New Battery Station cells

[KeyGrip]

Does anyone have experience with the new US made Battery Station cr123s? Specifically, do they hold a charge during storage better than the previous cells, or is it still too soon to tell?

 

[KeyGrip]

Anybody? Bueller? :candle:

 

[louie]

Too soon to tell, they only started USA sourcing a couple of months ago. I have 20, I'll let you know in a few years!

 

[KeyGrip]

I'll let you know in a few years!

If I don't hear anything negative in six months, I'll consider that good news. I've heard of BatteryStation's old cells going bad very quickly.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello KeyGrip,

I have some of the old BatteryStation CR123 cells that are about 3 years old and are still in good condition...

I also have some new BatteryStation CR123 cells that are about 4 months old, and they also are in good condition...

Tom

 

[KeyGrip]

I'm just going to shell out the extra .25$ for better cells. I realized my question was not exactly relevant because my EDC is a new E2L, and I probably won't need to change the cells for another six months.

 

[louie]

I have some older offshore BS CR123 cells including a couple dozen from the 05-05 batch, and they are all over the map on a ZTS tester this month. None were 100%, the majority were 40% and a few higher and lower. The 3 Surefires I still had from a 2001 batch were all still 100%.

If the USA BS cells are the same spec and factory as all the other US cells, there is probably nothing to worry about. There is a good track record on the name-brand cells, but I doubt they are all perfect.

 

[Jackyl]

Battery Station CR123's

Been using them since 05 and love em. Just got a fresh batch and they are IDENTICAL to Energizer Lithium Pro CR123's. Don't know if this is already common knowledge, last I read they were thought to be Rayovac.

 

[cheetokhan]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

I've been playing with my new West Mountain CBA II
Here's Battery Station, Tenergy, and Titanium. All cells were purchased in the last 2 weeks. I ran several of each brand at 1 Amp and 1/2 Amp discharge rates. The results were pretty consistent for each brand.
I also tried to test WF brand cells from DX, but of the 10 cells they sent me, only 2 could deliver over .5 Amps without immediately dropping below 1 Volt and they only ran for a few minutes. Most of the WF cells could not supply over 200mA. They do work in low power lights, but gave my EagleTac T10C fits.

 

[Black Rose]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

Don't know if this is already common knowledge, last I read they were thought to be Rayovac.

...and the Rayovac's are actually made by Panasonic.

 

[Jackyl]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

Just realized that my old batch of BS CR's from 07/05 are made in China...are these still safe to use or should I toss?

 

[louie]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

Probably safe to use in single cell applications, although you may be alarmed at the variation in remaining capacity. If you're the risk-taking type, you can try matching capacity with something like a ZTS tester, and trying them in pairs. I wouldn't, though.

 

[Jackyl]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

They all still read 3.26v where as the brand new US made ones read 3.25v. (Not a measure of capacity though I realize.) All I've used up till now are 2 cell applications, but today I ordered a NiteCore NEX. Think I should just use them in the NEX? I haven't had a problem so far.

 

[greenLED]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

...last I read they were thought to be Rayovac.

BatteryStation cells have been made in the US for at least 1.5 yrs now (if not longer).

The old batch should also be GTG.

 

[etc]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

They look real good on paper, i.e. SilverFox's charts. Just a few mins behind Sanyo, nothing significant.

Plus they are on Ebay. Sometimes close to $1/each.

 

[jzmtl]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

They look real good on paper, i.e. SilverFox's charts. Just a few mins behind Sanyo, nothing significant.

Plus they are on Ebay. Sometimes close to $1/each.

BS cells? You can get it direclty from BS for $1.1 each all the time, used to be $1 but they raised the price for CPF discount.

 

[bltkmt]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

BS cells? You can get it direclty from BS for $1.1 each all the time, used to be $1 but they raised the price for CPF discount.

Please tell me how? When I follow the link from the CPFM dealer deal summary page, I see $1.25 per battery only?

 

[greenLED]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

Please tell me how? When I follow the link from the CPFM dealer deal summary page, I see $1.25 per battery only?

That's something that's come up recently. Seems like you may be able to get them cheaper through eBay.

 

[Dukester]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

I just got in an order of CR123's from B/S and was charged $1.50/ea....

 

[Jackyl]

Re: Battery Station CR123's

Did you use the CPF discount? If not, unfortunately it's too late. I just got a box of 50 for $1.20 / pc shipped Priority.