Please help me understand battery sizes

[lovenhim]

Hello everyone. I am new to the quality flashlight and I am curious about batteries. I know the basics AA, AAA, C, D, and CR123. Then there are these batteries with numbers only and I see where you can use XYZ battery rather than 2 CR123's, etc. I own these lights:

Fenix LD01
Fenix E01
Quark 123 standard
Preon 2
Romisen RC-N3 2
Surefire C2 Centurion

I EDC the Fenix LD01 or the Quark 123 standard or the Preon 2. The Romisen and Surefire are those lights that sit but I want them to be there when needed, too large for EDC. Thanks for the help.

 

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

You probably mean '18650'?

'18650' is a battery 18mm in diameter and 65 mm long. The '0' indicates it's a cilinder-format battery.

From right to left:

18650
17670
18500
17500
14500

and two more

 

[kramer5150]

first 2 digits are cell diameter in mm
second 2 digits are cell length in mm
last digit is form factor, 0 indicates cylinder

C~26500
D~32650

Theres also 26650 (C diameter, D length)

 

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

D is 32600, not 32650

According to wiki it's 34.2 x 61.5, but I still have to see a D cell that fat.

The D sized maglites increase in steps of 60mm.

The 2D is 25.5cm
The 6D is 49.5cm

The difference is 24 cm = 240mm / four cells = 60mm / cell

 

[rickypanecatyl]

I know lots of us when a couple battery sizes are close we try to make them work as in:

2 X CR123 if the bore is fat enough you'll try 1 18650; if not 1 17670
3 X CR123 close to 2 X 18500
3 D cells close (in length of course not diameter) to 4 c cells.

3 18650's or 3 17670's are close (but not enough) to squeezing in a D diameter tube. It's so close that you can "tri-bore" a D size mag body to fit in 3 17670 in kind of a triangle pattern.

Of course before you play around physical size is only one aspect of the equation. Voltage and current discharge should also be considered when "making your own 'unique' battery configuration!"

I have a question: What is an "F" cell? and where are the 26,650's usually used? Oh, and why are Lithium D's so rare?
Oh and one more: 10440's and 14500's seem like such common knowledge here on this forum, but 4X I've gone into battery specialty stores such as batteries plus and no one had heard of them before. Most told me I was misinformed and they didn't exist. When I show them, they insist they are not rechargeable ...

 

[DM51]

I'm moving this to the Batteries section...

 

[45/70]

I have a question: What is an "F" cell? and where are the 26,650's usually used? Oh, and why are Lithium D's so rare?
Oh and one more: 10440's and 14500's seem like such common knowledge here on this forum, but 4X I've gone into battery specialty stores such as batteries plus and no one had heard of them before. Most told me I was misinformed and they didn't exist. When I show them, they insist they are not rechargeable ...

An "F" cell is sometimes referred to as a 1 1/2, or 1.5 "D", as it is about one and a half times as long as a "D" cell, but the same diameter. One common use for these is in 6 Volt lantern batteries. There are four of these cells in series, making 6 Volts. It is interesting to note that some manufacturers are now just putting 4 regular "D" cells with spacers in these batteries. :shakehead

Most of the numerically designated battery cells are for use in making packs. Most of the larger size cells are used in cordless power tool packs. The smaller ones 10180 up through 18650 are primarily used to make battery packs for electronic devices such as laptop computers, PDA's and such.

You have to keep in mind, that the voltage of a cell is dependent on it's chemistry. The letter and numeric designations can apply to any chemistry. Most Li-Ion cells are usually sized numerically, but NiMh, NiCd and other chemistries can use the numerical designation as well.

Here is a page with a chart from PowerStream, that shows a number of cylindrical cell sizes. I don't believe it actually shows all sizes, but a good many of them.

Dave

 

[rickypanecatyl]

Thanks 45/70 - great explanation!

 

[qqqqqqqman]

So, does the "14500" designation refer to ALL AA-sized batteries....or is the "14500" a SPECIFIC AA-battery type?

For example, I thought that I read that a 14500 battery will provide more power than a regular AA battery....so is the 14500 is a Li-ion, or Li-ion rechargeable, or what?

Obviously a newb here, thanks for any clarification! :huh:

**

 

[Mr Happy]

So, does the "14500" designation refer to ALL AA-sized batteries....or is the "14500" a SPECIFIC AA-battery type?

For example, I thought that I read that a 14500 battery will provide more power than a regular AA battery....so is the 14500 is a Li-ion, or Li-ion rechargeable, or what?

Obviously a newb here, thanks for any clarification! :huh:

**

It is usual to reserve the AA designation for 1.5 V batteries of the heavy duty/alkaline/NiMH/NiCd variety, and the 14500 designation for the various higher voltage lithium ion varieties.

Note that 14500 by itself is not enough to specify what kind of battery it is since there are various kinds. For instance an ICR14500 is a lithium cobalt oxide type with a nominal voltage of 3.6 V.

 

[qqqqqqqman]

Ok, thanks for clarifying! :)

**

 

[Good day]

Very helpful knowledge ,i did't use C and D cell before just heard them ,untill today i know what they are.Thanks guys :)