AAA and the ROP??

[Robocop]

I was just noticing that I have built up a huge amount of AAA batteries over the years and am finding a hard time using them up. I was curious if there are any type of cylinder adapters to maybe arrange several AAA cells the same way the adapter works on the AA cells for the ROP mod.

I tried a search and found it hard to use multiple words so I got nothing....I know the AAA has much less capacity however has anyone tried to stuff a bunch into various Mag hosts....would it even be worth the effort.

It seems to me that one could get much more voltage with many more cells using the smaller AAA....you know like rather than having a 3-AA to D cell adapter maybe a 6-AAA to D adapter or however many would fit. Has anything like this been done using the AAA batteries? My Fenix, Peaks and Arcs seem to sip at a battery forever so my AAA stash is huge....hate to see them slowly go bad from no usage.

 

[Valolammas]

Many 3AAA lights come with detachable battery carriers. I don't know if you can buy them somewhere without the lights. I also once toyed with the idea of stuffing a couple of these cell carriers into a 2C Mag, but I figured that AAAs have so little capacity, that any bulb hotter than the standard Mag offerings would put too much strain on them. Although, if your objective was to just use them up, the ROP bulbs would sure do it fast.

But maybe if you can build an adapter that uses lots of AAAs and runs some of them in parallel, it might work. Don't know if would be of any use, but at least it would be special, right?

 

[lctorana]

I use 6AAA in 2 x 3AAA:1C holders in a cheap 2C plastic torch with a 6-cell Magstar Xenon, on my electronics workbench.

Nice and bright, and plastic.

Not a hotwire, as the bulb works at its rated voltage, but uses AAA nevertheless.

 

[LEDninja]

The 3AAA to C adapters in cheap LED lights vary from 52 to 60 mm most at 55 mm. Does not work on a Mag 2C (unless you trim the spring).

Actually the CPF member that found the short one (in a crap 3LED torch at the dollar store) was successful in using them in a 2C Mag.

 

[mdocod]

You might consider picking up a 3AAA powered 28LED job from qualitychinagoods or ebay or DX or something like that, it'll help you eat up those cell in no time flat.

I have thought about making 6AAA>2C adapters, just don't see a market for it, when you can put 2x18500 li-ion cells there for a lot less hassle and have double the capacity.

 

[MikeSalt]

I think you may be confining yourselves to the extremities of the box. Think outside the box. A Mag may be an ideal host in most situations, but a 6AAA adapter will fit into something smaller. If you pick a good host, with a small head, you could make a truly EDC-able ROP. Runtime will be of the order of 9 minutes, but hey!!!

 

[Robocop]

Actually I was more curious as to how many AAA cells would fit into a D size carrier. I also have maybe 20 of the rechargeable AAA cells and at least 75 standard AAA alkaline cells. I know runtime would suffer however more power could be had by using more 1.5v cells in the same size package.

 

[gswitter]

Actually I was more curious as to how many AAA cells would fit into a D size carrier.

Something like a mini-Elephant?

I had a few minutes to kill, so I rubber-banded seven Eneloop AAA's together, and they fit in a D cell body with room to spare. I don't know how Eneloops compare to other AAA's, but Eneloop AA's are on the fat side.

 

[rhuck60]

Actually I was more curious as to how many AAA cells would fit into a D size carrier. I also have maybe 20 of the rechargeable AAA cells and at least 75 standard AAA alkaline cells. I know runtime would suffer however more power could be had by using more 1.5v cells in the same size package.

Your post made me wonder. So:
I got out a bunch of AAA Nimh chargeables and one of my Eneloop AA to D adapters. I found that 7 would fit inside the OD of the adapter in a 2/3/2 arrangement (or 6 around 1) like this:

..O O
O O O
..O O

Not sure what kind of series/parallel arrangement you cold make of that. Maybe it would be best to use a 2/2/2 arrangement like this:

..O O
O....O
..O O

That would give exactly 2X the number of AA in an adapter. Seems to me that might be the best bet. It might not be worth the trouble to build the 3 series/2 parallel adapters you would need.

With Sanyo eneloops you would still only have 1600 mAh for AAA in parallel compared to 2000 mAh for 1 AA.

Also not sure how much the little AAA eneloop cell will sag under load. Alkaline primaries I think will never make it.

Hope this helps.

 

[rhuck60]

I use 6AAA in 2 x 3AAA:1C holders in a cheap 2C plastic torch with a 6-cell Magstar Xenon, on my electronics workbench.

Nice and bright, and plastic.

Not a hotwire, as the bulb works at its rated voltage, but uses AAA nevertheless.

Could you quote a source for those? Or post a few pictures?
Id be interested in buying 2or 3 if you have or can find them.
PM sent

 

[lctorana]

They just came out of dead DX or junk-store torches.

They are longer than C cells, but still fit in the plastic torch I used.

 

[TigerhawkT3]

Hmm... Cool question! I'm going to "***"ume you want an ROP with the HOLA, not the LOLA.

I can tell you right now that the NiMHs will be much easier to use than the alks. Seeing as how rhuck60 has found that you can fit a hex bundle into a Mag tube, you could make a 1D ROP, or even possibly a "0"-D, if you replace the giganto switch module Mag uses. That's how the USL fits into such a small body - it uses 11 AAs in a quad-bored 2D Mag, with the stock switch replaced with a smaller (and better) one. If you could find a smaller switch than that (shouldn't be too hard, as the ROP HOLA is around 35W or something and the USL is well over 100W), the whole light could consist of the head, the "switch" area (now holding 6AAA and the new switch), then the tail.

With alks, you'd probably need something in at least 4S8P. I suppose you could get by with 4S7P and make parallel hex bundles of seven AAA cells, then put four of those bundles in series in a 4D Mag.

 

[Robocop]

That elephant is a very interesting light and the maker is known for his work....I will have to read that thread and thanks for the link. I may try to make something on my own later however if not I will just have to buy more AAA lights....hehe

 

[Robocop]

Hey there TigerHawk and I believe you are correct in saying the alks will not do as well. I was trying to determine if there was an already existing set up that would allow me to experiment a little however I found nothing for multiple AAAs. I did find many that used the 3-AAA set up to direct drive cheap luxeon lights however I already have several of those type.

Looking at the cheap 3-AAA cylinder adapters I began to wonder how many would fit inside a d-cell arrangement and if anyone had toyed with this idea in the past. Looking at rhuck60s post below it looks as if at least 7 would fit. That would allow in theory for 8.75 volts with alks or maybe a little over 8 volts from rechargeables.

I know nothing of current draw on batteries so even if it could be done I do not know if the AAAs would even power the higher draw lamps however it would be a nice little package. I am now curious if Li-Ion rechargeables would be better. At close to 4 volts fresh it would be possible to get 28v from a d-size package. I really dont have the tools or know how to pull it off however the "idea" is interesting to play with.

 

[rhuck60]

Hmm... Cool question! I'm going to "***"ume you want an ROP with the HOLA, not the LOLA.

I can tell you right now that the NiMHs will be much easier to use than the alks. Seeing as how rhuck60 has found that you can fit a hex bundle into a Mag tube, you could make a 1D ROP, or even possibly a "0"-D, if you replace the giganto switch module Mag uses. The whole light could consist of the head, the "switch" area (now holding 6AAA and the new switch), then the tail.

With alks, you'd probably need something in at least 4S8P. I suppose you could get by with 4S7P and make parallel hex bundles of seven AAA cells, then put four of those bundles in series in a 4D Mag.

What is the minimum voltage you suggest to run the ROP HOLA? Im considering doing one soon.

In your suggestion of 4S7P or 4S8P that gives 6 volts at 7 or 8 X the AAA alkys capacity, right? Is that a high enough voltage for the ROP-Hi?

Also what series/parallel arrangement would you suggest for the AAA Eneloop? Other projects Ive seen use 6 or 8 AA Eneloops. I dont want to instaflash the bulb, but I do want to get pretty good output.

 

[I'M DK]

I just grabbed a hand full of AAA's & a Dcell Mag.
If you play with it 8 cells fit.
Seven in the circumference & one loose in the middle.

DK

 

[TigerhawkT3]

Good to hear, DK!

What is the minimum voltage you suggest to run the ROP HOLA? Im considering doing one soon.

In your suggestion of 4S7P or 4S8P that gives 6 volts at 7 or 8 X the AAA alkys capacity, right? Is that a high enough voltage for the ROP-Hi?

Also what series/parallel arrangement would you suggest for the AAA Eneloop? Other projects Ive seen use 6 or 8 AA Eneloops. I dont want to instaflash the bulb, but I do want to get pretty good output.

Well, according to Pelican's website, it can run on either a 6V SLA or 6D NiMH. That puts voltage between 6V and around 8-8.5V. When very freshly charged, six NiMHs can instaflash the ROP.

The thing to worry about with various cell chemistries isn't just the voltage, but rather the current they're capable of. For example, even a AAA NiMH should be able to push 4-4.5A, albeit not for very long. An alk, however, even in D size, wouldn't be able to sustain that for very long, if at all.

Putting cells in parallel basically makes a larger battery of the same voltage. Putting four AA alks in parallel is sort of like having a single D alk. You could run it at four times the current of a single AA alk but not gain any runtime, or run it at the same current and get quadruple the runtime. Remember that larger cells can handle more current than smaller cells of the same chemistry; this is expressed as "C" rates.

Here's the contents of the nutshell: series changes voltage, and parallel changes capacity.

For explanations of C rates and lots of other stuff, try the Welcome Mat.

 

[mdocod]

Seems to me that on AAA NIMH cells, there would probably be enough sag that you could run the ROP on 7 cells. Maybe?!!!! hehe....

gears are turning in my head.... I might have to try something on the drill press tomorrow.

 

[lctorana]

Look forward to that

 

[Valolammas]

Your post made me wonder. So:
I got out a bunch of AAA Nimh chargeables and one of my Eneloop AA to D adapters. I found that 7 would fit inside the OD of the adapter in a 2/3/2 arrangement (or 6 around 1) like this:

..O O
O O O
..O O

Oh great, now you are giving me ideas.

If we forget the ROP for a moment and wire all those cells in series, and double the number for a 2D of course, we'd get 14 cells and 16.8V... One could overdrive a 12V bulb on that pretty nicely. If you pick one with a reasonable wattage, say 20W, it would only draw a couple of Amps, which rechargeable AAAs could probably handle (for a while, anyway).