Li-Ion Rechargeable 123's - Review Thread

[ufokillerz]

Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Review Thread

Got my Li-Ion Rechargeable 123s today, and i was wondering if anyone started abusing(using) them yet. I'm charging one right now so I don't have any feedback to give on them right now other then that they look exactly like CR123s with the gas-vent holes and all.

If you got them already, what have you used it in? How did you like them? Good or bad? Would you recommend to friends? Just trying to see what you guys think, i'll be posting what i think about them soon.

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

I really want to know about the usability, are they worth having, are they useful. Do the negatives out weigh the good. What people think will affect if these are going to be made available as a regular item.

My thoughts on these for now is that they will be better for single cell applications and Pilas for multi-cell applications.

 

[moses]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

ufokillerz - how about changing your posting title to indicate this as a review thread for the lithium 123 rechargeables? Just a thought.

Got mine today and recharging one too. Mine started out stable green without blinking but I figure I better charge it a couple of hours anyway.

Some observations:
1. My lead to the battery had to be bent out a bit to make contact as the gap between the lead and the top spring loaded button on the charger was a bit wider than the battery.
2. Seems like quality cells in physical construction.

My questions:
1. How long to charge from depleted cell.
2. Does the charger trickle or stop when battery is full?
3. Does it kill the cell when it is discharged too much since it doesn't have a protection circuit to prevent overdischarging?

Moses

 

[this_is_nascar]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

Got mine today and just had to try them in the Arc4+. Within 30-minutes, the Arc4+ was dimmer than my Arc AAA light. I'm going to run a few cycles of charge/use, but early indications are they won't serve my needs.

 

[stockwiz]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

From what I have heard about the lithium ion rechargables, they are too fragile for most people's use in that one cannot discharge them to any significant degree without damaging them which restricts their runtime significantly, as witnessed by nascar's test on the arc4.

Two of them 1/5 A nimh batteries would probably be able to run longer on an arc4 then these batteries, because nimh can be discharged pretty far and still come back to life in the charger.

 

[moses]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

If it would run 30 minutes consistenly on the Arc LS, it is very usable for us. We hardly ever use 30 minutes a day. Our solution would be to carry a couple and recharge nightly. Easy routine.

Problem is if these cells would discharge too low before the regulated light dims, and thus damage the cells - then that would be problematic. If these had a circuit like Pilas to protect them from getting too low, then it would be just great.

Right now, I'm really treating them very gently until we figure out these cells limits.

It sure does gives great brightness off the charger. I've run my Arcs on one for 15-20 minutes straight and then recharge.

So far, one thumbs up - pending whether they die when overdischarged.

Moses

 

[kakster]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

My understanding was that they DO have overdischarge protection. They lack an overcharge safety, which is built in to the charger. This is also the reason why they dont reccomend using them in 2 cell lights.
I dont have my set yet, but have been playing with some bought from German eBay, so Jon's may be different.

 

[ufokillerz]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

1 thing to look out for is the charge indicator light, It is normally orange when charging, you have to look at the indicator straight on for an accurate reading, there are 2 levels of GREEN light with 1 being greener and should mean that its totally charged. In one level of green you will notice that the amber light is still on if looked at from an angle.

 

[Topper]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

Hi Jon, I am out of the testing game after 2 recharges the charger literally started to melt/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif it was sitting on a vhs tape and it is slightly melted as well. The tape still plays and the house did not burn down so all in all I feel pretty lucky I thought about trying to charge them in my Pila for a second or two then thought better of it.
I hope others get better results. Please stay close by when charging and if it starts getting hot better unplug it!
Topper /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[stockwiz]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

the arc4 would take care of this problem for you because it has discharge protection for lithium ion cells, which is why you get the low runtimes with these batteries using the arc4. A good solid 30 minutes on level 4 isn't that bad, I agree with you there.. but the Arc is a relatively low drain and efficient device at level 4 compared to other lights. Probably not the best choice for your surefire incandescents.

They were a beta test but since I sold my arc4 I'll no longer need these when I receive them and probably won't test them, but just sell them here.

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

Who all has been getting heating problems? The one I am using has never gotten hot. Topper, I will send you anoter set, let me know if this one gets hot as well.

 

[SDS]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

I've run two load/recharge cycles with a Arc LS III TWOK mod at 633ma. The first cycle dropped out of regulation at 14 and 15 minutes (testing 2 batteries). I was hoping that the capacity of the batteries would improve with the first few cycles similar to Nimh batteries, but no such luck.
The second cycle dropped out of regulation in 5 and 6 minutes respectively. The measured voltage was at 3.8v initially down to 2.2v when it drops out of regulation.

The voltage these cells produce seems to hold with a slight decline under load, then it very quickly drops when the load can no longer be met.

Seems they are likely to be damaged easily with this rapid voltage drop off in many applications.

 

[Topper]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

Hi Jon do not feel like you need to do that. This was A test and I do not recall any warranty it was use at your own risk. I hope mine overheating was A fluke.
Topper /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[this_is_nascar]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

Jon, while I appreciate the chance to "test" these cells, I must say, they are really terrible. Within a matter of 14-minutes of constant runtime in an Arc4+ at Level-1, the Arc4+ has stepped down to probably Level 12 or so. I honestly don't see how anyone could really use these in any normal situation.

 

[SilverFox]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

Hello Ray,

I am afraid I am going to have to disagree with you.

I just ran a pair through an ARC LSH-P and got 35 and 36 minutes to half brightness.

I think I can "use" that kind of run time even though it is a bit on the short side.

Half brightness to blinking was an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute. When the dim down, they are dead.

Starting at 3.77 v ending at 2.32 v.

I wonder if these batteries are better off in lower power demanding lights?

Tom

 

[SilverFox]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

WARNING!!!

Do not put two of these batteries in an Legend LX.

I just flashed my bulb...

Called Brinkmann and they are backordered for 3 weeks. Bummer.

Tom

 

[vcal]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

[ QUOTE ]
SilverFox said:
Starting at 3.77 v ending at 2.32 v.
Tom

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm afraid if you continue to run that Li-ion cell down to that level, it'll have a very short life. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Likebright]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

I have my second cell in my Arc4 now. The first one went for two days of intermittent use including Full power when needed. When they fall off they fall off! Dropping to level 16 in 5-6 min. I can use these as I don't use my light all the time, but I would strongly advise to keep a backup Surefire 123 in you pocket.
Mike

 

[SilverFox]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

Hello Doug,

That was the measurement right out of the light as I turned it off.

If I let it set for 30 seconds, it is up to 2.7 v and after two minutes it is up to 3.0 volts and seems to stabilize there.

Does this sound better to you?

Tom

 

[SilverFox]

Re: Li-Ion Rechargeable 123\'s - Got mine today

It looks like I am getting 1 hour and 15 minutes on the charger until the green light comes on.

Is that what others are observing as well?

Tom