LF EO-9

jugg2

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I was thinking about ordering the LF LA EO-9, and running it for short bursts in my G2. I will eventually put it in a 6P, but for the time being will the heat damage my G2? I would only run it for 2min. max at a time, probably not even that long though.
 
I was thinking about ordering the LF LA EO-9, and running it for short bursts in my G2. I will eventually put it in a 6P, but for the time being will the heat damage my G2? I would only run it for 2min. max at a time, probably not even that long though.

Its not recommended to use the EO-9 with 2x RCR123 cells, too much stress on the system....here are some alternatives from "mdocod".

Cell configuration: 2xRCR123

Bulb Options:
LF D26 ES-9: 7W, 98 - 56 lumen in 38 minutes
LF D26 SR-9: 9W, 126 - 74 lumen in 25 minutes
LF D26 HO-9: 12W, 160 - 88 lumen in 20 minutes
SF P90: 9W, 118 - 70 lumen in 25 minutes
G&P G90: 9W, 118 - 70 lumen in 25 minutes
G&P D26 7.4V "DX 10W xenon": 9W, 118 - 70 lumen in 25 minutes
G&P D26 7.4V "DX 15W xenon": 10.5W, 136 - 80 lumen in 23 minutes
Pathfinder P90: 10W, 129 - 75 lumen in 23 minutes
WE D26 9V: 10W, 136 - 80 lumen in 23 minutes
Pila GL3 LA: 10W, 136 - 80 lumen in 23 minutes
 
I ran the EO-9 in my G2 for a little while (it does have a glass lens though). 10 minutes of runtime is just not enough for me so I decided to use it in my 9P instead. Once Leef makes some more of those C-C tubes I will power it with 2 18650 cells.

So to answer your question, if you upgraded your lens you should be OK. If you are using the stock lens, you risk melting it since the EO-9 puts out some heat. The main problem you are going to have is runtime in a small two cell configuration. Plus, I don't think you will get it to work with protected cells. I never liked using 2 unprotected R123's with power hungry lamps like the P91 or the EO-9.
 
Thanks guys, I already read that thread, well I guess I have to buy a 9P then.:mecry::D
 
You could always just throw an extender on your 6P rather than buying another light. I just don't think you would be too thrilled with the runtime in a 6P or G2 configuration. It's bright for a few minutes but then it starts turning color fast. I've been running the EO-9 with a pair of Wolf Eyes 150B cells (17500's) in my 9P and even that combo is starting to leave more to be desired. I can't wait to run it with 2 LG 18650's.
 
Ok, I'm going answer this in a way that I shouldn't.

First off, running an EO-9 on RCR123s is actually pushing the cells at about 4C, double their rated maximum safe current delivery. It should be avoided. Even the HO-9 is pushing it, I have listed configurations that are less than 30 minutes estimated runtime, but included a warning about them.

however....

IF you can get by with only using around 5 minutes of runtime broken up into SHORT bursts (like under 30 seconds each), you can effectively use AWs protected RCR123s to drive an EO-9 IF you are willing to accept the increased risk and pull a different light form your pocket when you need extended runtime. If you top off the cells very frequently, they will actually survive a long time using this lamp.

Here's my recommendation for those who can follow the guidelines above, and a few more things:

Charge the cells to ~4.15V instead of 4.20V, Discharge to no lower than about 3.90V resting. Cycle in this range (which will be about 5 minutes runtime or so). If you follow these rules I suspect you could get a hundred or more of these shallow cycles out of these cells safely. I did it for a month or so and have since switched back to a lower output lamp. But My cells still hold healthy voltage after resting off the charger and are still close to original capacity.

I wouldn't even be saying this, accept I feel that RCR123s are small enough and low enough in capacity that if something bad were to happen it would not be as catastrophic as a primary CR123 or larger format li-ion cell problem. There is increased risk in running like this but I think with the right limitations on use it can be done reasonably safely.

Originally I wasn't going to say anything about this configuration accept avoid it, but I have decided to "spill the beans" on how to do it reasonably safely, some folks are going to do things like this anyways, might as well lay out some guidelines on how to minimize risk when doing so.
 
Thanks mdocod, It was mainly just going to be a fun light anyways. Well I guess I will go ahead and do it and be very careful with it, and only use it for VERY SHORT bursts. Having someone who knows as much as you do about incan/Li-ion chip in makes me feel better. Could I use the P-91 LA in a similar manner as well?
 
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If you run it this way, be prepared to accept a very short cycle life from the poor R123's. The high current draw will probably yield you 30 cycles before significant cell disbalance and reduced capacity, which will make operation of this setup all the more difficult.
 
LED61: when following the guidelines that I mentioned, the cells will stay in balance and survive a pretty decent life. In a month or so of doing this I tested the cells every time they came out of the light and off the charger, they always stayed within 0.01V of each-other.
 
I agree with mdocod. Even though I don't recommend running it that way, it never caused any shorter cell life in my experience.
 
What if I didn't push them quite so hard and only ran a HO-9, or even the SR-9, would that be a little easier on the batteries? And what kind of runtimes could I approxomately expect?
 
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LED61: when following the guidelines that I mentioned, the cells will stay in balance and survive a pretty decent life. In a month or so of doing this I tested the cells every time they came out of the light and off the charger, they always stayed within 0.01V of each-other.

True mdocod, it's just that the R123's don't do very well with the high amp draw rates, I've heard of some knowledgeable CPF'rs saying maybe 30 cycles at those rates. It's been tried at 1.5 amps to see if it would work in the standard MB20 for the SF M6 and using the MN60 lamp. Unprotected powerizers do much better at that but we know the risks involved.
 
by limiting the discharge to 3.9V in conjunction with only using it in short bursts, the issues of the high current are most negated. If you run an EO-9 on RCR123s and do CONTINUOUS discharges till the cells are basically dead, it would probably not even last 10 cycles..

Jugg, an SR-9 or HO-9 would be a much smarter choice. If you want to be able to turn it on and leave it on, go with the SR-9 or ES-9 or run a 17670 cell with a HO-4, if you can keep it down to short bursts and frequent charging the HO-9 works nicely.
 
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