Lithium Battery Life

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I've an Inova X5T on the way and I'm checking sources for CR123A batteries. There are a wide range of prices and brands. One source has Panasonic for $1.99, another Kodak for $2.99, and still another Sanyo for $2.50. Are there significant differences in performance (maintaining voltage, duration, shelf life, etc) between brands? In your experience are these differences sufficient to justify buying a more expensive brand? Thanks.

 

[e=mc²]

I've used the Sanyo/GE brand and they seem OK. The main brand that I DO use is Duracell, and they last a little longer than the Sanyo, but not by much. I have had poor results with Ray-O-Vac brand 123A's as they last the shortest and by a substantial enough margin that warrants me avoiding them completely. Their runtime was LESS than HALF of the other leading brands. Maybe my local Target got a bad bunch, but I doubt it since I have purchased them from other sources as well, but all had similar results. As for the other brands that you mention, I have no first hand experience, so I hope I gave you some useful information.

 

[Big Tex]

I think there are minor differences but for the price, I use the Sanyos. Check out this url.
http://www.sunnbattery.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=553828%7C824406&PRID=769600

 

[ChrisA]

i use varta 123s for my primary lights (e2 and inova x5) - they seem to be okay for what i want and since they're readily available over here, one can get a nice discount when ordering some more

anybody tried nexcell-brand 123s ? i did a search but came up with nothing useful... TIA

chris

 

[brightnorm]

I've tried Sanyo, Toshiba, Panasonic, Surefire, Duracell, Duracell Ultra and several other brands of 123's and I have found that the Duracell Ultra (not the plain Duracell)and the Surefire outperform the rest by a significant enough margin that I'm willing to spend the extra money to use them in my EDC 2x123 lithium lights. For ordinary use I'm happy to buy the cheapest I can find (as long as they're properly post dated and test at least 3.23v)

Is my preference based on cold reality or is it tinged with a little subjectivity? I think it's realistic, but only many runtime tests ( to get averages within a brand) can tell.

I checked at least a dozen sources for Surefire 123 12 Packs. I did not check Ebay because two previous purchases there were not post-dated to my satisfaction.

The three cheapest I found as of today, July 2:

TEXAS TACTICAL: 12 x $2.99 per batt = $35.88

ARIZONA GUNRUNNERS: $36.05

TANNERS: $36.29 including "emergency lamp"

I haven't checked shipping costs, but $36.00 isn't bad considering Surefire's "notorious" recent price hike. In fact, it's just a few dollars more than the old price.

Brightnorm

 

[lemlux]

I bought some Varta 123's in the U.S for $1.50@ plus shipping and have also been happy with them. I was curious to find them on EBAY because I had only seen them in Europe previously.

 

[Bushman]

www.bcsstore.com sells varta batteries for 2.49 for a limited time. They are a LEO supply here in Abilene, TX Big Country Supply is their name. They carry large selection of ASP lights, Streamlight, and a few surefire and pelican products too.

 

[axolotls]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Tex:
I think there are minor differences but for the price, I use the Sanyos. Check out this url.
http://www.sunnbattery.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=553828%7C824406&PRID=769600<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've ordered from them a few times before (They were "advertising" on different forums at the time). Last order came really quick. So I recommend them. Never tried cheapbatteries though

 

[PocketLights.com]

I used CheapBatteries.com to order AAAA batteries. Their site is not visually appealing. However, my order arrived within a week via UPS ground. CheapBatteries does carry CR123A batteries.