AAA batteries in AA lights

[Rzr800]

Both of my dual sprung JetBeam AA models (MK1 and Pro) easily accept AAA batteries and seem to run just fine on them no matter the setting (.7 to 4.2 V range).

Besides runtime, are there any other obvious caveats regarding the use of these cells (LSD) in a pinch and if not...what other AA lights out there boast the same versatality?

My original Pro has great throw and decent max output for what will seemingly be a much longer runtime than the next model about to be released....yet the higher/high/lower/low IBS 'pill' (promised by Jetbeam) might just be thrown in with the spare AA and AAA's if these lights safely do double duty and the upcoming 14500 max output isn't overly (more) impressive.

And while on the subject of AAAs...are most lights out there like my Tiablo A1 in that they will seemingly switch to a moon mode at the end of their cycle...and then slowly sip juice to the very end?
I receive several very repectable runtime 'recharges' out of a totally dead LSD battery and am rarely worried about it ever letting me down with no spares in hand. :twothumbs (isn't AA/AAA standardization a beautiful thing?...).

Thanks for your help!

 

[paulr]

There are adapters you can get to use AAA's in AA slots. Probably best with lower powered lights.

Don't do that thing of squeezing the last dregs of juice from rechargeables, especially in multicell lights. That can lead to reverse charging which kills rechargeable very quickly. Even in single cells, holding the voltage low for too long can damage or kill the cell. Swap in another cell, that's what spares are for.

 

[Handlobraesing]

If the discharge current is well below 1A, you can use AAA, but expect about 1/3 the runtime of AA.

 

[Marduke]

You may want to pick up a few of these
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7031

and when/if they get back in stock, a pack of these for a pinch
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3657

 

[Rzr800]

There are adapters you can get to use AAA's in AA slots. Probably best with lower powered lights.

Don't do that thing of squeezing the last dregs of juice from rechargeables...Even in single cells, holding the voltage low for too long can damage or kill the cell..."

Thanks for the tip on those adaptors; yet does the spec. here from Tiablo somewhat lead a novice such as myself to believe that everything is 'hunky dory' in regards to overdischarging?
Heck, I didn't even think that you could use a 145000 in this light and that they once made another model with two modes (MA6?) for this purpose.

From Tiablo: http://www.tiablolight.com/products.html
"..Step up and down constant current driver, with high efficiency dual mode DC-DC regulator (PWM / PFM) and circuit to protect Li-ion battery from over-discharging. Working voltage is 0.7V to 2.7V, under or over the circuit will cut off to protect battery and flashlight...."

 

[Rzr800]

You may want to pick up a few of these
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7031

and when/if they get back in stock, a pack of these for a pinch
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3657

Thank you and I will. :thumbsup:

 

[Rzr800]

If the discharge current is well below 1A, you can use AAA, but expect about 1/3 the runtime of AA.

What if I use the (not very) low level on my Jet I Pro in a pinch...am I now very quickly getting into what paulr suggested (damaged LSD AAA) or does this original Pro circuit protect from this as it might a 14500?

Again, I have no idea as to how Pro or A1 circuitry actually works; just that Tiablo evidently advertises overdischarge protection (Li-Ions only?) and that I'm 'guessing' a Pro works to protect unprotected 14500s (if not AAAs..which wouldn't make sense to me).

 

[Marduke]

The li-ion protection system works in the lithium range, above 3v. If it senses a power source below that, it does not kick in because it thinks it's a regular AA format, which is ALWAYS below the voltage of even dead li-ion's.

 

[Rzr800]

The li-ion protection system works in the lithium range, above 3v. If it senses a power source below that, it does not kick in because it thinks it's a regular AA format, which is ALWAYS below the voltage of even dead li-ion's.

Makes sense to me...yet does neither the Tiablo (specs. above) nor the Jet Pro I offer discharge protection (even a 'flicker') in regards to plain 'ol Eneloops?

I remember somebody a while back suggesting that this was true with the Pro (haven't been able to find anything since with any word concerning the new IBS circuit or even pill evidently considered 'taboo' by all involved) and the Tiablo's circuitry seems to be about as big a mystery as the lumen output well discussed for months now.