source for a123 26650 cells.

[jaybiz32]

Anyone have a good source for single A123 LiFepo4 26650 cells with a shrink wrap/or other coating to avoid shorts?

 

[The Dane]

Are you going to build or are they intended for a C cell flashlight?

I can say that the 26650 LiFeO4 cells i have wont fit a C cell M*g with shrinkwrap only and then just if theyre bare (and that wont work!)

Many in the RC sport buy batteries for cordless drills on Fley-bay. Way cheaper than buying them one at a time.

 

[jaybiz32]

Using it for C cell flashlight. Any alt. to the shrink wrap while rendeering the cells useable and fitable.

 

[rmteo]

Here is one source:
http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=C2116942&pid=C2126943

If you do not need the high current drain (which you don't for flashlights), take a look at these:
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2385

You get 43% (3300mAH vs. 2300mAH for the 123) more capacity for half the price - they are slightly smaller and shorter as well and will probably fit your application better.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

An A123 celll might fit your C mag with shrink, It depends on the colour and age of the maglite, and the thickness of your shrink.

the case is -ve, so you dont have to have it insulated, if you have the +ve small end plate faceing the reflector, as the body and cell casing is -Ve.

But insulation is safer.

Mags with no 'C' infront of the serial No, are wider and will accept A123 easier...also coloured mags are wider, but Black is not so wide.

In my 6C mags with no serial No the A123 will fit in with shrink no problem, with my 7C mags they will slide in with the original wider card wrappers, and so will Emoli.

I'm guessing smaller mag, so you could bore it with a brake cyliner hone, and drill, or Dowel or similar sized rod and emerypaper...you dont need to do alot, but I like to keep the internal anodize as a bit of a barrier, but it is no garrentee to insulate 100%, there may be thin missing spots.

A123 are a lower nominal voltage with 3.3V nominal, 3.6V peak. They can dump tremendous amounts of current. ( from memory 120A pulse and ~70A continuous.
They can be charged realy quick also...I doubt you have a charger capable of suppling enough current, I charge @ 5A as thats the most my charger will do...But from memory they can take double if not more. They can also take more abuse and heavy deep discharge better than most cells I've seen, but shouldent be taken below 2-2.5V...but I have seen data that they can handle high current discharges lower than this and still recover well with little or no ill effects to cappacity or cycle life.

I like them the best as i can beat the hell out of them on both discharge, and charge, and they keep going.

I have had all other chemistry cells fail on me in some way ( but only the odd cell out of a bunch of each)

You can even zip charge them of a car battery if you have enough cable lenght, ( google) and 3 in series. at around 20A I recall.

There are some 26650 cells on here from batterystation with 4000Mah, but questionable shelf life?

Download is selling some C sized simmilar to A123 cells here on CPF also.

Emoli are also an option but 5mm longer, and 4.2V peak, 3.7V Nom. Also a tiny bit fatter than A123

What are you building?

 

[jaybiz32]

Just trying to power a custom light cut down to hold 2 a123 cells. It is newer model C cell mag.

 

[45/70]

the case is -ve, so you dont have to have it insulated, if you have the +ve small end plate faceing the reflector, as the body and cell casing is -Ve.

But insulation is safer.

Uh, you'd better rethink this advice. :)

Insulation is mandatory unless you're using only one cell. I wouldn't count on the 0.002-0.003" of anodizing on the inside of the flashlight barrel either, if it is even anodized, which it won't be if the barrel is bored/honed.

When you stack cells in series, the outer casing of the cell towards the head of the light is at positive (+) potential relative to the cell behind it (towards the tailcap).

Just trying to help avoid a disaster. ;)

Dave

 

[A380]

hi, I buy them from here for my RC planes.
http://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITED...UINE_A123_Systems_26650A_LiFePo4_Cell_w/_tabs

I spent lots of money here and never had a problem. Many people think (including myself) its the Rc shop that sells more all over the world.
They have a really flat discharge rate till 2v.
Its true that you can zip chatge them in 3s, but you must be carefull. I always charge them at 10 amp in about 15-20 minutes.

Ot.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Uh, you'd better rethink this advice. :)

Insulation is mandatory unless you're using only one cell. I wouldn't count on the 0.002-0.003" of anodizing on the inside of the flashlight barrel either, if it is even anodized, which it won't be if the barrel is bored/honed.

When you stack cells in series, the outer casing of the cell towards the head of the light is at positive (+) potential relative to the cell behind it (towards the tailcap).

Just trying to help avoid a disaster. ;)

Dave

Your absolutley right, and I take it back.

( I was thinking that the OP's post was for the purchase of one cell, so assumed the host was for one cell also.)

( Note to self...never assume anything )

As I said Insulation is safer, but will use no insulation is V-risky, and not advised.

Also there is a potential short there if using a different +ve contact spring that may be larger than the stock mag.

I had done this to quickly test fit in a custom HA host...but have not completd my single cell build yet, and would look to insulate the cell.

Well spotted Dave