Help fo Newbie, Charger and Batteries

[dasadab]

I have tried to figure answers as best as I can from reading threads. I apologize in advance if I missed something. I work in a security position and am trying to get into and understand modern lights and chargers in order to be as cost effective and efficient as possible.
I have 2 new lights: Fenix P3D Cree Premium Q5 LED and a Fenix TKII.

For the TK11 I bought a Pila IBC charger and a pair of Pila 600P 3.7V Li-ion batteries (with protection).

For the Fenix P3D, I have been trying Tenergy 3v RCR123A batteries.

I have a Tenergy charger for the Tenergy batteries (Model PH-123A-3.0a).

From what I gather:

1. I should not or cannot charge the 3V Tenergy Li-ions in the Pila Charger, correct? This is because the Pila charges to a higher voltage?

2. I CAN use the Pila to charge other RCR123 batteries of higher voltage such as 3.6v or 3.7v. I have not been able to find any 3.7v, but batteryjunction has 3.6v. Is this correct?

3. If I can use the Pila for RCR123s at 3.6v or 3.7v, I can only charge one battery per charging row, and I will need either a spacer or a dummy battery, which battery junction does sell. Is this correct? If I do all of this, the 3.6 or 3.7v RCR123s should work fine in my Fenix P3D?

4. Is there a single battery solution to replace the two 3.6v or 3.7v? RCR123s in the Fenix P3D?

Thanks for the help. Just trying to figure this stuff out without making any mistakes. Dean

 

[coppertrail]

I have tried to figure answers as best as I can from reading threads. I apologize in advance if I missed something. I work in a security position and am trying to get into and understand modern lights and chargers in order to be as cost effective and efficient as possible.
I have 2 new lights: Fenix P3D Cree Premium Q5 LED and a Fenix TKII.

For the TK11 I bought a Pila IBC charger and a pair of Pila 600P 3.7V Li-ion batteries (with protection).

For the Fenix P3D, I have been trying Tenergy 3v RCR123A batteries.

I have a Tenergy charger for the Tenergy batteries (Model PH-123A-3.0a).

From what I gather:

1. I should not or cannot charge the 3V Tenergy Li-ions in the Pila Charger, correct? This is because the Pila charges to a higher voltage?

2. I CAN use the Pila to charge other RCR123 batteries of higher voltage such as 3.6v or 3.7v. I have not been able to find any 3.7v, but batteryjunction has 3.6v. Is this correct?

3. If I can use the Pila for RCR123s at 3.6v or 3.7v, I can only charge one battery per charging row, and I will need either a spacer or a dummy battery, which battery junction does sell. Is this correct? If I do all of this, the 3.6 or 3.7v RCR123s should work fine in my Fenix P3D?

4. Is there a single battery solution to replace the two 3.6v or 3.7v? RCR123s in the Fenix P3D?

Thanks for the help. Just trying to figure this stuff out without making any mistakes. Dean

1. Correct, do not charge 3.0 cells in the IBC, charge them in the charger that came with the cells.
2. Yes, you can charge 3.6/3.7V RCR123Aa cells in the IBC.
3. Yes, one RCR123A per row with the spacers on the IBC. I use the IBC with to charge 3.7V RCR123A cells with the spacers.
4. I too have the P3D and use the 3.0V Tenergy and Powerizer RCR123A cells because the tail cap on the P3D does not screw on completely when using the 3.6/3.6V protected cells. Understand I am using the non-protected 3.0V Tenergy/Powerizer cells, and I believe the lack of protection circuit is why they fit in the P3D.

 

[davegLED]

Interesting info coppertrail.

The P3D (and PD30) work fine with 3.6V cells then? Is the tail cap not screwing on fully an issue (does it ruin waterproof etc).

I am looking at getting a PD30 but not sure which cells to buy - most 3.0V lithiums seem to not be protected.

 

[coppertrail]

Yes, the P3D can accommodate, based on its voltage specs, 3.6/3.7V RCR123A cells. I wouldn't want to drop it in a puddle with the tail cap not completely screwed on, but that's me. I can't recall whether the top of the tailcap covers the O-Ring with the 3.6V cells.

Some folks said they were fine with it. I honestly don't use the light enough to warrant the extra voltage/brightness from the higher voltage cells, so I stick with the non-protected 3.0s.

Even though Fenix got the voltage requirements right, they negelected to actually look at the fact that protected cells wouldn't fit

Could have been they started the design before the higher voltage RCR cells became popular, even the description says it runs on 3.0V RCR123A cells .

Finally, I can't find the dimensions on the PD30, hopefully they've made it longer

 

[gilly]

I have not been able to find any 3.7v

AW 3.7 V R123s are highly regarded by members of this forum and sold by many flashlight retailers.

Here is the direct manufacturer's sales thread here on the Marketplace:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=187951

Here are some retailers that sell them:

http://www.bugoutgearusa.com/awr1lire.html

https://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=53&products_id=201

http://www.lighthound.com/AW-RCR123a-Protected-750-mAh-Battery_p_114.html


Check out the CPF discounts thread before you buy:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=181841

Good luck!

 

[coppertrail]

Guys -

I found a set of AW 3.7V RCR123As that I'd purchased months ago. I never tried them in the P3D because I figured they'd fit the same as the Ultrafire cells.

Sure enough, they fit fine in the P3D, tail cap twists on all the way. The same, I'm sure, is true for the PD30 since it has the same dimensions. Now I have to get these cells charged up . . .

 

[davegLED]

Thanks Gilly, great links and info.

Cheers for coming back to us coppertrail :thumbsup:

Looks like I'm going to get some AW protected 123As from here:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=187951

and one of these:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1251

 

[dasadab]

Thanks to all for the super clear responses. Cheers. Dean

 

[mdocod]

Welcome to CPF!!!
You've definitely done a lot of research to get to this point!!! Excellent job on getting the IBC and quality protected 18650s for your TK11! Very good start IMO!

I'll throw in a few more tidbits, but it sounds like you are probably all ready to roll!

Do NOT charge the 3.7V RCR123s in the charger for the 3.0V cells, or vice versa, Only the cells sold with the 3.0V charger should be used on it, as their are a number of different types of "3.0V" rechargeable li-ion cells out there, with different charging requirements.

The P3D has a "low battery warning" system that unfortunately, requires that the power source be above ~5V for it to work properly, but the circuit has been tested to handle all the way up to ~12V if I recall correctly. This low-battery warning system makes it impossible to use a single li-ion cell (like the TK11) to power it. If it weren't for this system, a 17670 size 3.7V cell would fit...

Now that you have an IBC, you can standardize on 18650 cells in the future with other light purchases It's a great power source.

Eric

 

[bugsy714]

Thanks Gilly, great links and info.

Cheers for coming back to us coppertrail :thumbsup:

Looks like I'm going to get some AW protected 123As from here:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=187951

and one of these:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1251

Quick question; will this same setup work well for my new pd30?

 

[davegLED]

Yes it will, the input voltage of the PD30/P3D is ok well above the 2 x 3.7V of these two cells.

HTH,
Dave