I need another SF72-BB already!

[SolarMan]

my A2-YG is eating batteries like mad@!

I get about 30 minutes of regulated incan light (nice!) then the light starts dimming (like an un-regulated incan). I thought it should just shut down the incan, and give LED only for survival mode. The incan keeps getting dimmer until it is a beautiful red glow...really pretty but weird.

I use my A2 about 1 hour per week on incan mode and chew through 4 batteries.

:hairpull:

 

[ampdude]

Get a couple sets of AW IMR16340's and a AW charger, problem solved. There's no reason to burn through that many primaries nowadays with an A2 or any 9V lamp assemblies.

I have several Surefire incans I use daily and I'm still on the same battery 12 pack from over a year ago.

 

[effulgentOne]

Don't get IMRs, because they have no protection circuit, and the A2 will over discharge them if you're not careful, which could kill your cells. RCR123A are a better choice, but be warned you will be left in the dark when the protection circuit does kick in (it goes dark instead of killing the cells), so it'll be good to recharge often and carry spares. RCR123A also have the highest capacity.

Also, some RCR123As don't fit in an A2, but I think the modern AW cells do, so sticking to them would be safest.

Finally, the LEDs in the A2 are just resistored, not regulated, so either rechargeable setup listed above would overdrive your LEDs even more than they are already (the incan is regulated, and will be unaffected). I don't know how the YG would be affected, but I know the white doesn't like it at all.

In light of this last point, you might want to look into LiFePO4 cells, which AW also sells. They are also unprotected, but they have a lower voltage, and so won't overdrive the LEDs as much, and will fare better if you forget and overdischarge them. However, they also have a lower capacity than the other two.

Some things to think about.

 

[kelmo]

30 minutes seams kind of short. I get about 45 minutes with my Red A2. Perhaps you should contact Surefire?

 

[Chrontius]

There's also the Onion Ring to think about, a regulated LED driver board for the A2. You'll need to buy another set of YG LEDs, but this will happily run at whatever voltage the main gun will, and its drive current can be tuned by a tiiiiny trim potentiometer on the bezel-side of the board.

 

[effulgentOne]

There's also the Onion Ring to think about, a regulated LED driver board for the A2. You'll need to buy another set of YG LEDs, but this will happily run at whatever voltage the main gun will, and its drive current can be tuned by a tiiiiny trim potentiometer on the bezel-side of the board.

I have been keeping track of that thread. The onion rings would be perfect for rechargeables, but they're not out yet and, as you stated, you'd have to source some new YG LEDs.

 

[SolarMan]

30 minutes seams kind of short. I get about 45 minutes with my Red A2. Perhaps you should contact Surefire?

I contacted SureFire and they are going to replace my A2! 30 minutes runtime on the incan is a problem according to the rep.

They are also sending a free 12 pack of batteries!

Thanks for the suggestion kelmo!