Cr123 batteries

[Wdh777]

So why choose this battery type over aaa or aa? Is it the smaller size but aaa are small or are they more powerful then normal batteries so you would need two aa to equal one cr123? Just curious. How easy is it to find these at your local drug store or home depot or do you need to order them on line? Thx

 

[kingofleon]

So why choose this battery type over aaa or aa? Is it the smaller size but aaa are small or are they more powerful then normal batteries so you would need two aa to equal one cr123? Just curious. How easy is it to find these at your local drug store or home depot or do you need to order them on line? Thx

Cr123 batteries have a very long shelf life, offer more capacity in a very small size. I get mine for around 97 cents a piece from batteryjunction.com.

 

[tolkaze]

Try the battery sub-forum for all battery related questions.

A short answer here though,

CR123 was refined and used as a power source by Surefire since they have higher energy density and higher voltage than a conventional AA cell. This was great for small, incan lights. many Police and Military departments used them, and it sort of became a standard. With large supplies of these cells, and the big contract holders continuing to use them in their lights, the CR123 cell won't be retired any time soon.

Even with LED, there is a good case for using them in lights, but for every reason for using them, there is an equally good reason to use AA cells.

For someone new to lights, pick a format and stick with it for the start at least. If you choose the CR123 route, you may or may not be able to use rechargeable cells, or different sized cells. For example, Malkoff MD2, you could also get an MD3 or MD4 body. Assuming all these bodies you could use 1, 2, or 3 CR123 cells, 2x 16340, 2x18350, 2x 17500, 2x18650, 2x 17670's... many more combinations... however a Surefire light, may only take 2x CR123 only.

Availability is higher and therefore cheaper for AA, AAA etc, but CR123's you can also get pretty cheap online

 

[Jeffa]

Welcome to the forums.

If you go to this link, http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?209035-CR123-vs-AA , you can go about 2/3 of the way down the page to Carrots reply which is very informative.

Read the entire thread as it only gets better on the following pages.

 

[jondotcom]

Several good vendors here sell CR123s for less than a buck each. If you try your local store they are generally 5x more since their use elsewhere is generally limited to expensive cameras $$$$.

 

[angelofwar]

VOLTS WEIGHT/6 ~Shelf Life (Years) ~$/6

CR123 3 3.5oz. ~10-15 $11

AA 1.5 4.9oz. ~2-3 $5

Batteries compared are Surefire CR123 and Rayovac alkalines. Keep in mind on the weight thing, that you would have to have twice the batteries to equal voltage of what 6 lithiums would require. Also, Lithiums has a much higher and lower operating temperature, AND...one of the biggest pluses...Lithiums don't leak :0)

Yep, CR123's are the way to go when it comes to mission critical applications. That's why they get used in million dollar missiles :0)

 

[Kestrel]

Moved to Batteries / Electronics.

 

[lampy]

If you choose the CR123 route, you may or may not be able to use rechargeable cells...

...however a Surefire light, may only take 2x CR123 only.

Is this purely down to the voltage differences between CR123A and 16340 and the fact that a unit built to run on primaries may not accept voltages up to 4.2v or is there any other reason why you are unable to use 16340's in some CR123A units?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Lampy,

Welcome to CPF.

Voltage is the most significant issue.

Tom

 

[lampy]

Voltage is the most significant issue.

Tom

Hi Tom

Ah well I took a notion to purchase a few single cell 16340 flashlights in the hope I would find a little gem to stick in my pocket as my EDC and also because all of my existing flashlights are 1 x 18650 or 2 x 16340 and I already bought the 16340's for them.

Anyhow I wasn't getting many flashlight hits on 16340 so changed it to CR123a and bought some that could handle 4.2v

So what other less significant issues can I expect to come across?

Thanks

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Lampy,

The rechargeable cells in this size have about half the capacity of the primary cells, so run time becomes an issue - depending on your intended use.

Tom

 

[lampy]

No worries... as my edc it probably wont get used more than 10 minutes a day. Might also make a headband and use it for my occasional 30 minute cycle to my buddies.

 

[127.0.0.1]

Hello Lampy,

The rechargeable cells in this size have about half the capacity of the primary cells, so run time becomes an issue - depending on your intended use.

Tom

look here at some gutted Tenergy rechargeable 123's....the circuit for protection uses up valuable
space (10% +-) that otherwise could go to swissroll.

http://i.imgur.com/W0HYw.jpg

primaries are packed with swissroll 100% and slapped with a gray-haired expiration date

PS: that picture shows what leaving a flashlight inside your kitchen stove for 2 years can do to two RCR123's,
and then trying to drill them out under an oil-bath :D