Question on Inova...

[ES13Raven]

I have an Inova T3 that I think overheated on me. I usually run it for up to 5 minutes at a time, but last night I ran it for about 15-20 minutes. It got really hot and quit working. I let it cool down for about 5 minutes and then it would work again.

The T3 is the 2007 model, and I am running 3x Tenergy RCR123A 3.0V 900mAh in it.

Do T3s normally do this? Or could it be because of the Tenergys?

 

[Chrontius]

That's not rated for RCR123, I think...

 

[LukeA]

Even though they say 3.0V, they top out at 3.6V off the charger. They might run too high for the T3.

 

[ES13Raven]

Even though they say 3.0V, they top out at 3.6V off the charger. They might run too high for the T3.

Hmmm...

Battery Junction says:

[FONT=arial, helvetica]Internal voltage regulators. Initial cell voltage of 3.6V switches to 3-3.2V within 12ms.
Full PCB protection against: Over-Discharge, Over-Charge, Short Circuit & Over-Current along with voltage regulation.
[/FONT]

 

[Hitthespot]

Why don't you try running it with regular CR123 batteries and see if heat is a problem. I have a feeling it won't be.

Bill

 

[Chrontius]

Could be the regulators are what's running hot...

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Hmmm...

Battery Junction says:

[FONT=arial, helvetica]Internal voltage regulators. Initial cell voltage of 3.6V switches to 3-3.2V within 12ms.
Full PCB protection against: Over-Discharge, Over-Charge, Short Circuit & Over-Current along with voltage regulation.
[/FONT]

Considering the fact that a disposable CR123 actually delivers only around 2.5 volts under load, those said 3-3.2V are too high for circuits designed for CR123s only. So you are sending 9.2v to a light made for 7.2v. You are playing with fire...

 

[MrGman]

Hmmm...

Battery Junction says:

[FONT=arial, helvetica]Internal voltage regulators. Initial cell voltage of 3.6V switches to 3-3.2V within 12ms. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Full PCB protection against: Over-Discharge, Over-Charge, Short Circuit & Over-Current along with voltage regulation.[/FONT]

I don't believe it. The voltage sag is proportional to load current, maybe not linear but stil proportional. It doesn't just switch over like a relay. If it has a its own thermal shutdown switch, that isn't the same as simply sagging under load current.

The Inova current regulation to the driver is such that with the higher voltage batteries, their current draw will be less thus the voltage may not sag that much. I have tested this myself. The higher voltage from a set of 3 batteries I ran, the lower the battery current draw I measured. That may mean that the voltage differential across the driver, even with less current, is on the margin where the driver is at the end of its regulation and also getting hot. It may have a thermal fold back protection circuit in it (many regulator chips do) to keep it from burning up and delivering unregulated and unrestricted current when it gets to hot. Running the flashlight on 3 non rechargeable batteries may make the difference for longer on time use.

Got to remember that the LED is going to be running on only 3.2 to 3.5V, maybe 3.7V worst case voltage. The rest of the voltage has to be dropped on the regulator or converted, along with current, if it has a true DC to DC converter. That means the converter has to consume some power to regulate and the higher the voltage differential, in some types of regulators, the more power it has to hold up against.

If you try it with non rechargeables and it runs longer without shutting down or folding back the power, you have your answer. If its no different, contact Inova.

 

[Noxonomus]

I'm not sure I would assume that the flashlight is causing the shutdown at this point, although I don't know any thing about the cells in use it seems possible that they are over heating and causing the shutdown.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

I agree. It might be the PCB of the cells that caused the shutdown. Try regular cells to see if this is a possibility.

 

[eyeeatingfish]

I had a 2007 Inova T3 that overheated. It was in a nylon holster for who knows how long, maybe 20 minutes or so and when i pulled it out i dropped it because it was so hot. I couldnt hold it for long for a while.

I called inova and they said it shouldnt get that hot and they sent me a new one.