Fenix T1 - any way to improve the runtime?

[Spotpuff]

I have a Fenix T1 and some 900mAH Tenergy RCR123's. They're 3v. From a fresh charge, the T1 runs 38 minutes until it shuts off. In the mean time the light gets so blazingly hot it's hard to pick up.

Contrast this to the Dereelight CL1H V3 I just got which runs for about 2.5 hours at full brightness on an 18650 and over 5 hours before finally shutting down (could be longer; I got tired of waiting after 5 hours and just stopped my watch).

I'm wondering if any of the 17670 batteries will allow for longer run times than the RCR123's, or perhaps some 3.7v 16340's instead of these Tenergy 3v ones. 38 minutes of runtime is just too short, in my opinion, but Ernsananda on CPF said that his 17670 lasted just 15 minutes in the T1 (unless that was a typo... maybe 150 minutes?).

I used an AW 18650 in the Dereelight and would probably get more from that vendor since they seem to be very good and highly recommended. But the runtime difference (5+ Hours vs 38 minutes) are just ludicrous and even with AW RCR123's 55 minutes of runtime isn't a heck of a lot better for the T1 so looks like 17670's are the only thing that could save it.

 

[Crenshaw]

other then theoratically, i dont really see why you would NEED 200+ bulb and 160++ out the front lumens for hours on end. :nana:

Crenshaw

 

[jbosman1013]

the batteries you are using are not really 900mAh there more like 500. use AW's batteries! they will work much better.

 

[jsr]

Regardless of what brand R123As you use, you will NOT get long runtimes. All R123As (3.6/3.7V, 3.6V with internal drop circuit to produce 3.0V, or 3.0V by chemistry) have low capacity (avg 650mAh, 600mAh, and 450mAh, respectively for the afore mentioned types).

The ONLY way to get more runtime in the T1 is for Fenix to redesign the light. They did a poor job in planning the design of the driver. It supports 4V to 10V. Let's see, it's only a 2-cell light, so there's no way to shove 10V in there (max would be 8.4V off 2 fresh charged R123As) and a 4V Vin(min) eliminates the possibility to use a single Li-Ion (17670), which is why Ernsanada only got 15 minutes runtime. Fenix should have shifted the Vin range down to 3.7V-8.4V making it ideal for not only the power sources available, but also for actual use conditions (military would use 2x123As for 6V, LEOs would use 17670 for max runtime). Also, it seems the T1 is picky in what 17670s it will fit (small tube ID). The T1 is a great light in all other aspects (build quality, aesthetics, output, beam profile, etc.), but the driver design missed the mark as it requires primaries (oddly enough, I'm sure the quality of the driver circuit and components is great).

 

[woodrow]

I wish the T1 would work with a 18650, but I have to say that 50 min on (Chevrofreak's graph) high...and hours on low off of 2x AW rcr123a's is respectable.

That being said, I have using rcr123a's. I hate that quick jump to total darkness.

 

[Crenshaw]

I have a Fenix T1 and some 900mAH Tenergy RCR123's. They're 3v. From a fresh charge, the T1 runs 38 minutes until it shuts off. In the mean time the light gets so blazingly hot it's hard to pick up.

On re reading, maybe thats fenix's "saftey shut off" feature...

Crenshaw

 

[BBL]

Sorry if this may sound stupid, but the Fenix T1 has a 60lm mode - that should improve runtime.

 

[Spotpuff]

Regardless of what brand R123As you use, you will NOT get long runtimes. All R123As (3.6/3.7V, 3.6V with internal drop circuit to produce 3.0V, or 3.0V by chemistry) have low capacity (avg 650mAh, 600mAh, and 450mAh, respectively for the afore mentioned types).

The ONLY way to get more runtime in the T1 is for Fenix to redesign the light. They did a poor job in planning the design of the driver. It supports 4V to 10V. Let's see, it's only a 2-cell light, so there's no way to shove 10V in there (max would be 8.4V off 2 fresh charged R123As) and a 4V Vin(min) eliminates the possibility to use a single Li-Ion (17670), which is why Ernsanada only got 15 minutes runtime. Fenix should have shifted the Vin range down to 3.7V-8.4V making it ideal for not only the power sources available, but also for actual use conditions (military would use 2x123As for 6V, LEOs would use 17670 for max runtime). Also, it seems the T1 is picky in what 17670s it will fit (small tube ID). The T1 is a great light in all other aspects (build quality, aesthetics, output, beam profile, etc.), but the driver design missed the mark as it requires primaries (oddly enough, I'm sure the quality of the driver circuit and components is great).

Ok thanks for the more detailed explanation; that's what I was thinking was the reason for the short runtimes (voltage rather than capacity).

This Dereelight must accept some low voltages because it ran for over 5 hours before I got bored and shut it down. But it makes sense that if the T1 wants 4v it's going to run down even a 17670 pretty quickly.

Has anyone else noted that the light get scaldingly hot when it's running? I left it tailstanding for 30 minutes and it was almost too hot to pick up; the Dereelight CL1H v3 in contrast was barely warm to the touch after over an hour of running. Seems like something very inefficient is going on in the Fenix T1 or the heatsinking in the Dereelight isn't so good, which doesn't seem like the case since the light is so efficient.

 

[Leef]

Here's what my T1 did with SF CR123s:



Doesn't seem too bad given the throw and price of the light. I need to compare it to the Tiablo A8-Q5, also a nice light with even better throw, albeit at the expense of very little spill. Stay tuned.

 

[yellow]

They did a poor job in planning the design of the driver.

Fenix heard those dumb requests of the tactical guys who wanted an extremely-bright-light-with-forward-clicky-and-fancy-unnecessary-sharp-edges-and-thicker-than-is-useful and made such a model.
Now complain about that?


and 2nd: the cells used are crap.
How about MEASURING the current from the cells and then evaluating how long the light should run. If it does not, ITS NOT THE FAULT OF THE LIGHT
(think I typed this a hundred times now, with no effect at all)


PS: that comment with the 2nd, lower power - longer running, level.
Possibly an idea to use this to improve runtime


... whished they would react to our requests for a model, just as are now!!!, but running on an 18650.