Broke 2 torches using 2 x CR123A Please HELP

[jorocketoz]

PLEASE HELP

I am new to the torch world and just got three new torches. I got the Ultrafire uf-007 and Ultrafire C8 off ebay and the Ultrafire WF-008 (I know its not genuine Ultrafire) off dealextreme.

I was told by the sellers that I could run 1 x 18650 or 2 x CR123A batteries.

I purchased 2 x CR123A ("Ultrafire LC 1634 880mAh 3.7V") batteries from ebay. When I put them in my C8 it flashed on for less than a second and then went off. It no longer works at all, not even with 18650 as it had done in the past when I first used it.

I just got my WF-008 in the mail 10 minutes ago and tried it with 1 x 18650 and it worked well. I then tried 2 x CR123A batteries (the same ones as used in the C8 mentioned above) to see if it would be brighter. The light began to flicker and turned a blurred blue-white colour so I turned it off then on and it then went more blue then it went off. I opened the battery section and it smelt funny (burning smell of electronics. I tried it back with 1 x 18650 and it didnt turn on at all.

The UF-007 works fine on the 2 x CR123A batteries.

Can someone please tell me what is going on? etc.

 

[FlashKat]

You used 2 RCR123 3.7 volt batteries when you should have used CR123 3.0 volt batteries. You either blew out the driver or the LED by applying too much voltage.

PLEASE HELP

I am new to the torch world and just got three new torches. I got the Ultrafire uf-007 and Ultrafire C8 off ebay and the Ultrafire WF-008 (I know its not genuine Ultrafire) off dealextreme.

I was told by the sellers that I could run 1 x 18650 or 2 x CR123A batteries.

I purchased 2 x CR123A ("Ultrafire LC 1634 880mAh 3.7V") batteries from ebay. When I put them in my C8 it flashed on for less than a second and then went off. It no longer works at all, not even with 18650 as it had done in the past when I first used it.

I just got my WF-008 in the mail 10 minutes ago and tried it with 1 x 18650 and it worked well. I then tried 2 x CR123A batteries (the same ones as used in the C8 mentioned above) to see if it would be brighter. The light began to flicker and turned a blurred blue-white colour so I turned it off then on and it then went more blue then it went off. I opened the battery section and it smelt funny (burning smell of electronics. I tried it back with 1 x 18650 and it didnt turn on at all.

The UF-007 works fine on the 2 x CR123A batteries.

Can someone please tell me what is going on? etc.

 

[nzgunnie]

I purchased 2 x CR123A ("Ultrafire LC 1634 880mAh 3.7V") batteries from ebay

No you didn't. You purchased two RCR123a cells.

These are 3.7v, or actually 4.2v fresh off the charger. They are not remotely compatible with CR123a cells.

You'd be better off using a single 18650 anyway - it has vastly more capacity and will run far longer.

 

[C-Beam]

8.4V =

 

[Alberta-Blue]

Ultrafires are not CR123A's Primaries.

Ultrafires aka. RCR123A's are rechargable Li-Ion cells that run at 3.7 volts (4.2 fresh) as compared to a CR123A's 3.0 Volts. They are two completely different cells.

You pump 2 of those bad boys, running at a combined 7.4 (8.4 fresh) volts, into a light with a Maximum input voltage of 4.6-6.2 (as an example) and you fry the driver or LED by 1.2 V at least.

Thats why you broke 2 lights. Plain and simple.

 

[da.gee]

I don't think DealExtreme did you any favors in their description of the C8 but first:

Your batteries aren't CR123s (which are rated at 3 volts each). The UltraFire 16340s are RCR123s rated at 3.6 volts. An odd number in itself as I thought 3.7 was the norm on RCRs although I'm not really familiar with TrustFire batts. Typically they will come off the charger above 3.6, closer to 4.2 which is why a lot of single cell 123 lights are rated at 4.2 max. An example would be the single cell 123 Quarks which will take either one CR123 or one RCR123.

C8 specs on the site says input voltage of 3.6 which means it should not be used with two CR123s or two RCR123s. Voltage is too great and poof! This contradicts the other line in the product description which indicates it can take two CR123s. I think you proved the 3.6 volt limit (one 18650) was correct and not the two 123s. Perhaps a bad cut and paste job at DealExtreme?

The WF-008 indicates it will take voltage from 2.8-9 volts. In theory you should have been okay with either the one 18650 or the two RCR123s. However the misinformation on the C8 doesn't inspire much confidence in the WF-008 specs given.

Other possibility might be improper insertion of batteries but you definitely fried the C8 if indeed it will only handle 3.6. Dunno about the WF-008.

 

[Sgt. LED]

A mistake that costs you money is a lesson not soon forgotten IMO.
Lucky for you it was just DX/Ultrafire stuff.

From now on pay close attention to your voltages and be safe.

 

[Henk_Lu]

I am new to the torch world and just got three new torches.

When I was a newby, I was lucky enough to know that CR123A have 3 Volts, because I knew the batteries from SLR photography. I had no idea about li-ion and their voltage. I just sticked to primaries over a long time.

The world of rechargeables is not an easy one. There are different sizes, and different chemistries which means different voltages. I won't speak of the dangers that li-ions particulary present, but each chemistry requires another charger and sometimes it is quite difficult to see which cell you hold in hands. There was a guy recently who blew up two cells in a charger because he didn't know he bought primaries, not rechargeables.

I'd recommend you buy some real CR123A first to use your remaining light, then perform searches here to learn about rechargeables. Furthermore, if you buy a new light, make sure immediately what possibilities of batteries you have, there are lights that aceppt nearly eveyrthing on teh market, others are highly sensitive to the voltage and only accept one special kind.

