Just tested my CR123/CR2 stash

[JimH]

After reading some of the recent hoopla about some brands of primary lithium CR123s having a high self discharge rate, I decided it was time to test my stash.

I used a ZTS battery tester. All batteries were between 1 and 3.5 years old. The chart below shows the results.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Jim,

Interesting...

Tom

 

[gchand]

On your cells that tested below 100%, did you by any chance try running
them under load (in a flashlight), then retest them? I have observed several
cases with Streamlight and Titanium cells where they initially test low on my
ZTS tester, then after being "run" for awhile, retest at 100%. This
phenomenon has been reported previously here (SilverFox?).


George

 

[JimH]

On your cells that tested below 100%, did you by any chance try running
them under load (in a flashlight), then retest them?

I don't have time to nurse finicky batteries. With all the good batteries on the market, life is to short to waste it on batteries that are sub-par. Either it tests good or it doesn't. If it doesn't, I toss it and don't buy that brand again.

 

[Nebula]

After reading some of the recent hoopla about some brands of primary lithium CR123s having a high self discharge rate, I decided it was time to test my stash.

I used a ZTS battery tester. All batteries were between 1 and 3.5 years old. The chart below shows the results.

Jim - Thanks for posting your test results. I had a similar result with the Titanium brand (123/CR2) a couple of months ago. My batteries were all at or less than 1 year old. Oh, and I did attempt to revive them by putting them under a load. No luck. Kirk

 

[arty]

I have had Duracells (R123) go bad in storage for less than a few months (4 of 6) and the same results with Rayovac CR2s.