Li-Ion Experts - Would you keep one on your flashlight keychain?

[belomeclone]

Is it safe? If I drop my keys, is it safe? Just... safety in general!

 

[jasonck08]

Is it safe? If I drop my keys, is it safe? Just... safety in general!

Do you keep a cell phone in your pocket? If so, it has a Li-ion battery. If you do carry any flashlight in your pocket, just make sure it can't easily turn itself on.

 

[moderator007]

I carry a ITP A1 with a 16340 li-ion all day every day. Never had a problem. Always use protected cells so if the light accidently turns on in your pocket the pcb should kick off the battery before its drained to low. They also trip off if the current gets to high. Giving you some protection.

 

[tjhabak]

I carry an ITP A3 with a protected 10440 on my keychain. I've been doing so for about 6 months, and not had a problem. It did come on in my pocket in high mode once. My burning leg told me of the problem long before the battery was in any jeopardy! Lol!

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[belomeclone]

I carry a ITP A1 with a 16340 li-ion all day every day. Never had a problem. Always use protected cells so if the light accidently turns on in your pocket the pcb should kick off the battery before its drained to low. They also trip off if the current gets to high. Giving you some protection.

16340, I'm unfamiliar with them. I thought 10440 was the only size li-ion for AAA batteries, and that they couldn't be protected.

And I thought the protection saved your unit but ruined the battery. It can help save the battery for future use too?

 

[moderator007]

16340, I'm unfamiliar with them. I thought 10440 was the only size li-ion for AAA batteries, and that they couldn't be protected.

16340 is a li-ion in a cr123a size. Although not the same voltage. The Itp A1 can use either one. 16340 li-ion is 16mm diameter by 34mm high.

And I thought the protection saved your unit but ruined the battery. It can help save the battery for future use too?

Yes, the protection circuit will trip under a load some where around 2.75v. The resting voltage once the pcb has been triped should be around 3.25v or higher. Left in this state I have read, the battery can have irreversible damage. If the protection trips charge the battery up to at least 40% 3.8v at rest as soon as possible. The battery shouldn't suffer any ill effects from this if not left in a low state to long.

There are protected 10440 batteries to be had. Dealextreme has some. I have the trustfire 10440's I use in my ITP A3. On the down side they only have about 300mah capacity when I tested them. They make the A3 much brighter but very seldom do I need that much light to see at night. I Just use alkalines most of the time because they will give longer run times but at lower light levels.