Pila charger Vs. Tenergy charger...?

[supawabb]

I am looking to purchase a charger and rcr123's. Been reading and see a great deal of positive things about Pila chargers as well as positive things about the Tenergy chargers.

I am looking to pick up some AW rcr123's for my Fenix T1 and surefires with drop in's (including malkoffs and some no names). Which charger (model # and where I can purchase) would be best suited for my needs? Will both of these chargers work with AW rcr123's?

Thank you

 

[adamlau]

The Pila IBC and Tenergy TL-100 would be your choices. Of the two, I would recommend the IBC as it has a proven track record and will be able to charge your batteries faster (600 mAh vesus 350 mAh output).

 

[supawabb]

The Pila IBC... does it require spacers for the RCR123's, or do they pop right in?

 

[adamlau]

They have spacers which screw into threads at the positive terminals of the battery bays.

 

[supawabb]

And lastly, where do you suggest ordering one of the Pila IBC chargers from? Is it a generic model, I ask/order the IBC and they will know which one I need? They come with the spacers?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Supawabb,

If you go with the Pila IBC charger, you will have to provide your own spacers to charge R-CR123 cells in it. It is sized for 18650 cells, and comes with spacers to charge 17500 cells. The R-CR123 cells are 17340 cells so your spacer will need to be around 16 mm if you leave the screw in spacers in, or EDIT: I seem to have flunked simple subtraction. The actual difference between 65 mm and 34 mm is 31 mm, not 62 mm as I indicated earlier. Sorry about that. ENDEDIT: 31 mm if you don't.

Tom

 

[supawabb]

Hello Silverfox
Where can I purchase these spacers? Or can I make them? If so, out of what material and how thick? Thank you

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Supawabb,

Boy, I really screwed up in my previous post. Simple subtraction seems to have gone over my head. Sorry about that.

A R-CR123 is 17340 size, and an 18650 is (65 - 34 = ) 31 mm longer. Not 62 as I posted earlier.

I take the screw in spacers out and go with a 31 mm spacer. I am using a brass bolt and a brass acorn nut. 31 mm is around 1.2 inches. Stop by your hardware store with your charger and a battery and you should be able to find something that works.

You are just trying to make an electrical connection between the charger contact and the battery. Anything conductive, that doesn't add a lot of resistance to the circuit, will work fine.

Tom

 

[supawabb]

Do AW RCR123's work fine in a Pila IBC charger?

Or are there any issues to be made aware of?

Or should I simply purchase a Tenergy charger and batts?

 

[DM51]

Re: Do AW RCR123's work fine in a Pila IBC charger?

They will be OK. The Pila IBC outputs 600mA in each bay, and the max charge rate of RCR123s is 750mA. You will need an extra half-cell size spacer.

This charger with AW cells will be a superior combination compared to the Tenergy charger and cells.

 

[DM51]

Re: Do AW RCR123's work fine in a Pila IBC charger?

supawebb, I have just noticed that you have already been asking about this in another thread.

Even though that thread did not mention AW cells, the general subject matter was almost exactly the same - it was certainly not sufficiently different to merit a new thread.

I am going to merge this new thread into the previous one.