EDC Battery Change(how often)

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I recharge at the earliest convenient opportunity after I have used the light for any reasonable length of time.
If I just switched in on for 10 seconds to show somebody how bright it is, I won't charge it after that.
But if I spent 10 minutes in the parking lot looking for my keys or something, I will charge the battery before I go out again the next day.
I like to have a full charge when I go out, because I never know when I am going to run into a situation where I'll need it.
 
I have a Fenix LD12 which is my EDC.
I had a fully charged Eneloop with a reading of 1994mah 1.45v installed for one week.
Today I removed the battery and charged it on my Maha C9000.
The Eneloop took a charge of 301mah and ended with 1.45v.
The volt reading before charge was 1.31v.

Any thoughts or observations would be appreciated.
 
Billspider said:
I have a Fenix LD12 which is my EDC.
I had a fully charged Eneloop with a reading of 1994mah 1.45v installed for one week.
Today I removed the battery and charged it on my Maha C9000.
The Eneloop took a charge of 301mah and ended with 1.45v.
The volt reading before charge was 1.31v.

Any thoughts or observations would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Well, 300 is 15% of ~2000, so your Eneloop was pretty full.

I can blow through two Eneloops in my Klarus P2A and JebBeam BA20 in just about 2 hours, on high (235/270) and just before the lights step down to low.

Regardless of battery/cell chemistry, people need to know what type of runtimes they get, especially if one is running unprotected LiCo/ICRs.

Chris
 
always charge as soon as it hits medium.
got 4 FENIX ARB L2's, and there are always 2 as back up.
i try and charge in good rotation, so always have some back up.
 
When I use it for any reasonable amount of time as, started before, or if I can't remember the last time I charged them. I use a single 18650 so I just rotate one into the charger and put the one that was on the charger into the light. That way I always have a full cell.
 
Thr3Evo said:
Sorry to disagree but dealing with 18650's I rarely rely on my memory about charge/discharge. I relay on my buddy the DMM.
Click to expand...

I have to agree. I check my battery to see what the voltage is and to determine if it needs a charge.
 
+2 forgot to mention in my earlier post it is a protected AW icr li-ion battery i use in my s10 baton... but i always use a DMM to check voltages :)
 
Thr3Evo said:
Sorry to disagree but dealing with 18650's I rarely rely on my memory about charge/discharge. I relay on my buddy the DMM.
Click to expand...

No need to be sorry, I should clarify, when I say I cant remember it means I changed them 3 days prior, I have the memory of a turnip.
 
Since i EDC several lights, I usually carry spare 18650's and 14500's in my pack, when a light of mine starts to dim, i take it out and throw in a new cell. Soonest I can, (usually when I get home) I charge the spent cell until full charge. In my case, instead of swapping out just two cells, I have four cells on rotation and use them alternately so they all get used. Since these cells dont need to get "exercised" to keep in top shape, I just rotate them so they all wear at the same time and eventually when they get weak, i will replace all four with a new set.

That's how I rock my cells on my EDC. :)

On my 18650 EDC however (C20C and Hunter T5) it usually takes almost 3 weeks to a month before the cells get spent, so rotating the 18650's there takes a much longer time. I just carry a spare 18650 for each in case of emergencies.
 
i probably charge it when its between 20 percent to 50 percent dead usually just in case, for aa and aaa lights
 
I never check voltages of my li-ions with DMM.. that being said, I try to ensure my EDC (Xeno E03 NW running on a 840mAh 14500) is fully charged up whenever I leave the house.
 
How do you know if a battery needs to be recharged?? I know if the light doesn't turn on charge the battery but how do you know if its over discharged?? I do have a digital multi meter.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
 
Shadowww said:
I never check voltages of my li-ions with DMM.. that being said, I try to ensure my EDC (Xeno E03 NW running on a 840mAh 14500) is fully charged up whenever I leave the house.
Click to expand...

You don't need a DMM, a good voltage meter would be ok. A DMM or voltage meter is necessary if you are using Li-Ions. You need to know what the voltage of the cell is after charging, mostly for your self protection. Also checking the voltage after you light has "run down" is important to to see if a cell has been under discharged, which also can be a dangerous situation. If you do not own a DMM, or other voltage measuring devise, then order, or go down to Harbour Freight and pick one up, the cheapest is about $5.00.

Bill
 
This is why I usually use rechargeable batteries for an edc because I like to top off everyday with the occasional rundown.
No surprises.
I also usually have cottonpickers smallest USB charger on hand because I always have a USB charger for the phone.
 
As for the high power torches I tote at work, I check prior to leaving with my DMM. Having taken note of the charge I will know to switch cells if I get into some heavy use and my cells where not full. Anything short of daily checking eventually lets me to overdischarge a cell/string. Cells will be changed and charged the next day if they are 3.85v or below.

My constant on body flashlights generally get used in their lowest modes, so checking with DMM only happens every week or after a period of use on high.
 
Bullzeyebill said:
You don't need a DMM, a good voltage meter would be ok. A DMM or voltage meter is necessary if you are using Li-Ions. You need to know what the voltage of the cell is after charging, mostly for your self protection. Also checking the voltage after you light has "run down" is important to to see if a cell has been under discharged, which also can be a dangerous situation. If you do not own a DMM, or other voltage measuring devise, then order, or go down to Harbour Freight and pick one up, the cheapest is about $5.00.

Bill
Click to expand...
Actually, none of that is required in my case, as I use hobby charger which displays voltage of cell on it's display.
I trust my $100 iCharger much more than I'd trust $5 harbour freight DMM.
 
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