Request for help - G3 - 17500 - Spacers?

[Taboot]

I have a G3 w/ EO-9 LA. I have decided to make it rechargeable. To my understanding and mdocod's guide, in order to avoid extension tubes I can use 2x17500s. I found AW 17500's on lighthound.com. They recommend magnetic spacers and they show a 15mm aluminum charging spacer.

Link:
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1299

I plan to get their charger as well.

Link:
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2179

Anyone have experience with this setup with regards to the G3? Do I need the magnetic spacers to use AW cells in the G3? Do I need the "charging spacer" 1 for each cell. So I need 2 to charge them both at the same time?

Thanks in advance for any responses..

T

 

[eshishlo]

You should check out this thread: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=170420

I run the 17500 also and a WF-139 charger. I do not use any spacers, the batteries are held in place with the spring loaded contacts.

AW has both the batteries as well as the charger that you can use.

 

[mdocod]

with AWs protected cells you won't need the magnets because they have button tops built into the top of the cell (like ordinary consumer grade cells).

You will however need the 15mm spacers if you want to use DSD charger... You might be better served with a WF-139 (similar price)... it's a faster charger and has spring loaded contacts that will cradle a 50mm cell without any spacers required (as eshishlo has pointed out). Just make a point to remove the cells when they are done [green light] to prevent overcharging.

 

[Taboot]

Thanks for the responses. I found that lighthound also had the WF-139 charger. The only thing that is still puzzling is magnetic spacers. Perhaps lighthound is selling an older or different lot of AW cells. The paragraph related to the cells states:

"Purchase the 1.6mm magnetic spacer - below, they help the batteries make contact in the middle."

For $0.15 I suppose I could just buy a couple and see.

Should the light be just as bright with 2x17500s as it is with 2xCR123 primaries?

Thanks for the help.

Mike

 

[Paladin]

My protected 17500's are from Lighthound, and no magnetic spacers are required. I use the WF-139 charger and keep a log of discharged voltage and how long it is taking to get the green lights "on", so usually I set a kitchen timer for the approximate time, and keep an eye on the charger the final 10 to 20 minutes. I'm getting pretty good at guesstimating the required charging time.

I've tried them in several lights, their current home is a G3L which is my "around the house and back yard" light.

Paladin

 

[USM0083]

I'm running a HO-9 in a 6P + Detonator extension and 2 x AW 17500 protected cells. My charger is a WF-139, and no spacers required. IIRC some older AW cells, required the spacers, but the newer ones don't. Not sure about other brands. I charge the 17500s at work, where I can monitor them and take them out as soon as the charge light turns green. I also check the voltage on a DMM.

 

[mdocod]

Should the light be just as bright with 2x17500s as it is with 2xCR123 primaries?

yes, actually it will be brighter on the 17500s. ... check this out:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=117117
scroll down to the graph for AWs 17500s.
You'll see that into a 2A load (same as a EO-9) the cell will discharge between ~3.8V steadily down to about 3.25V shortly before "falling of the face of the earth". So 2 of them in series will ramp from 7.8V down to about 6.5V in about 30 minutes.

now check this out:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=67078
have a look at some discharge graphs, you'll see that most CR123s will hold somewhere around 2.2-2.4V into a 2A load diminishing to about 2.0V before things fall apart. So assuming the best case scenario, some of the cells holding up around 2.4V each, you are only going to be getting 7.2V to the bulb fresh out of the package diminishing to ~6V and below towards the end.

 

[Taboot]

Thanks a ton for your responses and all the information. I think I'm clear on all this. 2 x AW 17500s, WF139 charger, no spacers, should be better in every way to 3x CR123s.

It sounds like it's a good idea to watch for the charge complete indication. Perhaps they should have included a shut-off circuit based on the green indicator.

Anyway, thanks. I can't wait to get the G3 hooked up.. Seems like every CR123 light I get, I end up converting to rechargeable in short order.

Mike

 

[USM0083]

Anyway, thanks. I can't wait to get the G3 hooked up.. Seems like every CR123 light I get, I end up converting to rechargeable in short order.

Mike

Guilt free lumens = more play time!!!

 

[Taboot]

Guilt free lumens = more play time!!!

No doubt. Especially when it comes to Incans.