opalecs and lithiums????
- Thread starter tiktok 22
- Start date
I've been using lithiums with my Opalec and it's still going strong.
According to the Opalec website:
Q: Can the NewBeam be used with lithium batteries? Will that make it brighter?
A: The NewBeam can be used with 1.5 Volt AA lithium batteries (Energizer L91, etc), since these have the same voltage as regular alkalines. The long storage life and high capacity of these makes them attractive for emergency light use, caving, etc. We do not recommend using higher voltage lithium batteries (3 or 3.6 Volt), mainly because we feel that the safety concerns of using these exotic batteries outweighs any possible advantage. Few, if any, of these high voltage lithium batteries are intended for this kind of application, and most are only designed to supply very low current. That said, the NewBeam electronics will work at the higher voltage (7.2 volts) with negligible change in brightness.
According to the Opalec website:
Q: Can the NewBeam be used with lithium batteries? Will that make it brighter?
A: The NewBeam can be used with 1.5 Volt AA lithium batteries (Energizer L91, etc), since these have the same voltage as regular alkalines. The long storage life and high capacity of these makes them attractive for emergency light use, caving, etc. We do not recommend using higher voltage lithium batteries (3 or 3.6 Volt), mainly because we feel that the safety concerns of using these exotic batteries outweighs any possible advantage. Few, if any, of these high voltage lithium batteries are intended for this kind of application, and most are only designed to supply very low current. That said, the NewBeam electronics will work at the higher voltage (7.2 volts) with negligible change in brightness.
Charles Bradshaw
Flashlight Enthusiast
Ummmmm......
A pair of current L91s (E2 Lithium AA) has a before load voltage of 3.66 Vdc. 1.83 Vdc per cell.
A pair of current L91s (E2 Lithium AA) has a before load voltage of 3.66 Vdc. 1.83 Vdc per cell.
Deleted member 684
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hmm... a CR123 and the opalec seems to be about the same in diameter..... double hmm...
Ratso
Enlightened
[No message]
Steelwolf
Flashlight Enthusiast
The Opalec NewBeam is a fully regulated device. Driving it with higher voltages should not make very much difference. But what about driving it with lithiums, rechargables, or those 3.6V memory lithiums?
Let's make some quick ballpark calculations. 3 LEDs standard Nichia Whites. Assume each is driven at 4V and 40mA. Consumes 160mW each or 480mW total.
Assume converter/regulator circuit is 80% efficient. Power drain from batteries is 600mW.
Battery Voltage Current Required
--------------- ----------------
2.4V 250mA
3.0V 200mA
3.4V 176.47mA
3.6V 166.66mA
4.8V 125mA
7.2V 83.3mA
As can be seen, the current draw is not too severe, though it isn't light either. Using the Energizer L91 with their nominal current of 1.7V each, flat discharge and low internal resistance should help a little, but there probably won't be any dramatic improvements.
Rechargables with their low internal resistance should have little trouble dealing with a mere 250mA, but you can probably put 3 of them together and get an improved runtime. Heck, see if you can adapt the NewBeam to fit those Energizer DoubleBarrels that take 6 batteries (to get 3.6V). You could even take 3 alkalines or 4 NiMH for 4.5-4.8V.
However, even though Opalec suggests that you can input 7.2V with little detriment to the circuitry, there is little reason to try. The 3.6V lithium batteries in AA configuration are meant for backup power for volatile memory. They are only rated to deliver around 20mA constant. So they can't deliver the power required to drive the NewBeam properly.
You could use a battery pack that allows 6 NiMH batteries to be used, and you would probably improve the runtime somewhat, but you would be at risk of destroying the circuitry, since input voltage is an important parameter to the proper running of the circuits. A better option if improved runtime is required is to use parallel batteries configuration at the recommended voltage. This has 2-fold advantage in that a larger store of power is available and that the parallel configuration reduces the current draw on each cell, reducing the effects of internal resistance.
But since the NewBeam is fully regulated, increased voltage will not increase brightness.
Let's make some quick ballpark calculations. 3 LEDs standard Nichia Whites. Assume each is driven at 4V and 40mA. Consumes 160mW each or 480mW total.
Assume converter/regulator circuit is 80% efficient. Power drain from batteries is 600mW.
Battery Voltage Current Required
--------------- ----------------
2.4V 250mA
3.0V 200mA
3.4V 176.47mA
3.6V 166.66mA
4.8V 125mA
7.2V 83.3mA
As can be seen, the current draw is not too severe, though it isn't light either. Using the Energizer L91 with their nominal current of 1.7V each, flat discharge and low internal resistance should help a little, but there probably won't be any dramatic improvements.
Rechargables with their low internal resistance should have little trouble dealing with a mere 250mA, but you can probably put 3 of them together and get an improved runtime. Heck, see if you can adapt the NewBeam to fit those Energizer DoubleBarrels that take 6 batteries (to get 3.6V). You could even take 3 alkalines or 4 NiMH for 4.5-4.8V.
However, even though Opalec suggests that you can input 7.2V with little detriment to the circuitry, there is little reason to try. The 3.6V lithium batteries in AA configuration are meant for backup power for volatile memory. They are only rated to deliver around 20mA constant. So they can't deliver the power required to drive the NewBeam properly.
You could use a battery pack that allows 6 NiMH batteries to be used, and you would probably improve the runtime somewhat, but you would be at risk of destroying the circuitry, since input voltage is an important parameter to the proper running of the circuits. A better option if improved runtime is required is to use parallel batteries configuration at the recommended voltage. This has 2-fold advantage in that a larger store of power is available and that the parallel configuration reduces the current draw on each cell, reducing the effects of internal resistance.
But since the NewBeam is fully regulated, increased voltage will not increase brightness.
Darell
Flashaholic
123 work GREAT. LI AA works GREAT. The Opalec wording is just for CYA purposes, I'm sure. Being scared of a battery because it is "exotic" is a bit extreme. These modules are GREAT for modding! Go at it. You won't get more brightness on higher Vin, but you'll get better runtime for sure. I'm still on my first 123 in my Doug Speck mod. I've run this thing for over 10 hours now, intermittently. Still no red indicator!
Actually I see a real benefit for my kind of use: camping in the backcountry. I can see how using the opalec in in minimag w/ 3 CR123s would give me a very long run time with a high weight to runtime efficiency and decent light. I never bought one but maybe now is the time...
Minjin
Flashlight Enthusiast
To bridge two threads...
How about one of these in a headlamp?
Mark
How about one of these in a headlamp?
Mark
Steelwolf
Flashlight Enthusiast
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">If you expect output similar to the Tikka, the NewBeam would be great. Of course it blows the Matrix out of the water, but isn't as bright as the Tikka with fresh batteries.
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