Battery question...and heat?

[d.weglarz13]

Hey guys.. 2 questions: I just got a L2T.
#1. Just wondering if you guys leave batts in your lights or do you take them out? Currently I am using CR123s, but plan on changing to rechargeables soon, and want to know if it matters if i leave the batteries in or not. Does it drain the batts faster?
#2. Also, my L2T gets real hot, within a couple seconds. Is it bad to leave it on high for a while? Im sure im just overthinking it, but i don't want it to explode in my hands if i leave it on more than a few minutes...
Currently I am using a Nailbender drop in that is pumping out 650 lumens, 3.1v in the L2T(rated at 2v i think). I know others have drop ins like this too, so any advice is appreciated. I am a bit new to this, as this is my first custom light. thanks
dave

 

[HotWire]

1. Lights I use I leave the batteries in and charge them regularly. Stored lights have no batteries in them.
2. The heat is probably from the dropin. I personally don't like to let them get too hot. If I need long term light I use one with lower power or a lantern. Heat is no problem for incandescent lights, but can damage LEDs. Use your best judgement. If you cannot hold the light: It is too *hot.*

 

[RGB_LED]

Mods, I think this should be moved to the Flashlight Electronics - Batteries Included thread.

In response to your questions...
1. I leave batteries in my lights but take them out regularly to check with a DMM and to charge... whether they were used or not.
2. As HotWire said, if you can't hold the light, then... At the least, you know that the heatsinking is working pretty well.

You may also want to consider that high heat will prematurely wear out your LED so, unless you really need that much light for that long, you may want to use it sparingly at that level or switch to a lower level. In only use my highest level for seconds at a time or when there's good airflow around the light, i.e. biking.

 

[d.weglarz13]

Ok thanks for the info.

 

[DM51]

Mods, I think this should be moved to the Flashlight Electronics - Batteries Included thread.

Agreed... moving it now...

 

[d.weglarz13]

another question. I just had the light on max for about 15 min, and it dimmed to low and started blinking like a strobe, but very slow. Is this because the batts are low? Or maybe the light is too hot? It is a Nailbender 3.1v. THanks.
Dave

 

[RI Chevy]

Do you have any photos of the drop in? Is it wrapped in copper tape? Sounds like you need to heat sink it a little better. It should not get that hot as you say in only seconds. You should be able to get a few minutes out of it, before it gets that hot. Then be sure to bump it down to medium or low. Did you get the drop in potted with copper tape?

 

[Stephen Wallace]

I don't have a Nailbender drop in myself, and don't know what drivers he uses, but I would suspect that the light output dropping is most likely due to the batteries being low. The light flashing is most likely a low battery indicator built in to the drop-ins driver.

 

[Helmut.G]

Were the batteries fresh? And what kind do you use?
With this kind of power draw it's completely normal for primary CR123 batteries to only give you half an hour or less overall runtime.

 

[sn0wBLiND]

I'm not sure what drivers are being used in those drop-ins but if they're linear/direct drive you are burning a lot of power in that driver due to the high input voltage.