question about interchanging batteries

[MrBadger]

Newbee here, so please bear with me if this is a newbee type question. I have a red photon 2 that I've been using for about a year now and have finaly decided to replace the batteries. I bought a bag of the $1 countycomm leds (white) to give out as gifts on a cheap keyring edc kit. The photon uses one 2032 coin cell, the $1 leds use two 2016 cells. All are marked 3V, but the two 2016s together are the same thickness as the 2032. I switched the 2032 for the two 2016s. Am I doing anything wrong here? I just don't want the light to melt or explode or something if it gets left on in my pocket. Thanks for your help.

 

[andrewwynn]

I've heard of people doing that.. the tradeoff is with the shell material included there is less capacity with the two 2016s.. the higher voltage can be a problem, depending on the resistor issue.. Vf of the LEDs etc.. sounds like you put 6V in place of your 3V.. but the draw down will be fairly high.. you might get as low as 4.5V to the LED.. measure it and see.. and measure the current if you can as well. more than likely if the LED didn't let out its magic smoke when you first lit it up it'll survive with the higher voltage.. the batteries just won't last at long.

-awr

 

[Lynx_Arc]

You could always order the Red ones in your next batch, I think they use 2032. Around here we have dollar stores with LED stuff in them, cheap knockoff keychain lights, lighted rulers/protractors etc. I believe all but the blue and white LED versions of these that use the larger 20xx series cells use the 2032 version. I would probably not suggest you use 6v on the red LED. White and blue LEDs have a higher Vf and can take overdriving at sagging 6v input better.

You could always wait until you have a white keychain light going dim and pull the batteries out of it to put in the red one to finish them off. I would almost bet you will have a lot of them in the future to finish off.

 

[mrme]

A 2032 cell only costs a couple of dollars and you only need one. If it is a real Photon 2 light, it would not be worth it to me to compromise it by doubling the input voltage.

 

[Doug Owen]

Don't do it.

3 Volts is a push on these guys, 6 is asking for trouble. Not only will it very seriously overload the LED, but it probably will put out less light in the process. You can use a single cell and a bit of aluminum foil under it folded up to make up the thickness if you wish, but only one cell.

Or use two and change the LED for one from the CC lights.
Doug Owen