Noob question about Ultrafire RCR123's & Surefire

[abuhannibal]

I have some Ultafire 880 MAH protected rcr123's... trying to get them to fit into my several lights. In my Solarforce L2 they fit and work but for some weird reason one of the low-output modes doesn't work quite right (not at all a big deal really.) They don't work at all in my Fenix P3D Rebel 100, as someone else reported here. They work fine in my Streamlight tasklight 2-L 3W as long as I don't screw the tailcap down quite all the way.

Lastly, in my surefire 6P/Malkoff M60 the added length is just a bit too much to use with the standard Surefire tailcap. (twist works but momentary-on does not.)With the G&P tailcap they work fine, but I am going to be using this light as a weapon light, and am leaning toward sticking with the original Surefire twistie. So, can I perhaps shorten the spring in the tailcap a little, or should I just spring for some AW RCR123's?

TIA!

-- Bob

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

The reason you're loosing low modes is because the voltage is higher than with primary batteries. Primary batts are 3.0V Li-ion are 3.6V-3.7V, and on a fresh charge tend to end up closer to 4.3V. Also, Primary batts sag down below 3V while li-ions drop to around where they are rated.

For the tailcap, I would try a rubber washer in between the head and body, to keep the seal and give you a little more room. If you're running a 6P with an LED drop-in, I'd check to see if you can run a 17650 rather than 2 rcr123's.

 

[abuhannibal]

Thanks, the washer is an excellent suggestion, I will give it a shot!

 

[abuhannibal]

Tekno, thanks again, no go on the washer with the stock SF tailcap, it seems to need to be screwed in nearly all the way in order to make contact. Interestingly, the G&P tailcap works fine, however the G&P was giving me some flickering problems with my DX and Solarforce drop-ins; it works totally fine with the Malkoff drop-in though. So, I have one light set up now with the Ultrafire RCR123's, Malkoff, and G&P tailcap. For the other (weapon light) I will have to either use non-rechargeables or modify a SF tailcap, or get some AW RCR123's. And maybe get another Malkoff too.

BTW, if anybody wants to know, I found the DX #11836 drop-in, which is a Cree Q5, to be nicer than the Solarforce 5-mode R2 drop-in in terms of quality - the beam seems to have just as much throw and is noticeably less ringy. I like the Malkoff a lot more, but then I should, for $60.

 

[abuhannibal]

Correction to my last message: DX #11836 is Bin R2.