123 Battery Shoot Out

[SilverFox]

Hello Bill,

Yes. The upgraded CBA (software and hardware) allows for low current testing.

My limited test runs at low currents tend to be more in line with the manufacturers claims, so I have not gone any further with this.

Did you have a particular brand in mind, or were you looking for a whole series?

Tom

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Tom said, "Did you have a particular brand in mind, or were you looking for a whole series?"

I have a lux III light that pulls 130mA's from a Cr123 cell in it's low mode, and I am going with Battery Station Cr123's, but wondered if Surefire Cr123's were any better for this application. I was thinking low cost for cells, like SF's and BS's. The light is current regulated in it's three levels of light output.

Bill

 

[wtraymond]

I just bought a batch of Battery Stations 123s about a month ago and I've been providing them to people at work for $1 each for their Inova XO, XO3, and Pelican M6 lights. After burning out the original Duracell Ultras that came in each package, they each bought Battery Station 123s from me and now I've had several complaints about the new batteries lasting only 1/3 to 1/2 as long?!?

After checking this thread, your tests indicate that I should get approximately the same performance from the Battery Station's 123s as the Duracells. But, after four sets of two BS123s, there seems to be no comparison.

Did I get a bad batch? I bought a Pelican case with 32 batteries and checked the voltage on the remainder. They all show about 3.2v. Any ideas?

 

[Bullzeyebill]

I ordered some BS 123's and will monitor their runtime. The graphs do show good performance with these cells, sort of contrary to what HDS gets in runtime using BS cells. Their testing shows Duracell's getting best performance, at high amp drain and low amp drain, with BS cells not really competing, particularly at the 10 lumen and lower ratings. I will report my findings with these cells, which will mostly be used with a VIP adjusted to pull 130mA's on the low setting. I mostly use the low setting with that particular VIP. Output is about 14-15 lumens, as compared to other know lumen lights, using my LM631 lightmeter.

Bill

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Bill,

While I expect there to be some variation from batch to batch, I have not heard of any changes in chemical formulation.

Do you happen to know the current draw of the Inova and Pelican lights?

I have been using re-chargeable's for my most used lights and have not purchased any new batteries for some time. It may be time to get some new stock and do a comparison test.

Another thought... Perhaps the batteries are fine and your co-workers are using their lights more... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tom

 

[Bullzeyebill]

SilverFox. not me re Inova, and Pelican lights. My interest, as posted in earlier post, was best Cr123's for low amp drain, like 130ma's. I will be trying BS cells, when they arrive. I do notice that BS cells perform better when driven really hard, like 2amps. Work better hot? I do have to trade off cost vs performance, so BS cells represent good value. Surefire would be second choice, if these BS cells do not work out, only $.25 cents difference, and a little more shipping, $6.99 vs SF's $8.00. I would like to see a graph showing voltage overtime at low amp drain with various cells, which would be about 0.1C. I would send some BS cells.

Bill

Bill

 

[SilverFox]

Update:

I have added the results from a new batch of Golston cells - Thanks Dae for sending them to me.

Tom

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Bill,

I was looking through my test data and realized that I have a bunch of runs taken at 0.28 amps. I believe I was going for 0.2C and was thinking the 123 cells were rated at 1400 mAh.

At any rate, here is that data. Hope it helps you out. It looks like the StreamLight cells hold voltage higher, but the SureFire cells last a bit longer.

Tom

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Thanks Tom, it does help. Looks like Streamlight and Surefire are mostly tied for best delivery at this fairly low amperage. I am using Battery Station cells, I bought 20, and they will last for awhile. I mostly usre my VIP at the modded 130mA low mode. It puts out about 10-12 lumens. The Battery Station cells, as you have tested, are plenty good at highter amp drain. Maybe some 123 cells, or even AA NiMh cells, perform better at higher amp drain, like CBP AA 1650's, when they get hot. I wonder if there would be a difference with different 123's at about 130mA's? Just curious.

Bill

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Bill,

I have very limited test data below 0.28 amps. The few tests I have run show very little change from that data.

This would lead me to believe that the general trend (as well as the values) would be quite similar...

Tom

 

[jtivat]

Is there anyway to tell if the AmondoTech 123's I just received are the new or old? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks
JT

 

[SilverFox]

Hello JT,

The new ones look just like the old ones... Where did you get them from?

Tom

 

[jtivat]

I got them from AmondoTech but I meant the New Titanium. The reason I ask is b/c I received some of the 123's that are wrapped together and they state "PTC protection" and the cells that came individually do not say that on them.

 

[Ice]

I just wanted to thank you for this comparison! I've been looking for tests like this (and some others here) all over the internet and in print magazines for a long time without finding anything worth mentioning. I wouldn't have dreamed of finding so much information brought together in such a compact form! Just great!

One more thing: There has been released a 123 sized NiMh akku lately. I would find it interesting to compare that unique rechargeable with the "normal" batteries.

 

[bajaiman]

Any chance that Panasonic brand can be added to the test ... I'm sure someone has donated their Panasonic CR123s batteries to be tested...

 

[Osprey_Guy]

I got them from AmondoTech but I meant the New Titanium. The reason I ask is b/c I received some of the 123's that are wrapped together and they state "PTC protection" and the cells that came individually do not say that on them.

I took advantage of AmondoTech's CPF special and bought twenty of their Titanium brand R123's. I called Wayne to confirm that I did indeed get the new, improved (protected) Titanium 123's and he informed me that if they say "PTC Protection" on the battery, then those are the new cells. He said that he has few if any of the old cells left in stock.

BTW-Wayne doesn't know me from Adam and yet he impressed me as someone who was clearly interested in my opinion. Nice guy who's obviously commited to building a class operation and becoming a serious player...:goodjob:

 

[nighthawk]

no panasonic cr123 cells ?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Nighthawk,

I will have to check. I thought I have done some Panasonic cells, but let me see if I can find the data.

Tom

 

[SilverFox]

People have been asking me about testing some CR2 cells. I have no lights that use this size, so I have held off from testing them.

It just so happened that Wayne at AmondoTech and I were talking about the evolution of flashlights and we were commenting on the new CR2 lights that people are building. I told Wayne that I did not know how well the CR2 cells performed and was thinking about doing some testing on them.

Wayne said he would throw some in with my order.

Thanks Wayne.

As a result, I have put a graph of the results at the end of the first post.

Tom

 

[HarryN]

Nice work Tom - Thanks. CR2s have a surprising amount of energy in them.