Battery choice and Brightness??

[ledebuhr1]

I have a P2D-ce running on Duracells. Would switching to another type of battery make the flashlight brighter? or just give me more run time? or both?

I was looking at rechargable AA NiMh. any better choice?

Thanks

 

[AFAustin]

The P2D will take 1 CR123A primary cell, which is what you're using, or 1 RCR123A rechargeable lithium ion cell. I don't have a P2D, but I believe I've read that the multi-levels don't work properly on an RCR123A.

AA size cells aren't for this light.

 

[ledebuhr1]

can you clarify what you mean by, "AA sized cells arn't for this light"?

 

[AFAustin]

The P2D's chamber is sized for a CR123A cell. An AA cell is longer and slimmer than a CR123A cell.

Are you certain your light is a P2D CE? Another Fenix light, the L1D CE, is sized for AA cells.

 

[defusion]

or maybe the L2D-CE, which runs on 2 AA batteries.

With the L2D-CE, i would suggest nimh's, unless you only use the low mode, nimh's will last longer on higher output levels.

 

[shinbone]

Overall brightness is primarily limited by the regulation circuitry in the light. Some circuits can handle more voltage than others and may permit a higher change in brightness when an additional cell is added (i.e., Surefire 6P with an A19 cell extender) or, as mentioned above, a rechargeable cell with slightly more voltage output is used (i.e., 3VDC from a primary vs 3.4VDC from a rechargeable). Again this is limited by what the circuitry can handle.

Some lithium battery manufacturers have more stable outputs than others which can provide longer run-times at a given brightness, ensuring better efficiency in output, but not necessarily brighter output. For example, manufacturer A may last five more minutes at max output than manufacturer B, but both will only ever give you a maximum of 6 volts in a 2-cell configuration.

 

[ledebuhr1]

opps,sorry I do have a L2d-ce.

So going to NIMh would give me longer run times? but about the same brightenss.

thanks

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

opps,sorry I do have a L2d-ce.

So going to NIMh would give me longer run times? but about the same brightenss.

thanks

Are you sure you have a P2D and not another light? Not to be a jerk but you don't seem to know very much about it.

The P2D runs on primary CR123 cells and rechargable 3.7v RCR. Primary cells will give longer runtimes but a 3.7v RCR will give higher brightness (but only one level since the light will bypass the circuitry).

NIMH cells are 1.2v and replace 1.5v Alkaline cells. They have similar capacity but give a flat discharge curve which is more desirable in most cases.

I don't think switching to Energizer CR123 (or any other brand for that matter) will give you better results. Actually I was under the impression that Duracell CR123 cells were the best out there, but they usually are the most expensive as well.

 

[ledebuhr1]

yes I am right, I just needed to think and re-read what i wrote. That little cree is BRIGHT. Mine takes AA's

 

[THE_dAY]

so you have a L2d-ce which takes 2 aa batteries.. don't worry about messing up the name, they are kinda confusing

you could get energizer lithium aa batteries to increase runtimes.

here is chevrofreak's runtime charts on the L2d-ce with different battery types.

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

yes I am right, I just needed to think and re-read what i wrote. That little cree is BRIGHT. Mine takes AA's

Alright. If your light takes AA batteries than you don't have a P2D. It takes CR123 cells which are shorter than AA cells but larger in diameter. They are also 3v each compared to 1.5v for a single Alkaline.

If you are using AA cells in your Fenix then you either have a L1DCE or L2DCE. The only difference between these two lights is that the L1DCE uses 1 AA cell and the L2DCE uses 2 AA cells.
In either case you should look into getting some AA Energizer Lithium cells (L91). They will give longer runtimes as well as slightly brighter output on both of these models. They also weigh much less than an Alkaline cell. The only downfall is that they are quite expensive (over $2 each).

 

[defusion]

Alright. If your light takes AA batteries than you don't have a P2D. It takes CR123 cells which are shorter than AA cells but larger in diameter. They are also 3v each compared to 1.5v for a single Alkaline.

If you are using AA cells in your Fenix then you either have a L1DCE or L2DCE. The only difference between these two lights is that the L1DCE uses 1 AA cell and the L2DCE uses 2 AA cells.
In either case you should look into getting some AA Energizer Lithium cells (L91). They will give longer runtimes as well as slightly brighter output on both of these models. They also weigh much less than an Alkaline cell. The only downfall is that they are quite expensive (over $2 each).

nimh's will be much cheaper, they are the only viable rechargeable option you have with 2 cell's. If you only use 1 cell you can consider li-ion though.