Question about cr123 batteries

[moosehcky]

Hi, I am a new Flashlight enthusiast. It started cause i work at a summer camp which is far away from city lights so bright flashlights are awesome there.

Last year I purchased some dorcy flashlights that take cr123 batteries and I the lights. I just purchased a Fenix TK10 and a L2D premium Q5.

After purchasing them I started looking up cr123's in google to see if there are deals and I came across all the threads on here about cr123 batteries blowing up in the flashlight and starting fires etc. The newest forum I found was about a year or so old. What is the latest? have they improved or is there still potential for them to explode?

I work at a kids camp and if there was even a remote possible that my flashlight can become a pipe bomb is unacceptable and I would not risk that and I will leave my TK10 and dorcy lights behind

If Anyone is interested in responding It would be greatly greatly appreciated.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Moosehcky,

Welcome to CPF.

If you stick to CR123 cells made by the major name brands, and/or made in the US, you should be fine.

The problems have been when the definition of "best value" only covers getting the lowest price.

Single cell lights generally don't have issues, but as you increase the number of cells in a light, the problem can increase as well.

Some general safety tips...
Use good quality cells.
Use matched cells in a multi cell light.
Don't mix new and used cells.
Don't mix brands of cells.
When the light dims, open it up and remove the cells, immediately.

The last suggestion comes from discovering that sometimes the "rapid vent with flame" incident occurs after the batteries have been drained, and when the light is left turned on with dead batteries.

This probably would be better in the batteries and electronics section of the forum, so I will move it over there.

Tom

 

[jbosman1013]

Some newer batteries like AW's http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=177100 are much better and will work in your fenix light. The down side is runtime sence they have about half the capacity of a primiary and you must also watch what light you put them in because they are 3.7v instead of 3.0v.

 

[mdocod]

WELCOME TO CPF!

As stated, the risk is low, but we have had incidents of exploding cells even from reputable manufactures, but they are much more rare. I would say, that the risk is acceptably low, however, if you feel uncomfortable about it, there are a lot of AA/C/D powered lights out there utilizing the newer generation LEDs that are very impressive. You might check out the Task Force 3W with Xlamp (package with the large 60X on the front) over at Lowes. It runs on 2 C size cells and makes a great outdoor light for punching light out into the forest (solid throw). It's usually priced around $30.

 

[moosehcky]

Thank you Tom and everyone else for the responses. I don't want to change the topic about which brands are better and what not but before I ever saw any of this, I purchased 8 rechargeable Ultralast Cr123's on clearance. They were 48 cents each and the charger was 2.48 including 2 batteries. I thought I got a steal but now i wonder cause they are made in china. They may be a reputable company and we'll known but i have never heard of them before.

 

[moosehcky]

Thank you Mdocod. Its not that I am uncomfortable using them. I guess I was just extremely shocked that this happens. Also the fact that last year I mixed new and used batteries at times as well as 2 used batteries with different power levels etc.

It seems that taking precautions will virtually eliminate my fears. These include not mixing new and used batteries and not buying dirt cheap no name batteries from sketchy sites. I guess there IS a reason these things are $8 each in stores.

 

[Mr Happy]

I don't want to change the topic about which brands are better and what not but before I ever saw any of this, I purchased 8 rechargeable Ultralast Cr123's on clearance. They were 48 cents each and the charger was 2.48 including 2 batteries. I thought I got a steal but now i wonder cause they are made in china. They may be a reputable company and we'll known but i have never heard of them before.

UltraLast is NABC (North American Battery Company), recently bought out by the European company UNiROSS.

UltraLast doesn't generally have a very good reputation for quality so you might not have a winner there, but it doesn't sound like you would have lost much.

Check your rechargeables before you use them, as they most likely have a higher voltage than primary CR123A's and might damage whatever device you use them in. Some RCR123s have a built in voltage regulator circuit to reduce the voltage, but someone here commented that the UltraLast cells do not have this and therefore run at 3.7 volts rather than 3 volts.

(Just in case you were not aware of it, rechargeable CR123A cells are not the same as disposable CR123A cells, they are lithium ion cells, and lithium ion cells usually run at a somewhat higher voltage than lithium primaries.)

 

[moosehcky]

alrighty, In the garbage they go. I've changed my mind and decided to ask...What about Battery Station? have they upgraded there cr123's since 06 and would you guys say they are just as safe as and major companies batteries?

Thanks again for all the helpful responses. you guys are awesome.

 

[SemperFi]

Hi moosehcky:thumbsup:

Your q'n did raise a header for which I am glad to read it for a Monday morning by this side of the ocean.

I bought my RCR123s 3,0v and immediately marked each pair. This way, you will never mix them up and it is safer to place them together at every charge needed. My reserve set of regular backup CR123As (6x) are Duracell (2017) and the rechargeable is from a brand marked HQ costing about 6,30 Euros each!!! I hope it lasts its worth.

I carry my "battery clip" rechargeables in an extra Fenix holster (10x cells), enough supply of power for the whole night if needed!!!

It was esp. handy when on Saturday night @ 22:30, I spotted a chap lying across flat out and motionless in a park as we were in a large park strolling with my dolly (a Belgian shepherd guard dog), called in the Police for assistance and when two arrived not long after on their mobile scooters, their flashlights were almost flat and nowhere as bright as my T1.

Soon an ambulance arrived to ferry the poor chap, turns out to be flat drunk but non violent and will be detained in a safer location for verification on his status, he appears to be of Polish descent and if illegal, will be repatriated back to his country.
My T1 brightened up the place tremendously assisting the Law with their work.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Moosehcky,

BatteryStation CR123 cells are now made in the US.

Tom

 

[moosehcky]

Thanks Tom, I did notice that. I think I overreacted to that LunarModule thread. It was from 2006 and I could only find a handful of similar cases and no cases less then a year old. I would like to ask you one question though. In your opinion, are the battery station batteries just as safe as Energizer or Duracell etc?

The only thing that is making me hesitant on purchasing battery station batteries is the price. $1.50 compared to $8+ in stores is a huge difference, even factoring in markup and brand name.

Lastly, do you know of a good site that has some sort of idiots guide to batteries? including information about different types (Lithium, alkaline, Ni-Mh etc.) also something explaining mAH?

Like I mentioned before, I am a brand new flashlight lover ever since i started looking for what i wanted to purchase for this summer.

last summer I got a $20 Dorcy 120 lumen, 6 watt, 2xcr123 flashlight and I am sure you think that is a joke but I loved it and can't to get some "real flashlights"

BTW, even though I directed this at Tom, anyone can feel free to post responses and please note that I greatly appreciated everyones posts. And hopefully you can bare with me till I get caught up.

 

[TKO]

Battery University

 

[moosehcky]

Wow, thanks TKO.

That never came up on any of my web searches. I'm excited to go through that right after my exam today.

P.S. That lightning fast response will be used as a benchmark for my future questions. :twothumbs

 

[moosehcky]

whoops...double post.

 

[MorePower]

Thanks Tom, I did notice that. I think I overreacted to that LunarModule thread. It was from 2006 and I could only find a handful of similar cases and no cases less then a year old. I would like to ask you one question though. In your opinion, are the battery station batteries just as safe as Energizer or Duracell etc?

The only thing that is making me hesitant on purchasing battery station batteries is the price. $1.50 compared to $8+ in stores is a huge difference, even factoring in markup and brand name.

They're as good and just as safe as Energizer and Duracell. They're actually Rayovac cells.

You can get them for $1.25 each if you go through this link http://www.batterystation.com/cpf.htm and submit your order along with your CPF user name.