Question for RCR123 current draw

[polkiuj]

Hey all! Have a question.

Planning to get an Eagletac T10LC2 to run on RCR123s.

Here's my question.

AW's RCR123s max current draw is suppose to be 2C which is about 1.3A. The T10LC2 reportedly draws 1.8A. So does this mean its bad for the batteries? Or does the cells running in series have a different max current draw?

I wanna use protected cells cos they have more capacity than the safe chemistry cells which can handle way higher draw but not at a cost of lower cycles or risk of :poof:

Thanks all!

 

[worldedit]

Cells in series have the same current running through them. I wouldnt recommend running the cells above specs, because its risky and will shorten their life span. You can even use less of the cells capacity because they will drop to the lowest possible discharge voltage earlier under high draw.

 

[Turbo Guy]

Review here http://www.light-reviews.com/eagletac_t10c2/ 1 1/4 hr. at max. and approx. 1 1/2 to 50%. At 1.8amps. that would equal approx. 2.25AH at max and perhaps 2 3/4AH to 50% which does not sound right.

I have a LED light rated at 230 lm and on two RCR123As it draws 750 mAh.

 

[Lighthouse one]

I have the T10C2 running 2 rcr123 cells. Works great...I find it hard to believe the current draw is going to be 1.8 amps...sounds high to me.

 

[mdocod]

It will not run at 1.8A on a pair of RCR123s. That would be over 12 watts. It would overheat the LED really fast if that were true.*

When you increase the input voltage on a buck regulated light, the current draw drops. Someone *may* have measured 1.8A on a partially discharged 18650 driving a T10L. That would make sense as the operating voltage of partly/mostly discharged 18650 would be lower than the Vf of the LED, so the driver would have to makeup for the lack of voltage by drawing more current from the cell.

I must ask, if you are planning on rechargeable li-ion cells, why handicap yourself with RCR123s when you are buying a light that has room for an 18650?

If you were to put an 18650 powered T10LC2 and RCR123 powered T10LC2 next to each-other and turn them both on, they would visually look almost identical in output. Run them for ~40 minutes, and if you have a really sensitive eye, you might be able to visually see the RCR123 powered light being brighter at this point, let the comparison run till 42 minutes, and you'll see a very significant difference between the 2, the RCR123 powered one will no longer be on, but the 18650 will continue running with diminishing output for another several hours.

 

[polkiuj]

Hey! It appears I've made a mistake. The current draw is apparently only 1A therefore making normal protected RCRs fine. Sorry for the confusion guys.

I realized that it should only last 25 mins on high if drawing 1.8A. My bad.. =(