is lifepo4 essentially safe to use in all cr123 flashlights?

[nasa779]

im just curious if LiPePo4 batteries are safe to use in generally any cr123 flashlight because of the lower "fully charged" voltage

 

[arek98]

NO!

Charged LiFePo4 is about 3.6V. Primary CR123 is 3.0V. This may be still to much. Depending on driver you may damage it or/and led .

For example see Nailbender sales thread (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=248771) where he specificaly states that there were problems with LiFePo4 batteries and modules rated for 6V max.

 

[Mr Happy]

For instance, see this thread (CR123A) and this thread (LiFePO4).

CR123A cells discharge at about 2.7 V, whereas LiFePO4 cells discharge at about 3.2 V. Therefore you need to check specifically for compatibility before you consider using LiFePO4 cells.

 

[nasa779]

so wait am i checking compatibility for 3.6v or 3.2v?

 

[John_Galt]

3.6 volt compatibily

or Li-ion compatibility. Just make sure it sates whether it means single or multiple li-ion cells. If you were to use two 3.6 v nominal (4.2v each, charged) 14500's in a Quark AA^2, it'd be fried. But using a single 16430 in the 123^1 tube would be fine.

 

[Mr Happy]

so wait am i checking compatibility for 3.6v or 3.2v?

You are checking basically for 3.2 V compatibility, but the voltage of a freshly charged cell may be a bit higher than 3.2 V before it starts discharging. Just remember that a LiFePO4 cell is not an exact replacement for a CR123A cell, and so you have to specifically check for compatibility before you try to use one. Every light is different.

(For instance, if you put two LiFePO4 cells in series you will get 6.4 V or more, and that may fry a 6 V max driver that otherwise can accept two CR123A cells.)