12v xenon power choices
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Mr Happy
Flashlight Enthusiast
You are probably trying to draw too much current from the Li-ions causing the built-in protection to shut them down. I can't give you a good answer, but it would help others if you gave more details of the light and the set-up you have. For example, what bulb are you running?
Concerning the CR123A's, those are probably going to be under 3 V under load, so a bulb actually rated for 12 V will most likely be less bright than it could be with four of those as a power source.
Concerning the CR123A's, those are probably going to be under 3 V under load, so a bulb actually rated for 12 V will most likely be less bright than it could be with four of those as a power source.
Mr Happy
Flashlight Enthusiast
OK, I think that light is originally designed to take 4 x CR123A cells. Any reason for not sticking with those? You can get them at reasonable cost from online sources. Try the Surefire brand for example.
For a rechargeable substitution, I think you need 3 x regular Li-ion cell. It needs someone else to chime in here, but I think you can replace 4 x CR123A with 3 x AW 17500 protected Li-ion to get the same voltage and approximately the same length. However I have an idea that the 3 x 17500 are a little longer. It may depend on how much give there is in the battery spring. (You want the AW 17500 rather than other brands for quality and higher current handling.)
For a rechargeable substitution, I think you need 3 x regular Li-ion cell. It needs someone else to chime in here, but I think you can replace 4 x CR123A with 3 x AW 17500 protected Li-ion to get the same voltage and approximately the same length. However I have an idea that the 3 x 17500 are a little longer. It may depend on how much give there is in the battery spring. (You want the AW 17500 rather than other brands for quality and higher current handling.)
mdocod
Flashaholic
I just looked up your flashlight, it's a G&P X12 clone/rebadge/etc... whatever you want to call it.
Here's the deal.... there are so many variants of these lights, with so little support from anywhere, that they basically don't get a lot of attention here as they are hard to nail down. The biggest flaw in them, is that most of the places who carry and resell/rename these flashlights, have totally skipped even arranging from the supplier a bulb replacement for their customers, so once the bulb goes, the customer is left with a flashlight that nobody understands, and doesn't seem to be compatible with any of the common tactical lamp assemblies on the market.
In order to run the light on rechargeable cells, you need to get a lamp assembly from an X9 (or Z3) etc, and run it on a pair of protected AW brand 17670 size LiCo cells. It won't be as bright as original, but it will run over an hour and you will have recharge-ability. I'm not sure if that lamp assembly is even available for sale anywhere.... A internet search will be required, look for G&P airsoft product resellers and look for that bulb....
Alternatively, quite a few G&P lights shared compatibility with SureFire "C" style threads. It's *possible* that your mini-turbo head could be unscrewed from the body, and a standard SureFire compatible bezel could be installed, that supports standard 26mm lamp assemblies. You could order a SolarForce brand bezel for ~$12 online and see if it fits. If it does, then you would still want to run a pair of protected AW brand 17670s, but your options open up to the full line of "9V" D26 style bulbs. There are options from LumensFactory, SureFire, G&P/UltraFire/SuperFIre/SuperDooperFIre/SpiderFire/KitchenSinkFire/SolarForce etc etc etc....
If the SolarForce brand bezel does turn out to fit, then the body may also work with a SureFie KT2, again, with a pair of 17670s...
One warning: If you install a "9V" lamp into this light for use on a pair of 17670s, then you can no longer use 4xCR123 cells in it as backup, as it will just blow the bulb.
Eric
Here's the deal.... there are so many variants of these lights, with so little support from anywhere, that they basically don't get a lot of attention here as they are hard to nail down. The biggest flaw in them, is that most of the places who carry and resell/rename these flashlights, have totally skipped even arranging from the supplier a bulb replacement for their customers, so once the bulb goes, the customer is left with a flashlight that nobody understands, and doesn't seem to be compatible with any of the common tactical lamp assemblies on the market.
