light for used 123's

[DHCrocks]

light for used 123\'s

I know I've seen a post about this before, but I searched and could not find it.
Which light out there can extract the most out of used 123's can be either 1 or 2 cells. I was thinking that a regulated 2 cell would be able to squeeze the most out of them but then the losses across the regulator might offset this. So maybe a direct drive would be better. What do you all think? I know when I stick my dead batteries (won't even give a hint of light on my surefire) into my SNII it still lights up. Just looking for something smaller. Cheap is good too as I don't feel like droping a benjamin for a light just to use my old batteries.

 

[kev1-1]

Re: light for used 123\'s

Perhaps a KL1 or Arc LS would work for you? Both being regulated and having 'lowish' demands being LED.

EDIT:Just read you post again...these are not cheap lights IMHO...sorry!!

 

[B@rt]

Re: light for used 123\'s

Get a "FireFly" with a MM board... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twak.gif

Not very cheap, but MAJOR cool. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[PaulW]

Re: light for used 123\'s

Funny, I was just playing with this question last night. My SF A2 xenon lamp began to dim, meaning the the batteries were too weak to support a regulated output. Plenty of zip for the LED part, but not a whole flashlight anymore.

So I put one of the batteries in my Arc LS. It lit up brilliantly. It took the Arc 8 to 12 minutes for the level to be reduced to 1/10. The Arc extracts more than the A2 on incandescent.

There's more juice but not much. From what I read, the older Arc LS1s would be able to milk it more. They run the batteries to a lower voltage. Perhaps another 10 minutes ? ? ?

Ah, but all this is theoretical when you are looking for economy. But if you could get a light that is useful for you as well as being able to suck dry a 123 . . . ? Perhaps an Arc LS second would work for you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[shrap]

Re: light for used 123\'s

How about the Streamlight 1L TwinTask? Three LEDs + Xenon, relatively cheap.

 

[FalconFX]

Re: light for used 123\'s

How about the Streamlight 1L TwinTask? Three LEDs + Xenon, relatively cheap.

Not exactly direct drive, but maybe resistored and not regulated nonetheless... The LEDs should do well for drainin' a 123...

 

[lemlux]

Re: light for used 123\'s

I know you guys don't like to mix battery types, but I frequently place one almost dead 123 into a Doug Spec UBH and KL1 along with a single 4/3 A NiMH cell.

If you're less adventurous, you could put 3 @ weak 123's into the UBH with KL1. I use a battery tester with a 160 mA load at the 1.5 V position to test the 123's. When these 3V cells show as equivalent to a weak 1.5 v cell I finally toss them.

The KL1 needs something like 2.5 V or 2.6 V to run at full brightness and it can handle 3 @ fresh 123's.

 

[Wolfen]

Re: light for used 123\'s

I would echo the other statements. An UBH KL1 combo or an older Arc LS.

 

[DHCrocks]

Re: light for used 123\'s

mmm...that sounds interesting a KL1 running off of three old 123's. Now I just gotta go find me the parts. thanks guys.

 

[paulr]

Re: light for used 123\'s

A Firefly with a Madmax.

 

[FalconFX]

Re: light for used 123\'s

A MadMax module in a McLux head running either 1, 2 ,or 3 CR123s to death is the ideal solution...

 

[paulr]

Re: light for used 123\'s

Can you doooooooo that? I thought the Madmax was strictly a step-up converter.

 

[yclo]

Re: light for used 123\'s

The big gap in the market right now is a 1~3 5mm led that uses one 123 cell.

 

[paulr]

Re: light for used 123\'s

Hmm. I had the idea a while back of modding a Tekna Splash-Lite to use a red LED instead of its screw-base incandescent bulb, but these days I'd just get a red CMG Infinity instead. A single-123 white LED light would have to use a step-up converter, and it just doesn't seem worth it unless you're going to use a Luxeon, which needs the 123's high power capacity compared with an AA or AAA.

Has the Inova X5T come up in this thread? It uses two 123's and a resistor and five 5mm LED's.

 

[Ninja]

Re: light for used 123\'s

Hurricane Light, 12 used 123's is another option for less than $20.

 

[PaulW]

Re: light for used 123\'s

I have seen the SureFire 12B Hurricane light before. I'd like to get one. The cheapest price I can find is $38, which includes $15 worth of batteries. Where can I find it for less than $20?

 

[Ninja]

Re: light for used 123\'s

SureFire also sold the lamp & case seperatly without the cells.

 

[shrap]

Re: light for used 123\'s

[ QUOTE ]
yclo said:
The big gap in the market right now is a 1~3 5mm led that uses one 123 cell.

[/ QUOTE ]

yclo,

The Streamlight I mentioned earlier, the 1L, is a 3 LED light that runs on one 123 battery. Plus you get a xenon lamp for free!

 

[FalconFX]

Re: light for used 123\'s

Paulr, notice I said "ideal"...
Vmin for the MM module is .4V EACH CELL. Whether or not that really takes a CR123 down to .4V is beyond me, but it's worth a couple of pipe dreams and experiments (if I can get a McLux body and a MM module to fit in)... So far, it's perfect for draining a set of AA alks to death...

 

[revolvergeek]

Re: light for used 123\'s

[ QUOTE ]
shrap said:
yclo,

The Streamlight I mentioned earlier, the 1L, is a 3 LED light that runs on one 123 battery. Plus you get a xenon lamp for free!


[/ QUOTE ]

This just seems a bit bigger that it need be though. Wouldn't it be cool if CMG would make us an Infinity Mojo-Ultra that ran 3 or 4 leds on a 123L???? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif