Question about Aw vs Ultrafire RCR

[276]

I just ordered the T10c from the eagletac-store and and i was planning to use some Aw batteries in it but, 4sevens is out at the moment so i was wonder whether i could get away with these
http://www.batteryjunction.com/uf16340.html any thoughts

 

[divine]

I recommend getting them straight from AW. He ships them very fast, it's never taken me more than a week to get anything from AW.

 

[mudman cj]

+1 for divine's comment.

I have some gray Trustfire cells that look similar to the ones in the photo. They are longer than other cells, and especially in two cell lights they can be too long to work. As you probably already know, AW cells are highly recommended. Now that you know another place to get them, the voice of experience can be heard gently suggesting that you purchase them instead of any 'fire' cells, no matter how ultra-trust-worthy they are.

 

[gchand]

Lighthound also carries AW's line of cells (www.lighthound.com).


George

 

[276]

I know lighthound has them i was just trying to get some before sunday because i am going to some haunted place www.trailofterror.com with friends & my sister. I tried to go last Friday only after 2hours in traffic an hour inline & tehn to be told it would beantoher 2 hours before we got in so were going back Sunday and wanted some spare batteries but in the meant time i will take them from some other lights that are not in use. Al o was trying to aviod paying more shipping since Batt Junction is close.

 

[geek4christ]

Sounds like a very wise choice to rob some from other lights.

Something to consider is always keeping some good quality primary CR123A cells around. BatteryJunction has a ton of those and they'll last you 10 years, so it can be considered an investment in -- hurricane, tornado, ice storm, insert whatever other power outage cause you can think of -- preparedness as well.

 

[276]

Actually i have a bunch left over from when i order surefire lights from him, just like to use RCR123a when i can.

 

[geek4christ]

Actually i have a bunch left over from when i order surefire lights from him, just like to use RCR123a when i can.

Ah, cool. Have fun flashing the scary people with your light.

 

[276]

I'm actually not going to ruin the fun but last time there were some people outside the place working as security shining lights around and i just want to out show them the CPF way.

 

[cheetokhan]

Here's the results I got from four new AW CR123 cells and two new UltraFire CR123 cells (Grey) from DX.

 

[mdocod]

Do keep in mind that while there are some slightly better performers out there capacity wise in the RCR123 category from the "fire" brands, the higher capacity does not always equate to a better value. If you do buy an ultrafire/trustfire/superfire/solarforce etc brand RCR123, I would suggest buying from a reseller other than KD/DX, that way if you have a dud cell (more common), you can get a replacement more quickly.

Also, the AW brand and BatteryStation brand RCR123s, (both good IMO), have the advantage of being much closer to the size of a regular CR123 primary cell. There are numerous reports of other brand RCR123s being too long to work in some lights. That slightly better capacity on some of those other brands usually comes from the fact that the cell is physically larger.

 

[cheetokhan]

Also, the AW brand and BatteryStation brand RCR123s, (both good IMO), have the advantage of being much closer to the size of a regular CR123 primary cell. There are numerous reports of other brand RCR123s being too long to work in some lights. That slightly better capacity on some of those other brands usually comes from the fact that the cell is physically larger.

I have 4 brand new Battery Station RCR123 cells just purchased from Lighthound and they are terrible batteries. Capacities are around 200mAh.
I can't post the graphs right now because my CBA II is currently in use testing some NiMH C cells from Battery Junction, but I'll post the graphs tomorrow morning.

 

[mdocod]

hmmm, that's odd, In silverfox's testing they were the better performers. I wonder if they have been sitting in storage over there for a few years.

Are they holding 4.20V from a charge?

 

[cheetokhan]

Here are the graphs for four Battery Station RCR123A cells and two AW RCR 123 cells. I purchased all of these cells at the same time from Lighthound last weekend. I went ahead and ran all these tests a second time. That's why you see 'Run 2' in the comments. The second run matched the first run very closely.
These Battery Station RCR123 cells made in China. The Battery Station primary CR123 cells I tested are made in USA and are the best CR123 cells I have tested.

Edit: Here is a picture of the Battery Station RCR123 cells. I peeled the wrapper off one to show that the bottom .25" of the battery is the encapsulated protection circuit.

 

[texbaz]

Cheetokan, thanks for the heads up and data. I have been using AW ICR123's and thought I would try some of the BatteryStation RCR123's. I like you ordered them from Lighthound, which is a good company by the way, I have used them in the past and they are excellent. Since I just ordered them last night and didn't see this thread until this morning, I emailed LightHound with my concerns and they are swapping out my BS RCR's for the AW's (Same price). I just don't want the hassle of receiving a sub par battery, and having to send them back , I ordered 4 also. It's funny cause BS has the price of these RCR's higher than Lighthound very odd?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Cheetokan,

Those look like they are testing as two different chemistries.

The AW cells look like nominal 3.6 volt cells, and the BatteryStation cells look like nominal 3.3 volt cells, but not quite.

You do realize that a 1 amp discharge rate on a 0.25 Ah cell is a 4C load... That is a little high for those cells.

Tom

 

[Monocrom]

Ultrafire rechargeables are crap! Let me revise that.... Some of them are crap, some are DOA and won't charge up, some are barely decent, some will just crap out for no reason at all, and some are actually decent.

If you love to gamble, then Ultrafire is the brand for you. If you want rechargeables that you can actually count on, get AW brand cells.

AW vs. Ultrafire is like Superman vs. the slow kid who refills the vending machines.

 

[VegasF6]

Hm, I have been using the battery station 123's for some time in my P3D. I also have been recomending them as an option to the AW's. I hope I haven't steered anyone wrong. Mine have seemed to work great, but frankly I rarely use the P3D.

If you get the chance to try them again at 500 mAh discharge or so I would love to see the results.

 

[mdocod]

-From SilverFox's Li-Ion shootout.

They were good performers back when those tests were done.

 

[VegasF6]

-From SilverFox's Li-Ion shootout.

They were good performers back when those tests were done.[/quote]

Yes, I have seen that chart, in fact it was a major factor in my decision. What I am curious about is why cheektokhan's results vary so much. Hopefully just a bad run of cells, but even that would be a big concern.

It is not a problem to just order AW instead, but whenever I am buying something from lighthound anyways, I like to add 2 pieces of the BS cells since shipping is already paid. Or if I need a bumper item to get over $75 for free shipping (I don't know if this is still offered.)