In order to run the light on rechargeable cells, you need to get a lamp assembly from an X9 (or Z3) etc, and run it on a pair of protected AW brand 17670 size LiCo cells. It won't be as bright as original, but it will run over an hour and you will have recharge-ability. I'm not sure if that lamp assembly is even available for sale anywhere.... A internet search will be required, look for G&P airsoft product resellers and look for that bulb....
Alternatively, quite a few G&P lights shared compatibility with SureFire "C" style threads. It's *possible* that your mini-turbo head could be unscrewed from the body, and a standard SureFire compatible bezel could be installed, that supports standard 26mm lamp assemblies. You could order a SolarForce brand bezel for ~$12 online and see if it fits. If it does, then you would still want to run a pair of protected AW brand 17670s, but your options open up to the full line of "9V" D26 style bulbs. There are options from LumensFactory, SureFire, G&P/UltraFire/SuperFIre/SuperDooperFIre/SpiderFire/KitchenSinkFire/SolarForce etc etc etc....
If the SolarForce brand bezel does turn out to fit, then the body may also work with a SureFie KT2, again, with a pair of 17670s...
One warning: If you install a "9V" lamp into this light for use on a pair of 17670s, then you can no longer use 4xCR123 cells in it as backup, as it will just blow the bulb.
Eric
Mr Happy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Thanks Eric, I knew you'd have the answer. Am I right in thinking that 3 x 17500 wouldn't quite fit?
mdocod
Flashaholic
It would be ~16mm too long. Like you said, the fitment is at the mercy of how much spare spring tension there is in the design... I wouldn't be willing to bet on it... But that's the least of the problems... Most tactical lamp assemblies designed for 4xCR123s, will instaflash when driven by 3xli-ion cells, it's just too much voltage.*There have been limited reports of these configurations working with 3xRCR123 size cells, the smaller cell size sags under the load enough to prevent flashing (sometimes)...
I actually had a 12V D26 lamp sitting around from my first tactical flashlight (a 4xCR123 powered ultrafire), I found it the other night and got curious, I tried running it on 3xIMR16340, I discharged the cells to 4V each resting, in hopes that they would sag enough to prevent insta-flash.
I actually had a 12V D26 lamp sitting around from my first tactical flashlight (a 4xCR123 powered ultrafire), I found it the other night and got curious, I tried running it on 3xIMR16340, I discharged the cells to 4V each resting, in hopes that they would sag enough to prevent insta-flash.
Mr Happy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Oh dear. I guess those lamp assemblies are designed for high brightness and short life, and don't have much capacity to be over driven...
mdocod
Flashaholic
They tend to be ~10V bulbs, which works well on 4 CR123s that operate ~2.5V each under that load. 17500s will easily deliver 4V into a 1.2A load fresh off the charger, So the difference in drive between 4 CR123s and 3 17500s would be 10V compared to 12V, it's more difference than most would expect 
How would 4 times AW rcr123a's 900mah work out in it do you think? I dont want to buy them just in case i have the same problems again, but would the jump from 600mah to 900mah make the difference? Many thanks again for the help, not really technically minded when it comes to electronics!
I was reading down this thread, and I started to think. Hhm, a 12v lamp? That's an idea, maybe 3 x IMR16340 would be good for that? I read further down, intending to ask the question, then I got to this, and I quote from Mdocod.....
There, see. Mdocod has now become so good at answering questions that he even does it before I ask them
There, see. Mdocod has now become so good at answering questions that he even does it before I ask them
mdocod
Flashaholic
I'm not aware of any AW brand RCR123s rated at 900mAH, but if you put 4 RCR123s in there that don't have low limits on their PCBs (this was the problem you were having with your uniross cells, I'm also guessing they were 3.0V voltage regulated LiCo cells, otherwise you would have already burned out your bulb trying to make them work) you would flash your bulb on any quantity, 3 or 4 RCR123s in that light on the stock "12V" (which is actually 10V) bulb.
Again, I'll reiterate, the rechargeable solution to this light involves switching to a 9V bulb from the 3 series, and using 2x17670 size cells from AW, protected please.
Eric
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