Do I have a bad cell?

[josiah]

I have a DX Trustfire protected RCR123 cell that's acting weird, so I was wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience. Here are the symptoms:

I'm using it in a Zebralight H30. One cell works just fine, as normal. The other cell seems to work fine on low and med settings, then when high is turned on, a high pitched noise starts, and quickly increases frequency (the noise) until the LED turns off. It only makes the noise when on high. The battery doesn't seem to charge fully, either. I left it on medium, and it died pretty quick. Oh, one other thing, too. I'm using the DX DSD charger, and the status light acts weird when trying to charge it, as well. When I plug the battery in, the light is solid red (normal charging) but then it shortly starts blinking between red/green until the green takes over the red. Kind of weird.

Any answers for me? Is there something I might have done to cause this? Thanks for any input!

 

[mudman cj]

Did you find that you had to tighten the H30 tailcap a lot just to get it to make contact and come on at all? I tried those same batteries in my H30 and couldn't get it to come on at all due to their length. I think you may have damaged the cell's protection circuit which is built into the positive side. I suggest not using those cells with the H30 and disposing of the problem cell.

 

[VidPro]

I think you may have damaged the cell's protection circuit

Yup, sounds like, if the high pitched wine doesnt occur via the lights driver, but you get it when you put in a specific battery, than add the other anomolies, that points to the chip thingee on the battery.

if you "crush" them protection curcuits, in twisties, or in things without enough spring to give, they not only could fail, but even short out. luckily more of them are better insulated from shorting, but the design of protection has to have both poles (+ -) there to work, so a person should avoid high crush pressures, dropping, and stuff like that.

 

[josiah]

Hmm, it didn't seem like the cells were too long for the H30, but what you guys are saying makes sense.

Does anyone have any suggestions for shorter protected RCR123 batteries? I wouldn't mind having smaller ones, the Trustfires barely fit in my Olight T20.

I've noticed a lot of people here on CPF use AW batteries. Are they shorter than DX protected batteries? Would I be able to keep using my existing charger, or would I have to buy a new one?

 

[mudman cj]

Yes, AW cells are shorter and measure 34mm in length. You can keep using your charger with them.