I keep all my lights loaded with lithiums except a few older lights that have very high parasitic drain. I have lots of light that don't get used on a regular basis, emergency lights in cars as an example. I track when the batteries were installed new on a list. When my user lights consume cells, I pull the oldest installed cells from an infrequently used light, put them in my user light and put fresh cells in the infrequently used light. This rotation insures that cells are used on a first in first out basis and every lights gets changed within a few years. I inspect and PM as need at the same time. I've never had a lithium failure in the 15 years I've used this system for about 20 lights.
keeping flashlights 'loaded'
- Thread starter mbw_151
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
Hi,
I've picked up a few Surefires recently, and I wondered how all of you deal with the issue of battery storage in your flashlights. When you need a flashlight, you want it to be ready. I would normally just have lithium primary cells sitting in all my lights that use them, but I read a thread here once about leaking batteries, and when I checked my two 'car lights' (which just sit in the car year-round with the spare tire), I found the alkaline c-cells in my old Kel-lite had in fact started to decompose.
Some of you have quite a few pricey flashlights. How do you deal with this issue?
Do you just keep one or two of your flashlights loaded with batteries?
Do you have batteries in all of them, and check them on, say, a weekly basis?
Do you store batteries in a case more to protect other stuff from them leaking, instead of protecting the batteries themselves?
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I've picked up a few Surefires recently, and I wondered how all of you deal with the issue of battery storage in your flashlights. When you need a flashlight, you want it to be ready. I would normally just have lithium primary cells sitting in all my lights that use them, but I read a thread here once about leaking batteries, and when I checked my two 'car lights' (which just sit in the car year-round with the spare tire), I found the alkaline c-cells in my old Kel-lite had in fact started to decompose.
Some of you have quite a few pricey flashlights. How do you deal with this issue?
Do you just keep one or two of your flashlights loaded with batteries?
Do you have batteries in all of them, and check them on, say, a weekly basis?
Do you store batteries in a case more to protect other stuff from them leaking, instead of protecting the batteries themselves?
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Flying Turtle
Flashaholic
The ones in the car are loaded with alkalines. I check them fairly regularly. In the house my lights are mostly unloaded, except for the four or five current ready lights. House or pocket lights get NiMH's or CR123's.
Geoff
Geoff
All of mine are loaded, the lights that dont get used alot get newer cells when my edc and much used lights need to be fed so old and new cells are rotated.
In the case of a torch in a glove box or backpack you may want to lock it out so you dont inadvertently turn it on.
In the case of a torch in a glove box or backpack you may want to lock it out so you dont inadvertently turn it on.
Alkaline are the only batteries I'm really concerned with regarding to leaking. I haven't used Alkie for flashlights for awhile, so I'm safe there.
Nimh is not prone to leaking as Alkaline so you could use them instead.
I don't think Lithium leaks. If you have primary lithiums on your flashlights you should be fine. However, if you are using rechargeable lithiums, it is not ideal to have them in flashlights where you are not going to use for a loooong time. It's not the issue of leaking, but an issue with battery degradation. You should not have rechargeables unused at max charge (approx 4.2v) for extended period.
I run all my flashlights with rechargeables. However, the flashlights that I don't use frequently, I either have primaries in them (in case of emergency) or I keep the rechargeable but are charged about 3.8v.
Nimh is not prone to leaking as Alkaline so you could use them instead.
I don't think Lithium leaks. If you have primary lithiums on your flashlights you should be fine. However, if you are using rechargeable lithiums, it is not ideal to have them in flashlights where you are not going to use for a loooong time. It's not the issue of leaking, but an issue with battery degradation. You should not have rechargeables unused at max charge (approx 4.2v) for extended period.
I run all my flashlights with rechargeables. However, the flashlights that I don't use frequently, I either have primaries in them (in case of emergency) or I keep the rechargeable but are charged about 3.8v.
arjay
Newly Enlightened
Well for starters I NEVER use alkaline cells in anything as they have the potential to leak. I have switched to LSD rechargeable batteries and have never looked back. Though I keep a few in hand for extreme emergencies as my EO1s, LD10s and L2Ds lights will suck them dry on low/medium.
I always keep my flashlights loaded with either lithium primaries(CR123) or LSD rechargeable batteries(AA,AAA) and have spares close by. That way I am sure that any light I grab is good to go.
I always keep my flashlights loaded with either lithium primaries(CR123) or LSD rechargeable batteries(AA,AAA) and have spares close by. That way I am sure that any light I grab is good to go.
RobertM
Flashlight Enthusiast
99% of my flashlights are CR123 (or Li-ion) and all are loaded and ready to go.
-Robert
-Robert
Thank you all very much.
I guess it's time to start educating myself on Nimh and LSD rechargeables for my two car lights, as well as the Malkoff and terralux m*glites underneath the bed. I've got the battery threads sticky bookmarked.