Unfortunately, you had to learn your lesson the hard way. The biggest mistake I did, was putting the head of a Fenix LD20 on the body of a PD30, as I didn't know the heads were different. It survived and I still don't know if it can handle 6 Volts or not, but I know now that in case of doubts CPF is my friend before I try something stupid, if doubts persist, I just won't try!

:welcome:

 

[HKJ]

The above explanations may not be correct, many lights that can take 2xCR123 can also take 2x16340 (RCR123).
Both Ultrafire lights exist in a version that can only use a single LiIon battery, not 2xCR123/16340 and these will fry immediately when using 2xCR123/16340.

 

[Moonshadow]

It's also worth noting that with the cheaper makes, the item you get supplied with may not be exactly what you ordered, or may be different from the description.

I've had Solarforce dropins that arrived with different voltage ranges and / or different numbers of modes to the item that I ordered.

In many cases the voltage is printed on a label on the side of the dropin. Always, ALWAYS check before using.

 

[TooManyGizmos]

Even 2 CR123's (3v.) in series , (un-matched) can cause light explosions .

You better study more .

 

[droeun]

Same thing happened with my DBS. I ordered a 1S pill (18650 only) and received a 1SM (18650 + CR/RCR123a) pill. It worked fine on 18650 but when I tried 2 RCR123a's it turned a weird blue & flickered off, so it was actually a 1S pill in a 1SM wrapper. Looks like they got the labels mixed up at Dereelight, but luckily it still worked with the 18650. Maybe the same thing happened with yours.

 

[jorocketoz]

Thanks to every one for there replies. Yes I have learned my "Expensive" lesson.

I am a bit unhappy as to the fact that the ebay seller I purchased the batteries had them as "UltraFire 2x CR123A Li-ion Rechargeable Battery 16340" which I assumed would be fine (my mistake it would seem).
The dealextreme site says it will take "1 x 18650 / 2 x CR123A lithium batteries" and the voltage input is "2.8~9V".
Also of note is that mine (when it worked for those few seconds) had 3 modes:high, low and strobe which was odd since the site said it was single mode.

With reguard to the C8 I purchased it on ebay from a third seller and he told me it would take 2 X CR123 which I thought was same as CR123A as ebay battery sellers have some advertised as "4x 1300mAh CR123 CR123A Lithium Rechargeable Battery" which made me think they must be the same thing (stupid stupid me I know).

so if I get a new wf-008 should I buy the 3.0V ones and risk it or be happy with 18650. Will the CR123A 3.0V make it much brighter than the 18650 anyway?

 

[TooManyGizmos]

That tells you the sellers of batteries on E-bay don't know what they are doing .

And don't understand or use the correct terms .

Another reason not to buy batteries on E-bay .

You never know what your gonna get !


BTW .... NO rechargeable R-CR123A battery is 1300 mAh .... (Max is 900mAh)

 

[HKJ]

The dealextreme site says it will take "1 x 18650 / 2 x CR123A lithium batteries" and the voltage input is "2.8~9V".
Also of note is that mine (when it worked for those few seconds) had 3 modes:high, low and strobe which was odd since the site said it was single mode.

It sounds like this: Ultrafire WF-008 Cree Q5-WC 5-Mode 230-Lumen LED Flashlight (1*18650)

It is single LiIon and will fry if you put 2xCR123 or 2x16340 in it.

 

[TooManyGizmos]

However ,

dealextreme site says it will take "1 x 18650 / 2 x CR123A lithium batteries" and the voltage input is "2.8~9V"

That says it could take 2 X RCR123A's (Total of 8.40 volts)

under the 9v max input .
.

If you blew the DealExtreme light - - Send it back for a refund !

.

 

[HKJ]

However ,

dealextreme site says it will take "1 x 18650 / 2 x CR123A lithium batteries" and the voltage input is "2.8~9V"

DX has two WF-008 lights, the specifications in my post was also from DX.

 

[TooManyGizmos]

The dealextreme site says it will take "1 x 18650 / 2 x CR123A lithium batteries" and the voltage input is "2.8~9V".
Also of note is that mine (when it worked for those few seconds) had 3 modes:high, low and strobe which was odd since the site said it was single mode.

But I copied directly from his post - of what he said he bought , and the DX description .

The other light on DX should not matter .

Does jorocketoz need to verify for us what he actually ordered / and what they actually sent ?
.
.

 

[TooManyGizmos]

.
Remember , we went thru this same problem years ago with Goldston 7W lights , and folks received the wrong thing , or used the wrong batteries for what they did receive .

There were like 3 different versions . All looked the same . Only way to tell was to open it up and look at the resistor value used .

Caused many unhappy customers - including me .
.

 

[jorocketoz]

Thanks guys for the new help.

Does anyone know if I can just buy a replacement driver for it if the cree is still ok? If so, can I get it from dealextreme and what one am I looking for (what driver is the WF-008 single mode meant to have in it)?

By the way, yes Here is the model I ordered "Ultrafire WF-008 Recoil Thrower Cree Q5-WC 230-Lumen LED Flashlight (1*18650/2*CR123A)" which it said was single mode (hxxp://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22934) with the above specs I mentioned in my previous post.
It seems they sent something that at least had more modes than I ordered and even since I didnt use 2 x 3.0V CR123A but instead the 3.7V (my mistake) which at max go to 4.2V fresh off charger as stated on them this is less than the 9V max as shown on dealextreme site.

I have sent a complaint to them through the defective section explaining what happend so will see what they say and will let u know.