Pila education please.

[JonSidneyB]

I understand volume wise. 2 Pila 150S Li-ion fits is close to 3 123's and is at 7.4. So if they fit the flashlight, they are completly interchangeable between 123's, what problems will I run into.

Pila 168S Li-ion is similar to in size to 2 123's but is only 3.7 volts vs 6 volts. If I want to have a light fully interchangebale between these two, I need to have a light with a regulator that can handle this range?

If I invest in Pila's in the future, I would only want to use them if I could fall back on 123's without changing anything on the flashlight once set up.

Ok, what are my options?:

What lights will hold 2 Pila 150S Li-ion sucessfully and still be able to switch back to 123's at will.

The bigger question, Pila 168S Li-ion replacing 2 123's. What is out there or could be built that would be able to use these interchangebly and practically since I this would be switching from 3.7 volts up to 6volts and back?

Except for my single and four cell 123 applications, I think I would like to change all of my 2 and 3 123 lights to be fully interchangeable where possible, though thim might involve getting rid of some lights, buying more lights, and buying more mods.

What areas am I completely wrong in my understanding???
What are my options to switching to pila's without losing interchangability?

 

[CM]

Q: If I want to have a light fully interchangebale between these two, I need to have a light with a regulator that can handle this range?

A: Yes, the KL heads are good for that.

Q: What lights will hold 2 Pila 150S Li-ion sucessfully and still be able to switch back to 123's at will.

A: The 3-cell Surefires (there may be other manufacturers as well) should work with 2 Li-Ion's. I'm using this setup in a C3 with a HOLA and I'm getting great results. White bright blinding light.

Q: The bigger question, Pila 168S Li-ion replacing 2 123's. What is out there or could be built that would be able to use these interchangebly and practically since I this would be switching from 3.7 volts up to 6volts and back?

A: Again, for regulated LED's (KL1, KL3, KL5), they're interchangeable on 2x123 and 1 Pila, though KL3 *may* not work as well on a single Pila, depends on the Vf of the LED. As far as incandescent, you have to change out the bulb assembly, there's just no other way around that right now.

I have gone almost exclusively with the 3.7V lamps on the 2-cell surefires so I could use Li-Ions. My P60 spares are all collecting dust right now because of that. I hope Surefire jumps on the bandwagon and starts recognizing the great utility and economy of using rechargeables in their lights. Currently, the only light I have on CR123's is the Arc LS. I also hope Arc will embrace the use of Li-Ion's in their lights as well.

CM

 

[madecov]

I've been using the 168S in my G2z with a 3.7 volt lamp. It is every bit the equal to the P60 using DL123's. The 2 cell lights will require you to change the bulb if you wish to use the 123's.
Now that they have a new 12v lamp, the GL4 is capable of using either the rechargeble's or 4 DL 123's and the lumen output goes from 130 to 190. the run time is pretty impressive.

 

[Alan]

Almost all of my SFs has been switched to Pila batteries except my E1e, E2e, M6, 10X and 9AN.

The only 3x123 light that I couldn't be able to switch to Pila batteries is SL TL-3 LED. Due to design of TL-3 LED's anode contact, it simply won't work on Pila's bat.

Alan

 

[JonSidneyB]

hmmm, I would have to go to LED on all my 6 volt lights or not use the Pila. My 6volt 123 lights are traveling lights and I would need to be able to go back to batteries and would not want to change bulbs each time. This should work out, I find I almost never need much throw. so this should work nicely, I could keep my E1e stock for those times I need through and have only one light that cannot be interchanged. Or I could let all my 6 volt lights be regulated interchangeable and use one of my 9 volt lights as my light for good throw.

 

[6pOriginal]

Will the Pila 168S work with L4?

 

[CM]

The Pila 168s works nicely with the L4. That's been my setup since I got the L4. LitFuse also swears by this combination. He's going to present some run time data on this combination. Right now when shopping for lights, the first question I ask myself is "how easy is it to use/mod Li-Ion's in this thing". My 123's are now collecting dust /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

CM

 

[Utik]

Does the Pila 80 lumen LA fit in a Surefire in place of a P60 or P61?

 

[Gene]

Welcome Utik! Yes it does!

 

[JonSidneyB]

lol,a thread from before I contacted them....wow, I forgot about this thread