds up to 8.4 volts, which is TWICE the voltage of an 18650(!).
So? Can the MH20GT even handle something like that? In the specs they don't say nothing about 16340 Li-ions, just the plain CR123's. If I was them, I'd place the over-voltage protection threshold at right about 7 volts. But hey, who knows what they did there!
If two 16340 Li-ions do work in this flashlight we can proceed.
Which ones would be better then?: Right now, I have just the cell that came with my Baton and it's this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olight-RCR1...Li-ion-Battery-for-Camera-Torch-/391662985443
But since I wouldn't need the in-flashlight charging capability I should probably go for a couple of these cells:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olight-1634...on-Battery-Pair-for-S10-M10-etc-/311610584982
The 550mAh rocks in the Baton! And I know that nothing (protected) tops the currents this baby can put out. Is the 650mAh cell just as good in this regard? Or am I asking too much?
The most important question is actually this: DOES IT MAKE SENSE?
What kind of increase in output would I get, compared to the Nitecore's 18650 that I already have and am pretty happy with?
If we're talking something like 5-10 percent, then screw it! If it's 20% or more - I'm game!
What do you think? (Has anyone even tried 16340's in the MH20GT?)
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