5mm LED and 123 batteries....

[marinemaster]

Hi,

I started out with 5mm LED lights but then Lux came along and then Lux 3 then Cree....you know the story. I sold all my 5mm lights including the first generation Inova 1 AA. Regret it now. The other day my wife came back from a show event and got among other free stuff a small light with a 5mm LED in it. It puts out a LOT of light, enough to walk outside or around the house. I am guessing less than 5 lumens but to me is still plenty of light. I open it and it runs on a flat 3V lithium watch battery. It got me thinking. I still have a lunch of 123 at about 2.2 volts that no longer can power a Cree. I think a 5mm LED light powered by 123 would be good. What you guys think? Is there such a light? I think it can be a direct drive. Does anybody manufactures something like that? It may be a good way to run down almost completely 123 batt one at a time. All suggestion welcome.

 

[dca2]

Classic 123 battery drainer is the Inova x5 -- uses 2x 123's and all but caves in the sides of the batteries!

http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/5x.htm
Here's a link to a bunch of 123 lights, some 5mm some not:

http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/menutop.htm#19
Dave

 

[KeyGrip]

Yes, X5 for sure. Inexpensive, well made, good warranty, easy to use, and my favorite, you don't have to buy cells for it. Hold on to those dead cells, you'll be able to use them two at a time with the X5.

 

[dca2]

x5 is on sale for $29.99 at my Target this week

 

[Sgt. LED]

ARC GS with 123 battery pack!
That would be excellent!

 

[Lee1959]

I think the Inova X5 is one of the most useful lights out there. It is not cutting edge, it just works, and works and works and...

 

[Bror Jace]

marinemaster, I think that's something you're going to have to bodge up yourself. We have to face it that 5mm LEDs just aren't where it's at these days. Because we can get a number to run on a 70% dead AA or AAA, I can't see a manufacturer using a mix of obsolescent emitters and somewhat-exotic cells. :shakehead

If you have enough parts and the know-how, you should be able to produce a handy light that may be perfect for draining old CR123s while you navigate through your home late at night (I do the same to AAs and AAAs) but no decent manufacturer is going to go that route, I'm afraid.

 

[marinemaster]

Jace, I think you right. I did buy a X5 in the way home yesterday. I got home all excited and used it for a while. I then measured the voltage and I got 2 volts for each batt. So total of 4 volts. It was dim, still good useful light. Then I put the batteries in my SF L1 Cree. Got still very useable light there also. Then I have been looking at the specs, runtime of the X5 it says 6+ hours to 50%. That is great but it uses 2 batteries. Then i guess a long tail for many more hours. I then let the L1 Cree turned on the drained battery. It stayed like that for many more hours also. At the end it had about 1.6 volts. So the way I look at it I already have a light that I paid for which can do the same thing that the X5, but uses one battery. So you could have a second battery and start fresh and get the same runtime that you would get with the X5. I would also have to say even more lumens. A second issue is draining 2 battery in a 123 in a light which could possibly explode or such. I am afraid of that. L1 Cree uses one batt no such afraid issue. Ill return the X5 today.

Don't get me wrong the X5 is a great light, has been around for a long time, it has a proven track record, is very tough, great runtime. However given the price difference one has to think of it is hard to justify me having an X5. I am not going to keep it for the emotional factor. I have the original "turtle light" that runs on 4AA for that I say if you DO NOT have a SF L1 Cree the X5 is a great alternative.

 

[Flying Turtle]

I've also noticed that the L1 does a pretty good job of battery draining. Just don't turn it off when it gets really low, or it may not restart unless rested. The Milky Candle was devised for the purpose of 123 draining, but they may be hard to find now.

Geoff