New poster questions on Fenix lights/batteries

[meatwaggon]

Hi new poster here; hopefully this is the right category. Pardon my utter lack of knowledge of batteries and how they operate in general. I had a question about the Fenix PD35R handheld flashlight and the Fenix HM50R V2 headlamp. My goal is to be able to use the same rechargeables for both lights. The PD35R comes with a 18650 3.6V 12.24Wh battery (ARB-L18-3400), and can use 2 CR123As in a pinch. The HM50R V2 comes with a 16340 3.6V 2.52Wh battery (ARB-16-700P) as well as an ARB-16-700UP micro-USB battery, and can use 1 CR123A or 1 RCR123A in a pinch.

However, even though the PD35R handheld can use 2 CR123As, it will not light up with 2 RCR123As or with either of the 16340s that the HM50R V2 uses.

My questions are: why doesn't the RCR123A or 16340 work in the PD35R, and is there a CR123A-sized battery that will work in both of the lights? Is there a quality handheld/headlamp combo out there that uses the same CR123A-sized battery type?

 

[Philip A.]

The PD35R and HM50R are both USB rechargeable... Why do you want to swap batteries??? You don't even need to open the battery compartment for years.

Edited to add: Also, using 2 CR123 batteries entails risks of fire, explosion, chemical burns on skin, and permanent damage to lungs... This can happen with poor quality batteries, but also with high quality batteries when one of them has a significantly higher charge than the other one. I'd not run a flashlight on two CR123 for that simple reason...

 

[meatwaggon]

The PD35R and HM50R are both USB rechargeable... Why do you want to swap batteries??? You don't even need to open the battery compartment for years.

Edited to add: Also, using 2 CR123 batteries entails risks of fire, explosion, chemical burns on skin, and permanent damage to lungs... This can happen with poor quality batteries, but also with high quality batteries when one of them has a significantly higher charge than the other one. I'd not run a flashlight on two CR123 for that simple reason...

I don't necessarily WANT to swap batteries; what I want is the option to do so. I also already have RCR123As and assumed they could be used in the light since the description said that the light would take CR123As, so in part my question was to ask what is the difference between these two types besides one being rechargeable and the other being not rechargeable, such that one lights up and the other doesn't.

 

[Philip A.]

CR123A and RCR123A have different voltage, and different capacity... 3V / 1200-1500 mAh for the CR, 3.6-3.7V / 700-800 mAh for the RCR. Fenix specifies CR123A (not rechargeable) as compatible with the PD35R. The RCRs probably trigger the overload protection circuit.

 

[meatwaggon]

CR123A and RCR123A have different voltage, and differnt capacity... 3V / 1200-1500 mAh for the CR, 3.6-3.7V / 700-800 mAh for the RCR. Fenix specifies CR123A (not rechargeable) as compatible with the PD35R. The RCRs probably trigger the overload protection circuit.

That's strange because the 18650 that comes with the PD35R says 3.6V, while the RCR123As are also 3.6V.

 

[bykfixer]

From Fenix
Two RCR's is over voltage.

 

[rwolfenstein]

Didn't old Fenix lights use to come with a traffic cone/diffuser?

 

[meatwaggon]

View attachment 44480
From Fenix
Two RCR's is over voltage.

Yes, this must be the answer. I forgot that voltage stacks in series....

 

[Philip A.]

Exactly.
2x CR123 = 6V
2x RCR123 = 7.2V or even more...

 

[meatwaggon]

Exactly.
2x CR123 = 6V
2x RCR123 = 7.2V or even more...

Hey, it's been many years since high school....

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Exactly.
2x CR123 = 6V
2x RCR123 = 7.2V or even more...

It's actually 8.4v with two freshly charged 16340s.

Chris

 

[fuyume]

There are actually some rechargeable Li-ion 16340s on the market that are voltage-regulated to 3V to mimic the CR123A primary cell, but honestly, you should steer clear of using any lithium batteries in series, as they can be very hazardous if faults develop. Best to stick to a single cell, in my opinion, though of course other opinions exist.