shim for a 123a battery to fit a wider body?

LEDBE
M

midget

Enlightened
Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
233
Location
MA
Hi guys, newb question here...


I have a fivemega 3P body but it seems to be bored to accept an 18650-width battery...

i'd like to have a shim around the battery so that it doesn't rattle with that extra space. are there any DIY methods (other than wrapping tape around the battery) that i can use, like a shim, so that i can conveniently and permanently fill that space?


or... are there 123a sized batteries that are 18650 width?



thanks for all your help. i'm learning so much from these forums!
 
18350's should fit with no rattle if it is actually bored for 18mm diameter cells.
 
midget said:
i'd like to have a shim around the battery so that it doesn't rattle with that extra space. are there any DIY methods (other than wrapping tape around the battery) that i can use, like a shim, so that i can conveniently and permanently fill that space?
Click to expand...

What I do in this situation is roll up some printer paper cut so it's the correct length and insert it into the battery tube. It stays in the light when you remove/replace cells and works great. You could also use plastic sheet, as well.

In the "old days" when I used to use alkaline cells, the paper helped when cells leaked. The paper would absorb the gooey stuff, and if you caught the leaking in time, prevented damage to the light. Plastic sheet didn't really work too well in this regard. Also, if the shrinkwrap should become damaged on one or more cells, the rolled up paper, or plastic sheet insulates the cell(s) from the body and prevents a short circuit.

Dave
 
When the toilet paper empty, I cut the roll to the cr 123 size and put it in the battery tube, work great, you don't have to tape the battery.
midget said:
Hi guys, newb question here...


I have a fivemega 3P body but it seems to be bored to accept an 18650-width battery...

i'd like to have a shim around the battery so that it doesn't rattle with that extra space. are there any DIY methods (other than wrapping tape around the battery) that i can use, like a shim, so that i can conveniently and permanently fill that space?


or... are there 123a sized batteries that are 18650 width?



thanks for all your help. i'm learning so much from these forums!
Click to expand...
 
3*CR123 + "bored" ... :thinking:
shouldnt this be 2* 18500?

should also give 1/3 more battery power
 
I have made several sleeves from delrin for others to fit 16mm cells into various 18 mm bodies. If you are looking for something more substantial pm me, or see sales thread in my signature.
 
ElectronGuru said:
IMR's don't need protection, they're a safe chemistry. Unless there is an equivalent size and quality with much more capacity (not usually the case with smaller cells), IMR is the way to go.
Click to expand...



understood. sort of.


so just to be completely straight, i don't have to worry about over-discharging or over-charging an IMR? i could *technically* leave an IMR in a charger and it will not burn me down? (i obviously try to take the batteries out of charger, but can't keep my eyes on the charger every minute)
 
midget said:
understood. sort of.


so just to be completely straight, i don't have to worry about over-discharging or over-charging an IMR? i could *technically* leave an IMR in a charger and it will not burn me down? (i obviously try to take the batteries out of charger, but can't keep my eyes on the charger every minute)
Click to expand...

If the charger just keeps charging. and charging. and charging? I don't think so. It would probably swell, and then burst.
 
oh. so even if i were to leave my protected batteries in a charger, they will continue to charge even after they've met their capacity? i thought protected cells "protect" against that. do protected cells only prevent the battery from over-discharge?
 
ElectronGuru said:
IMR's don't need protection, they're a safe chemistry. Unless there is an equivalent size and quality with much more capacity (not usually the case with smaller cells), IMR is the way to go.
Click to expand...

I WAS going to say, what the heck are you talking about ElectronGuru? The Ultrafire 18350 aren't IMR. Then, just before I opened my big fat yap I decided to google 'em and found AW IMR 18350. http://www.lighthound.com/AW-IMR-18350-700mAh-LiMN-Rechargeable-Lithium-Battery_p_3818.html Now when the heck did this happen?
 
midget said:
so just to be completely straight, i don't have to worry about over-discharging or over-charging an IMR?
Click to expand...

There really is no such thing as a "safe" Li-Ion chemistry cell. Sellers like to call them that, but "safer" would be a better term.

All Li-Ion cells have the capability to "vent with flame" due to the components used. It's just that LiMn (IMR) and LiFe (IFR) have to be pushed a bit harder for an incident to occur. Of these two chemistries, LiFe is probably a bit "safer" than LiMn, and both are "safer" than LiCo (ICR) cells. That said, there's a thread here on CPF somewhere where a light using LiFe cells "blew up" leaving charred remains and twisted metal quite similar to when LiCo cells "vent with flame".

So IMR cells (and LiFe cells, as well) can be damaged just as LiCo cells, by overcharging, over discharging and attempting to recharge, or discharging at an excessive current level. The only difference is that an "incident" is somewhat less likely when using the "safer" chemistries.

Never leave any Li-Ion chemistry cell in a charger unattended, period and never over discharge any Li-Ion chemistry cell and then attempt to charge it.

Dave
 
I know it's an old thread but the right sized o-rings are a cheap easy fix for diameter and a taller spring if needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top