Streamlight TLR-RM2 - Battery Substitutes and Charger Question

[Entropy_S]

I have a Streamlight TLR-RM2 which takes 2 x CR123 batteries (see link below):

https://www.streamlight.com/products/detail/index/tlr-rm2

I want to switch over to a monolithic battery solution, and the 16650 battery looks to fit the bill. But before I go down this rabbit hole, I was hoping to get some insight.

What other options exist for a monolithic battery solution, other than a 16650 battery, that would work for my use case?

Appreciate the help and input!

 

[lightfooted]

I'm reasonably certain that any other options would have to be custom designed and built. Such as a boost driver that would operate on a single AA cell. You might have just enough room to stuff the circuitry in the space ahead of the AA cell to do it. I don't know for sure and I haven't heard of anyone doing this. I am certain though that there will be several people who will tell you to not use rechargeable cells in a weapon light, cuz they might fail.

 

[Entropy_S]

I am certain though that there will be several people who will tell you to not use rechargeable cells in a weapon light, cuz they might fail.

True, you aren't the first. However, I have tested a 16650 cell in the RM2 and it works just fine, no adverse effects at all. Thanks for your insight and reply!

 

[Teppka]

I realize it's an old thread but I'm wondering if 16650 worked fine on Streamlight TLR-RM2 and what was usage experience. Thanks.

 

[aznsx]

I realize it's an old thread but I'm wondering if 16650 worked fine on Streamlight TLR-RM2 and what was usage experience. Thanks.

First, I do not have experience with that, or an answer. Physically a 16650 would probably fit OK, but a big question is whether or not the light can function acceptably (to its specifications) with the greatly reduced voltage range it provides vs 2xCR123A. That depends entirely on the design of the electronics of course, and that will be a difficult question to answer with certainty without testing, as SL does not provide an acceptable input voltage range spec.

Personally, I would likely go with a pair of LiFePO4 16340 cells (EDIT: aka: LFP123A) such as Surefire sells for use with their 2xCR123 LED lights (or similar from other supplier(s). That would provide the full performance of a ~6V source the light is designed for, at the expense of less capacity / run-time, which for me is likely a secondary consideration w/ a weapon light. If you require a physically "monolithic" (1-piece?) solution as the OP apparently did, obviously my suggestion would not apply. These are the SF cells I'm referring to:

SFLFP123 Batteries

[email protected]

www.surefire.com

To address a concern shared by some and previously mentioned in this thread regarding the use of secondary / rechargeable cells in critical applications, I don't personally share that concern, and clearly Streamlight does not either. This is clearly evidenced by the design of their newer TLR-1HL X, which is designed around a 3.7V protected Li-ion cell (16340), which they sell their version of (SL-B9).

NOTE: You likely know this, however I'm required to include the caution not to extrapolate on anything here and attempt to use any 3.6/3.7-4.2 16340 lithium ion cells in that light.

 

[Monocrom]

16650 is going to be the easiest option.
Wish these were available back in the day.
Back then, we had to carefully bore out our flashlights to get an 18650 to fit.