andrewnewman
Enlightened
Greetings:
I have been lurking for a bit on the CPF forums and, as a result, learned a fair amount about lithium ion rechargeables. Despite my new-found knowledge, there are still some notable gaps made worse by incomplete information from the vendors of various battery / charger products.
I seek the sage advice of members of this forum.
I am interested in using Lithium Ion RCR123A batteries in various flashlights that claim compatibility. As I understand it, there are many different commonly available options:
1) LiCoO2 chemistry unprotected cells (Nominal voltage 3.7V). I have no interest at all in these.
2. LiCoO2 chemistry *protected* cells (Nominal voltage 3.7V). I have substantial interest in these although they are not always easy to obtain.
3. LiFePO4 chemistry unprotected cells (Nominal voltage 3.3V). Safter? Still no over-discharge protection so it is possible to damage them through inattention.
4. LiCoO2 chemistry *protected* cells with a diode that drops their nominal voltage to 3.0V. Excepting the fact that these would probably be more compatible with flashlights designed to take CR123A primaries, this strikes me as a lousy engineering compromise. Nonetheless, these seem to be *by far* the most easily available batteries from Tenergy.
I own several of #2 above and currently find it convenient to use the small single cell 3.7V Nano charger when on the road. While I have no enthusiasm for #4, I am wondering if I am stuck with them as my only choice what charger I should use. My (possibly flawed) understanding is that, counter intuitively, the charger needs a *higher* initial voltage to provide a constant current when fed back through diode in order to function properly.
The same folks that make the 3.7V Nano produce a 3.0V Nano but it is unclear whether this is designed to charge batteries such as #4 above or, instead batteries such as #3 (or perhaps none of these).
Is there any experienced soul who happens to know what the likely compatibility options are?
-Thanks and regards
I have been lurking for a bit on the CPF forums and, as a result, learned a fair amount about lithium ion rechargeables. Despite my new-found knowledge, there are still some notable gaps made worse by incomplete information from the vendors of various battery / charger products.
I seek the sage advice of members of this forum.
I am interested in using Lithium Ion RCR123A batteries in various flashlights that claim compatibility. As I understand it, there are many different commonly available options:
1) LiCoO2 chemistry unprotected cells (Nominal voltage 3.7V). I have no interest at all in these.
2. LiCoO2 chemistry *protected* cells (Nominal voltage 3.7V). I have substantial interest in these although they are not always easy to obtain.
3. LiFePO4 chemistry unprotected cells (Nominal voltage 3.3V). Safter? Still no over-discharge protection so it is possible to damage them through inattention.
4. LiCoO2 chemistry *protected* cells with a diode that drops their nominal voltage to 3.0V. Excepting the fact that these would probably be more compatible with flashlights designed to take CR123A primaries, this strikes me as a lousy engineering compromise. Nonetheless, these seem to be *by far* the most easily available batteries from Tenergy.
I own several of #2 above and currently find it convenient to use the small single cell 3.7V Nano charger when on the road. While I have no enthusiasm for #4, I am wondering if I am stuck with them as my only choice what charger I should use. My (possibly flawed) understanding is that, counter intuitively, the charger needs a *higher* initial voltage to provide a constant current when fed back through diode in order to function properly.
The same folks that make the 3.7V Nano produce a 3.0V Nano but it is unclear whether this is designed to charge batteries such as #4 above or, instead batteries such as #3 (or perhaps none of these).
Is there any experienced soul who happens to know what the likely compatibility options are?
-Thanks and regards
