Currently using Cr123, can I switch to lithium?

[designedfor1]

My Innova XO3 has finally ran out of juice and I have ran out of my stockpile of CR123a lithium photo batteries. I'm wondering could I switch over to some rechargeable lithium batteries.

The disposable batteries are rated at 3v, but most of the rechargeables are 3.6v, so does anyone know if the Innova XO3 can handle the additional voltage? Or know of some safe rechargeables I could use?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?82999-Inova-XO3-with-RCR123A-Li-Ions

 

[mcorp]

Rechargeables charge up to 4.2V so two of those would be 8.4V and as seen from the link given by Lynx_Arc the light in question isn't made for 8.4V.

It's probably safer to continue using disposables cr123a

 

[rusto]

Why is that? All of the NiCad/NiMh batteries are rated lower than their alkaline counterparts. What would it serve to make rechargeable cr123's higher voltage?
Thanks!
rusto

 

[Norm]

The voltage output of a cell is determined by the cell chemistry.

Norm

 

[idleprocess]

Why is that? All of the NiCad/NiMh batteries are rated lower than their alkaline counterparts. What would it serve to make rechargeable cr123's higher voltage?
Thanks!
rusto

This table helpfully sums up some chemistry characteristics. The common rechargeable lithium chemistries have nominal loaded voltages of ~3.7V and - short of using diodes or micro DC-DC converters built into the cell (both of which are troublesome in implementation) - there's nothing you can do to change this. LiFePO4 is an option with lower 3.2V cell voltages, but the amp-hours are awful relative to "conventional" lithium rechargeables - less than half from what I've seen. The general solution for using rechargeable cells in a 2x123A format is to live somewhat dangerously with a pair or "R"123A's, use reduced-capacity LiFePO4 cells, or hope your device can live with ~3.7V from a protected 18650.

Also about alkalines: their open-circuit voltage at beginning-of-life is indeed ~1.5V ... but after only modest discharge - or under any significant load - this sags down to the ~1.2V that NiCd/NiMH live at for almost the entirety of their discharge cycle.

 

[GunnarGG]

... or hope your device can live with ~3.7V from a protected 18650.

Many 2x123 lights works fine with one lithium ion rechargeable, maybe with a small loss of brightness.
I don't know about this light but it might be worth a try.
If an 18650 doesn't fit probably a 16650 or 17670 will.

 

[rusto]

- short of using diodes or micro DC-DC converters built into the cell (both of which are troublesome in implementation) - there's nothing you can do to change this.

Ok. I understand it a bit better now. The chemistry necessary to make a rechargeable lithium battery puts out 3.7v and that's the case until someone comes up with some other "recipe" that ends up being 3.0v or whatever. I didn't even realize that batteries don't normal discharge all the way down to zero like gas in a car until somewhat recently so this is all new to me.
Thanks for the clarification.