Rechargable batteries

[l2icel3all]

I was wondering what rechargeable batteries would work best as a replacement for CR123'S. I would like to know where is a good place to get them from, for a good price. I also wanted to know since they are rechargeable typically how many times can you recharge them. Have any of you guys had them explode? I know rechargeable batteries have different amounts of MAH or "Juice" so I was wondering if this is noticeable versus the 1 hour you'd typically get from Surefire CR123's. I was looking at www.lighthound.com but I needed to know more info before spending money on something I will be using quite a bit and rather purchase something of quality rather than over price if I need to use it quite frequently. I apologize in advance if this is a Newbie question of if its been answered before (I'm sure its been discussed a billion times) if thats the case please post links to the thread so I can be Enlightened, PUN INTENDED! :twothumbs

 

[generic808]

AW has good rechargeables and can be found here in the "dealer's corner". I ordered Trustfire and Ultrafire RCR123's from DX and have nothing but good things to say about them.

BTW...this thread will probably be moved to the batteries section, just to let you know. You can probably find whatever questions you have in that section.

 

[LED_Thrift]

Welcome to CPF.
Besides AW, another good dealer who is active on CPF is MattK from BatteryJunction.com. He has both 3.7volt rechargables [which is the normal Li rechargeable voltage] and 3.0 volt rechargables [which mimic the voltage of a primary CR123]. The 3.0 volt batteries come in two different chemistries, one is safer than the other but has less capacity [which will mean less runtime between charges].

There are a lot of variables in choosing which batteries would be best. Send MattK an email telling him which light or lights you want to run them in. Depending on such things as how much current they draw and how much runtime you need, he will help you choose the best ones for your situation.

Most rechargables, if properly used, will last a few hundred cycles. You may want to post this type of question in the "Flashlight Electronics - Batteries Included" forum.

 

[l2icel3all]

Thanks for all your help guys! I really appreciate it!!!:twothumbs

 

[Steve L]

We could use more information. What light(s) are you going to use the batteries in. Some lights don't work well with RCR123 because of the higher voltage(4.2v fully charged). + 1 on AW's batteries, they can be found at Lighthound or in the Dealers corner in CPFMP. One last thing, I have AW, Ultafire, and Trustfire. I strongly recommend AW's because the fire brands are too long to fit in some lights. They also have a more robust protection circuit.

 

[DM51]

Welcome to CPF, l2icel3all.

I'm moving your thread to the Batteries section, where you will find many other battery-related queries.

 

[J!m]

I just wanted to add that the rechargeable versions of the 123's tend to not last 'charged' in storage as long as the normal 123's, which are around 10 years to 90% charge.

If you will use/recharge often, they make sense.

Also, lower ambient temperatures for operation make the rechargeables less effective.

I'm sure you have considered these details, but mayby others are not aware of the benefits of the normal cell as well as the rechargeable cell.

 

[mdocod]

In many cases you can NOT use a rechargeable Li-Ion as a direct replacement for CR123s because the voltage is different, even the "supposed" 3.0V rechargeable cells do NOT behave the same as the CR123s they are replacing, some devices are more sensitive to these differences than others. You need to approach each light you intend to run on rechargables individually and find the correct rechargeable solution, often times, the better option is to run a single 17670 size cell in lights ordinarily designed for 2xCR123 cells, and simply swap out the lamp to support the different voltage. Or if you do decide to run a pair of 3.7V Li-Ion cell in an incandescent, you need to use a lamp designed to operate on 3 CR123s. often sold as "9V" lamp assemblies. There are limitations and safety factors that need to be considered, please note which specific lights you are interested in using rechargeable cells in and we can go from there.

Eric

 

[bra260]

Is there a rechargeable 123 version suitable for use with a Gladius or other bulbed light?