Quick Surefire 123 voltage drop question

[Tater Rocket]

What is the voltage of a surefire 123 cell at 3 amps? Just curious....wondering if I can put a 35 watt MR16 in this 4AA double barrel with 6 123's and run it....I know I could do a 20 watt that would be slightly overdriven. That would probably be the best route I suppose. Not even sure the mr16 bulb will go in the double barrel head. Though I guess I should worry about finding an mr16 socket first, but was just wondering if I could run a 35 watt bulb. If not, what is the voltage drop at 1.6 amps?

Thanks,
Spud

 

[Doug S]

3A would probably trip the internal PTC overcurrent device within a minute or two. The datasheets will give curves for some current close enough to 1.6A for your purposes. Check the CR123 on the Eveready site or the DL123 on the Duracell site.

 

[Mr Ted Bear]

Interesting question, but not unique..

I have in posession a 3X123 light that is equally bright as a Surefire M3(1/2 way betweeen lola & hola). However, after 10-12 minutes, it is noticeable dimmer, equivalent to p60 or so.

Not sure what my conclusion is, but this light eats batteries like the M6/500

 

[Tater Rocket]

If I overdrive the 20 watter I should get ABOUT 500 lumens, and I should get it for about 30 minutes or so. Not sure about that time though. It will be however long a 123 will last at 1.6 or so amps. I figure it SHOULD be good for 30 minutes then. But basically I want to do something with this 4AA double barrel I don't use at all, and I have been wanting a mr16 mod pretty bad since I made one and had to sell it. I'd probably just use it as a car light since it would be pretty small and will fit in my console. Then there is the matter of me wanting to mount 2-4 50-75 watt mr16 bulbs on my car as driving lights for when nobody is around.....but that is a different thread /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Spud

Edit: Oh yeah, since this is a car light, it would be more for lighting up signs and such, so would only be used a minute or so at a time at most anyway. Plus I would know it would be costing me a fortune in 123's so I would feel bad using it at all.

 

[PaulW]

Hi Spud,

Six 123s in a 4 AA double barrel is a great project. I wish I could get some double barrels. A number of us on other threads have been investigating similar ventures using Carley and Welch Allyn bulbs in Mag 2Cs. The main thread is here, although it is quite large now. Other shorter threads can be found by searching “Mag 2C.”

I have run tests of SF123s feeding various lamp assemblies and find the following for fresh cells:

Volts_Amps_Duration (approx. minutes)
3.17__0.00
3.00__0.43
2.80__0.78
2.65__1.22___60 (SL Scorpion)
2.35__2.05
2.27__2.48___20 (SF MN16)

I hope this is helpful.

Paul