Know who is making SF 123's !!

[Ninja]

Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

Evidence WHO IS the SF battery OEM...

Today I recieved a couple of weponlight 4 cell lithium sticks with the normal white shrinkwrap. Looking through the white, one pack had the red SF 123's (marked SF423AC... SureFire LLC), & the other had Duracell Ultras (marked DL423AC... LASER PRODUCTS)! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

 

[chamenos]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

ninja, its likely the stick marked duracell was older stock, as indicated by the name "laser products". before surefire started producing their own batteries, all their lights shipped with duracell batteries /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JohnK]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

I do not think Surefire produces (makes) their own batteries.

Who does ?

 

[dano]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

Ray-O-Vac...

--dan

 

[FalconFX]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

I can't imagine if they had to sign an NDA for the batts...

 

[Beretta1526]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

It's not likely that they would have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. I'm sure they (SureFire) are not too interested in disclosing their source. Besides, if there was any sort of agreement, it would be an exclusivity clause or rider on a contract (unless they bought a company that produces 123's). If I were getting batteries branded for my business to sell, I wouldn't want a potential competitor able to purchase even near my price.

 

[SF_Batteries]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

The reply from SureFire is that our batteries are made by the finest source available for the manufacture of lithium batteries. Our 123A batteries are made in the US and are premium quality, we wouldn't put our name on anything less. Our strategy is to provide our product users with the finest battery made at the lowest price, making the cost of ownership of a SureFire product more attractive.

Thanks for your interest and comments.

Eric Kreis
SureFire Battery Marketing

 

[Klaus]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

Thanks you Eric for chimming in

Might I ask you to look through the forum on some recent issues people had been experiencing with SF cells ?

Thanks

Klaus

 

[SF_Batteries]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

Klaus,

I am in the process of doing that. We at SureFire want to address about any problems users may be having with our batteries and take prompt action to rectify any problems that might potentiially exist on our end. Users are literially our "eyes and ears" in the field. Our name and reputation is on those products we don't want anyting less than perfection.

Eric Kreis
SureFire Battery Marketing

 

[Velcro]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

So Eric, what is the finest source that manufactures the Surefire batteries? Ray-O-Vac, or Duracell, or...?

 

[Pellidon]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

From a cosmetic view Ray-O-Vac and Energizer E2's look like the SF down to the hex holed plastic top button surround. My guess is all three come from the same factory.

 

[Ninja]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

Thanks Chamenos - I knew that, but just wanted to stir the pot.

Right on Dan & Pellidon...

Thanks Eric, glad to welcome you aboard!

 

[SF_Batteries]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

Sorry folks, I'll never divulge my source, I'm sworn to secrecy. I will say that the SureFire 123's perform as good as, or in most cases better than, any of the other brands on the market.
Besides if I was to tell you who made them, how would we keep this discussion interesting?

Glad to be aboard.

Eric
SureFire Battery Marketing

 

[Pellidon]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

If one is really desperate and out of SF batteries, Circuit City has Maxell's usually for $4 each. They seem to work ok and last as long as SF's and cost inbetween SF's and the more mundane brands. No they don't look like they came from the same place. I had some for my camera from before I found the better priced units.

That is the best walk in off the street price I have seen short of a camera fleamarket or gun show. Of course you can't beat SF's price, longevity and brightness.

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Re: Know who is making SF 123\'s !!

Eric,

I have a couple of hints for you.

The behavior of some 123 batteries, that stop working suddendly near the end of their rated capacity, is not a "prerogative" of SF batteries. I noted this behavior from ONE SF battery, and from another two "made in Japan" different brands, on a observed total of about 100 (of which, 12 were SF brand).

Usually, I expect a more gradual "fade" of the power transferred from the battery to the load. In view of this, I carefully analyzed the "defective" batteries, both SF and non-SF brand.

From visual and chemical analysis, the negative plate in the battery ends its active role BEFORE the manganese dioxide is fully deoxidized.

Traditionally, battery manufacturers made negative plate to have more capacity of the positive. This had a reason to be when, in zinc carbon batteries, the "zinc can" had also the role of battery outer casing.

In 123 batteries, negative is made of lithium, so it can be understood that, for safety or economical reasons, or both, the manufacturer may limit the quantity of lithium to the barely minimum.
To my opinion (and to the opinion of many CPFers) the "barely minimum" should include the possibility to the user to understand that the battery is approaching its end of life.

Hope this helps

Anthony