I broke my PD30! I think!

[jdmaxima89]

I have a PD30 R2 that my friend gave me as a groomsman gift. I've been using the duracells that it came with... and I've also got a set of AW's rechargeable cr123's that i bought, charged, and tested just to make sure they worked ok. After that I put the Duracells back in. So yesterday... my friend tells me that he had rechargeable 123's that he got from radioshack a few years back, and they didn't work his flashlight for some reason. So he finds them, I charge them up (in the charger they came with), put them in my flashlight... and nothing. I take them out... put my duracells back in, then THEY don't work either. The flashlight flickered a couple times.. but that was it. So I tested my duracells.. and they test fine. I put some energizers in it that my friend had in his, and THEY don't work either. I take brand new radioshack enercell 123's and put in it... and THEY don't work. Did I really fry my flashlight trying to use his rechargeables? Is there anything I can test to see what the problem is? I noticed that when I take the tailcap off and shake it... it rattles.. but not when it's screwed on. I didn't know if that was normal or not though. Anything you can do to help would be great!

 

[nathan225]

I do not know how to help you but I do not think that the pd30 uses rc cr123 maybe some one who knows more can help you sorry wish I knew how to help

 

[MR.A]

pd30 does not work with 3.7V batteries.

personaly i never buy Fenix in general. I prefer Nitecore for a reason that most of them can accept RCRs 3.7V

 

[^Gurthang]

JD,

Using the RCR123s may have cooked the driver circuit. The 2X CR123 primaries are good for ~ 6V, 2X RCR123 Li Ions are ~ 8.4V. I checked Light Hound and Fenix home site and it only lists CR123s for the PD30 so 6V is probably the limit.

However, not all is lost. Since this is a VERY good light you could invest in having it fixed and perhaps use a wide range driver circuit, that way you can use both primary 123s and rechargeables.

 

[Zatoichi]

There's a number of accounts here of people using RCR123's in a PD30 with no problems. I don't know if it's advisable, but I can only find reports of people using them without causing damage.

 

[manitoe]

I've been using AW RCR123's in my PD30 R4 ever since I got it, which is a few months ago, and haven't seen any strange behaviour whatsoever...

 

[Painful Chafe]

I've been using a P3D and a PD30 daily at work for the past 2 years with RCR's without any problems. I haven't heard anyone frying a P3D or PD30 with RCR's before. I'd be interested in knowing what the fully charged voltage of the Radioshack rechargeable is. I'm sure the 7.4 plus volts of a freshly charged set of RCR's is pushing the limits. Perhaps the Radioshack's are overcharging for some reason.

 

[Mathiashogevold]

I have been using AW rcr 3,7 batteries in the PD30 R4 since January without problems. My first PD30 was broken when i used unprotected cells in it.

 

[MR.A]

i know more than 10 people that had the same problem with all fenix non RCR series.

I really do not believe that people who are using RCR for PD20 or PD30 does not have problem.

I have a friend that he has the PD20 and when he is using the RCR 3.7V the low mode is not working at all.

Some other friends has already burned the circuits on PD30 using RCR.

Really i cannot understand people that giving the right to others and pulling them to a risk that costs money.

I cannot take this opportunity to destroy others flashlights.
_____________________
Surefire E2DL 200 lumens

 

[jdmaxima89]

Hmm... so if I call fenix, and act stupid and don't tell them about the RCR's at all.... they'll still fix it right?

 

[MR.A]

Hmm... so if I call fenix, and act stupid and don't tell them about the RCR's at all.... they'll still fix it right?

Dear jdmaxima89, call the or email them and tell them that you have a problem with the flashlights.

Do not ever think to mention that you used RCRs.

This flashlight is designed electronically to accept 6V. no more.

It is not accepted at all to use 3.7V batteries:fail:.

I'm sad for some people that force you and others to a serious risk.

I dont have enough money to play around.

_____________________
Surefire E2DL 200 lumens

 

[jdmaxima89]

Dear jdmaxima89, call the or email them and tell them that you have a problem with the flashlights.

Do not ever think to mention that you used RCRs.

This flashlight is designed electronically to accept 6V. no more.

It is not accepted at all to use 3.7V batteries:fail:.

I'm sad for some people that force you and others to a serious risk.

I dont have enough money to play around.

_____________________
Surefire E2DL 200 lumens

The radioshack batteries say 3.0v 450ma.......

So you are saying I shouldn't use the AW RCR's either?

And believe me... i wasn't going to mention the RCR's to fenix when i called

 

[Painful Chafe]

I have a friend that he has the PD20 and when he is using the RCR 3.7V the low mode is not working at all.

Some other friends has already burned the circuits on PD30 using RCR.


_____________________
Surefire E2DL 200 lumens

The PD20 with RCR and the low not working is a known issue and not a problem for the light other than the low not working until the battery drains down a little.

You have friends that burned their PD30's with RCR's? This is the first I have heard of this. Hmm? You would have thought it would have made the forums. Usually any issue like this would have been posted.... Weird.

 

[MR.A]

the flashlight is not mine. I prefer other flashlights than Fenix sorry. They have a lot of issues according the threads and conductivity as i know. If i'm wrong tell me.

but yes try to ask Fenix if you can safe use the RCRs on PD30.

I'm sure that the flashlight will die in one on in the other way...means that can stand dying...or die immediately.

I dont want to blame FENIX, all the companies that they say do not use RCRs 3.7V they know.

 

[Zatoichi]

It's difficult to say without knowing the voltage range it can handle, and I can't find that anywhere other than an Australian seller claiming it's 4.2v - 8.4v, but that's not gospel. The experiences of people here on CPF do suggests it's okay to use RCR's, but I must admit I'd be reluctant to try it myself without knowing it's voltage range. I do know 4sevens tested the P3D up to 16v !!

Anyway it seems unlikely those cells harmed it if they're 3v. I've emailed Fenix out of curiosity. If they reply I'll post what they say.

 

[Helmut.G]

P3D works well with RCR123 batteries (got a P3D CE and a P3D rebel 100, been using RCR123 batteries for about 3 years in the rebel without any problems), and I always thought the successor PD30 would, too

 

[MR.A]

It's difficult to say without knowing the voltage range it can handle, and I can't find that anywhere other than an Australian seller claiming it's 4.2v - 8.4v, but that's not gospel. The experiences of people here on CPF do suggests it's okay to use RCR's, but I must admit I'd be reluctant to try it myself without knowing it's voltage range. I do know 4sevens tested the P3D up to 16v !!

Anyway it seems unlikely those cells harmed it if they're 3v. I've emailed Fenix out of curiosity. If they reply I'll post what they say.

that would be very interesting info for all.

Thanks.

 

[jirik_cz]

Fenix P3D and PD30 always worked with RCR123 batteries. Did you check if the switch retaining ring is tight?

 

[325addict]

I've been using my P3D with AW black protected Li-ion 3.7V cells from the very first day I got it. NEVER had any problems. As someone posted, 4sevens has tested this one for up to SIXTEEN Volts

If the PD30 would not survive this, it would wonder me... but I don't own a PD30 so I can't tell it from my own experience.

Timmo.

 

[jdmaxima89]

Who do I actually call to get this taken care of? My friend bought it from buy.com... do I call them... or is there a way to get ahold of fenix without calling china? I bought my l2d thru 4sevens... and they dealt with it when I had a problem... Thanks!

(he bought it probably 3-4 months ago... but I just got it 1.5 months ago)