I guess it's time to start educating myself on Nimh and LSD rechargeables for my two car lights, as well as the Malkoff and terralux m*glites underneath the bed. I've got the battery threads sticky bookmarked.
lightplay22
Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2005
- Messages
- 328
Through the years alkalines have ruined all but one of my mag lights from aaa, aa 2c.3c,5c,2d,3d,4d, about 12 lights in all. Thats why I now use cr123 or lithium aa's etc, and keep all lights that I might use loaded. The oen 3d mag I still have stays in the house by the back door and I check the batteries about twice a year.(The light never really gets used) The batteries are probably 3 years old, still work, and have not leaked. I'm convinced that the heat/cold cycle that a light goes through when left in a car will cause alkalines to leak much sooner than if they are in a controlled environment at room temperature
JeffInChi
Enlightened
+1 for Nimh rechargeable, intially pricey - somewhat yes. But if you want your lights ready to go, it's a no-brainer.
Alkaline will eventually leak, ruining the light. Check and change the batteries often if you don't want to purchase nimh, especially if you leave it in the car throughout all the seasons.
carrot
Flashaholic
I don't leave alkalines in anything, but I do leave lithiums in most of my lights. Most of my Surefires have lithiums loaded in them and I have no plans to take them out. They don't leak the way alkalines do.
kramer5150
Flashaholic
You don't have to worry about Surefires. Lithium primaries and Lithium ion (17670)cells seldomly leak, if used safely.
Plus the fact that if you have a Surefire light loaded with Surefire primaries, and they were to actually leak on you (unlikely), and the light was wrecked, I'm quite sure a call to Surefire CS would lead to you getting a brand new one of whatever you managed to destroy.
(Not protos or crazy rare stuff obviously, but I'm talking current productions models)
(Not protos or crazy rare stuff obviously, but I'm talking current productions models)
ejot
Enlightened
I have a few lights that I own mostly as collectibles and don't use much. They don't stay loaded. Other than that, they're all ready to go. Pretty even mix of lithium primaries, NiMH, and LiIon. I top off a few rechargeables every week, so only rarely do I run down a full charge on any of them.
lolzertank
Enlightened
CR123As won't leak, but low quality ones might vent/explode in high temperature environments like a car. Be sure to get brand name cells.
I currently only have 2 lights using alkalines, 1 is in my LED Lenser P5 and the other is in an Ultrafire C3. Those get checked on a monthly basis. The rest are running on LSD eneloops or RCR123s, 10440s, 14500s, 18650s. My general practice is to do a voltage check on all cells each month, rotate the cells which are loaded in the lights with those on standby, recharge the cells in the lights and place those on standby.
I've had very positive experience with Li-ions and keep them in all my lights that use them, regardless of how rare or often their use. One that gets occasional use is checked every 3 months or so.
I feel much better about Li-ions than CR123A primaries, which I do not like, trust, recommend, or often use, regardless of brand. I've got a bunch of CR123As <1-3 years old with little or no use that are probably borderline dead regardless of what their voltage reads on a DMM, and have experienced that with half a dozen different brands. The ZTS testers aren't worth a crap, either, in my experience. While I don't have a way to test voltage under load, firing them up in an incan or a Zebralight H30 on high quickly tells the real story.
I'll take fresh primaries for potential use with no opportunity to charge Li-ions, and use a LED light to burn up old ones, but I generally avoid them like the plague.
I use alkaline AAs some, but don't leave them in anything. Energizer lithium AAs and AAAs have been good to me, and I tend to use(and leave) those in lights that are rarely used, or have little enough current draw that I don't feel the urge to use NiMH.
I feel much better about Li-ions than CR123A primaries, which I do not like, trust, recommend, or often use, regardless of brand. I've got a bunch of CR123As <1-3 years old with little or no use that are probably borderline dead regardless of what their voltage reads on a DMM, and have experienced that with half a dozen different brands. The ZTS testers aren't worth a crap, either, in my experience. While I don't have a way to test voltage under load, firing them up in an incan or a Zebralight H30 on high quickly tells the real story.
I'll take fresh primaries for potential use with no opportunity to charge Li-ions, and use a LED light to burn up old ones, but I generally avoid them like the plague.
I use alkaline AAs some, but don't leave them in anything. Energizer lithium AAs and AAAs have been good to me, and I tend to use(and leave) those in lights that are rarely used, or have little enough current draw that I don't feel the urge to use NiMH.
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My personal rule of thumb is as follows, and I haven't had a single battery leak in over three years:
If I don't use it for 6 months, I turn it on every now and then and check on the batteries for signs of corrosion every couple of months
If I did put a brand new battery (not just never used in a year old box, I mean just bought from the store battery) in it, I'll tolerate it for a year, but still turn it on every now and then.
In any other cases, I take the batteries out or rotate them.
Never ever buy cheapos, worst of all dollar store batteries (if you want to save, buy quantities)
I try to follow this for any type of battery.
two of the main causes of leakage is battery drainage (lock-out you lights will prevent a lot of these) or charge leak from one battery to the next (turn it on now and then helps a lot by equalizing the charges.)
If I don't use it for 6 months, I turn it on every now and then and check on the batteries for signs of corrosion every couple of months
If I did put a brand new battery (not just never used in a year old box, I mean just bought from the store battery) in it, I'll tolerate it for a year, but still turn it on every now and then.
In any other cases, I take the batteries out or rotate them.
Never ever buy cheapos, worst of all dollar store batteries (if you want to save, buy quantities)
I try to follow this for any type of battery.
two of the main causes of leakage is battery drainage (lock-out you lights will prevent a lot of these) or charge leak from one battery to the next (turn it on now and then helps a lot by equalizing the charges.)
