Burning up a L1D CE

[sixfellas]

So i've searched and searched, but i really haven't found an answer this question : Are we significantly shortening the life of a Cree in an L1D by using 14500 3.6v lithium-ions? If so is it really significant? Does anyone have a burnt up L1D? If this has been covered please point me to the thread. Thanks.

 

[D@rk Messenger]

Welcome to CPF!! You've come to the right place (turn back if you wish to spare your wallet :laughing: )

SInce the head is the same for the l2d, there should be no problem as it could take 3v as well. This has been covered but I couldn't find the thread either.

 

[sixfellas]

but it seems that we are running the L1D at quite a bit higher than 3 volts. true dat?

 

[HarveyRich]

sixfellas: try this thread:

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=153825&highlight=l1d-ce+14500

The current to the led seems well within the range for the Cree led, no where near the 1 amp it is supposed to be able to use. That's why everyone posting hasn't seen any problems with using a 14500 in it.

 

[sixfellas]

so we'v got voltage AND amperage to deal with here. I see the amperage is in spec (much less than 1 amp). Am i wrong to assume that since we are using "direct drive" on the 14500 that the 4.2 v drops quickly enough to within the 3.9v max that the Cree can take? So thats the reason we are OK?


Not to beat a dead horse but there still is some confusion in these threads.
Just trying to justify the 14500 with the numbers from the manufacture.

 

[frank777]

I ran a test using a 3.7 volt 123 lithium-ion with a drain rate of 400 ma. It took over 10 minutes to drop below 4 volts (initial voltage was 4.2).