Best CR123 in 2022?

[Olumin]

I recently wanted to stock up on a few dozen cr123s. Surefire ones are quite expensive over here (about $31 for 12) so I looked at Panasonic (which are about $33 for 20), which from what I understand manufactures the cells regardless anyway.

I was under the impression Id be buying US made batteries but when I looked at the cells being sold all of them were labeled either "Made in Japan" or even "Made in Indonesia". Thats for both the Industrial as well as the commercial variants of CR123s being sold by Panasonic.

Back then the consensus on here was that all US. made CR123s are good to go and pretty much equal in performance & capacity (Surefire, Panasonic, Energizer, Duracell...). That leads my to ask; has the quality gone down? Are there still any CR123s sold currently made in the USA? What brand of CRs do y'all recommend anymore?

 

[hamhanded]

I'm still using Surefire but that's mainly because I'm running off a stockpile from a possible misprint-sale of $0.67/cell.

When I run out of those I'd go for Battery Station 123s.

 

[Olumin]

I'm still using Surefire but that's mainly because I'm running off a stockpile from a possible misprint-sale of $0.67/cell.

When I run out of those I'd go for Battery Station 123s.

Yes Battery Stations are good, Ive used a few that came with my Malkoff lights, but unfortunately not available in Germany. Everything is more expensive over here.

 

[hamhanded]

Are you able to source Streamlight or Rayovac? Those are the only other brands not mentioned so far that I'm aware of being USA-made.

 

[Olumin]

Are you able to source Streamlight or Rayovac?

No, sadly not.

I know Panasonic "Photo Power" & "Industrial" are both made in Indonesia, however I am unsure of whether or not the classic retail version is. All images Ive found of those hint that those are still made in U.S. The reason I mention Panasonic so much is that those are the cheapest to buy in bulk by quite a large margin.

Is there any actual difference in performance & capacity between these 3 versions? A polish seller offers Panasonic photo power at 88 cents per battery, even if they are older stock.

 

[vicv]

I imagine being made in Japan is a good sign, probably as good as American made. $33 for 20 is pretty awesome. Cheapest in Canada I found is $2.50 apiece

 

[Olumin]

Thank you vicv, Id be fine with Made in Japan too, but they seem to have moved to Indonesia across the board.

If someone here has experience with the Panasonic Photo Power im sure they'll chime in. There is a pretty old review on lygte-info.dk, but those were still made in U.S. Even then they seemed to have lightly less capacity compared to the other two variants (especially at 1A), which seems consistent with what Ive read.

 

[bykfixer]

The US made CR123 batteries have built in thermal runaway protection.
Don't know if those made elsewhere do or don't. But if I recall correct that is a requirement for the American manufacturers.

Photo batteries are great for short bursts like a camera flash recharging after a flash, but for steady drain they may not be as stable of voltage as the regular Panasonic provide. ie a high drain light may fall out of regulation pre-maturely.

 

[Olumin]

Thanks bykfixer, thats good to know.

 

[fulee9999]

you should be able to source streamlight batteries, previously I contacted my country's retailer of streamlight products and they could procure a few dozen for me, no issues whatsoever. ( it was 1.69 EUR / cell )

also the panasonic industrial cr123 should be good as well, they go 20 for 45 EUR on amazon

( edit: EU dweller here as well )

 

[Olumin]

The same polish retailer is selling standard Panasonic 123s at 92c a cell, but its listed out of stock. Same item 400piece bulk version is listed as in stock. I have mailed them to ask about placing an order for fewer & will see how that goes.

 

[hamhanded]

For what it's worth, the PTC protection mentioned earlier is present on some Chinese-made CR123 cells like Tenergy.

 

[Robert Crayton]

After some other disappointing CR123As, the EBL Official batteries seem to be a good value. Using a multimeter, all 16 of them measured an open circuit voltage of 3.3Vdc.

 

[Olumin]

I ended up buying 50x standard Panasonics from Nkon at 1,25€ a cell. They arrived today and indeed are still made in the US & expire 2032. Very happy with them.

 

[thermal guy]

I received a used light the other day that happened to have 3 different 123's in her😁 one was a yellow streamlight battery. Anyone see one before? I'm guessing it's older then dirt.

 

[Msf]

UltraLife UB123A CR123A 1650mAh 3V Lithium (LiMnO2) Button Top - Made in the USA and are one of the few I am aware of still made in the USA. Use them in my Malkoff and Surefire lights and they seem to work well.

 

[Megalamuffin]

Surefire and panasonic 123's seem hard to beat. They both have the same 1550 mah and are probably both the exact same battery sans the wrapping. The 50 pack of panasonics I bought from battery junction are usa.

 

[Olumin]

Surefire and panasonic 123's seem hard to beat. They both have the same 1550 mah and are probably both the exact same battery sans the wrapping. The 50 pack of panasonics I bought from battery junction are usa.

Jup.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

For what it's worth, the PTC protection mentioned earlier is present on some Chinese-made CR123 cells like Tenergy.

But as SelfBuilt tested some years back, their PTC cuts in at a higher temperature, which may, or may not, be problematic.

Only Panasonic USA made cells for me and I have some ChiCom CR123As in house, so I'm not really a 'hater.'

Chris

 

[Megalamuffin]

Jup.
View attachment 26087

A large box full of 123's is a pleasing sight.