For a flashlight user, i am certainly a battery noob

[Jager]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but i cant seem to find the threads that really make complete sense to me. I am trying to look at run times over lights and batteries, and i am confused. It seems that certain rechargable batteries are brighter than standard batteries? I have used sure fire 123's and figured that was the brightest i could get, is it true for a 123 battery? how about AA's? i would hate to buy a light, think im getting the best run times and lumen use out of it, and be using the weakest battery available. someone please make sense of all of this for me :candle:

 

[Mr Happy]

OK, if you are buying a light off the shelf the manufacturer will usually give an idea of its brightness, especially if it is an LED light. If it is a custom light you will need to go by indications found in this forum. In addition people have sometimes done independent brightness measurements that can confirm or expand on the claims by the manufacturer. Search these forums for info about lights that interest you.

Once you have a light in mind the manufacturer will tell you what batteries it should use, and may tell you if the brightness is different with different batteries. Simply use the batteries recommended in the instructions, and don't vary them without confirmation it will work.

Incidentally, there is no such thing as a light being "the brightest you can get". For any given light, someone, somewhere, has a brighter one. There is no simple recipe. You just have to read the specifications, read the reviews, and pick one that fits your application and your pocket.

 

[Sinjz]

It depends on the batteries and the light in which they are being used. Regular CR123 lithiums are 3.0 volts. Most Li-Ion Rechargable CR123s are ~3.7 volts. Depending on the circuit in the light, the higher voltage can lead to more brightness. Buck? Boost? Direct drive?

Alkaline AA's are 1.5 volts. Rechargable NiMh AA's are ~1.2 volts, but NiMh's may work better in certain AA lights becasue they don't sag as much as alkalines at high currents.

So which battery works best, depends on the light, the circuit and the Vf of the LED.

BTW, using the wrong battery can also lead to your light letting out the magic smoke.

 

[Marduke]

It depends on your cell type, chemistry, and how many, all at the same time.

AA and AAA powered lights, typically you get both longer runtime and more brightness using NiMH rechargables.

CR123 powered lights you have to be more careful, as RCR123 cells are higher voltage. The light should be able to handle the higher voltage, and this can vary between single and multiple cell lights. You also get less runtime with RCR123 cells versus CR123 primaries. Brightness is the same or higher, depending on the specific light.

 

[jhc37013]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but i cant seem to find the threads that really make complete sense to me. I am trying to look at run times over lights and batteries, and i am confused. It seems that certain rechargable batteries are brighter than standard batteries? I have used sure fire 123's and figured that was the brightest i could get, is it true for a 123 battery? how about AA's? i would hate to buy a light, think im getting the best run times and lumen use out of it, and be using the weakest battery available. someone please make sense of all of this for me :candle:

that is the magic question I have been on a quest to research myself.Search CPF forum(CR123 battery shoot out) there is some good data in there but the test are a few years old since i last read it.From what I read the Duracell,panasonic and surefire seem to perform well.I would love to hear others thoughts on battery life in a general LED light like the Nitecore's or Fenix lights I think they draw 1.5 to 2amps but I'm a noob and not for sure