Stupid Newbie 123 question...

[Airmon]

I'm done some searches as one ought to do before posting a stupid question like this one, and haven't found the answer. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place or with the wrong search terms. So here goes.
Is a lithium 123 battery the same as a 123A? I understand that the first letters ( CR, SF, whatever ) typically mean a manufacturer's part code, but what does the "A" at the end mean? I'm keen to order some batteries online where I don't have to pay the $8 each my local store charges and want to make sure I get the right thing.

Also, I'm planning on buying a small stockpile of these batteries from one of the CPF advertisers, but what if I have a dead battery and no spare along? Is there a "Brick and Mortar" retailer that doesn't gouge lithium battery buyers?

Signed: Happy with my new Light, but confused about feeding it...
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[THE_dAY]

Welcome Airmon, yep, 123 and 123a are the same.
a good place to look for good quality batteries (energizers, duracell, surefire, etc..) is on ebay, sometimes you can get some really good deals. i got some energizers e2 which i think are the best for under $3 a piece.

 

[MR Bulk]

Welcome aboard, Airmon!

What kind of light do you have that takes these 123(A)'s?

SureFire sells theirs for $1.25 each plus shipping as long as you buy them in boxes of 12 (for $15) and if you order $100 or more of whatever, not necesssarily batteries, the CONUS shipping is free (not true for us Hawaiians though).

BatteryStation.com is where I've been buying mine lately, they're like a buck each and in informal tests I found them to perform the same as any name brand battery. Not sure about the shipping though, you'd have to contact them.

These are not plugs, just providing the best info I have to a new member.

Welcome again!

 

[Airmon]

Thanks for the warm welcome, the answers and the tips on locating affordable batteries.
I've been a white LED flashlight user for something like 4 or 5 years now, and a lurker on the CPF for a while. I just bought an ARC4 Second from the B/S/T thread. ( wow!, nice light...) I just never used a light with 123's.

Lights owned or purchased:

Converted AA minimag with one large yellow LED ( dim, but seriously long runtime )
1/2 dozen photon II lights, a bunch given as gifts...
2 PAL Survival lights ( both gifts )
3 ARC AAA (2 as gifts)
LEDtronics flashLED 6
Infinity Ultra
Streamlight batonlight
LightWave 2000 ( in the Boat Dry Box )
Expedition 1400 ( gift )
3 Streamlight tasklight Luxeon ( kept one, gave away 2.)
ARC4 Second

Holy cow, have I really bought all those lights???!!! Maybe Jeanette is right, I have a problem....Naaahhh.

My EDC has gone from: Photon to PAL to ARC AAA to Infinity and now to the ARC 4.

 

[jayflash]

Welcome Airmon! It seems that you've a good handle on this subject and are already a Flashaholic in spirit if not yet in letter.

Due to the unpredictable nature of batteries in general and lithium 123's in particular, I ALWAYS carry spares.

 

[Doug S]

[ QUOTE ]
Airmon said:
I understand that the first letters ( CR, SF, whatever ) typically mean a manufacturer's part code, but what does the "A" at the end mean?

[/ QUOTE ]
I have no idea about the "A" suffix. Your understanding about the two letter prefix is not universally true. Some manufacturers do use there own letters, e.g., SF=Surefire, DL=Duracell. There are two generic prefix designators. These are CR and BR. These designate the cell chemistry. "CR" is MnO2 type and is the type you want. "BR" is a different chemistry that does not support heavy loads.

 

[RussH]

Those 123As are 2/3 A size, hence the 1 cell 123A and the 2 cell 223A. I believe that means a 17-18mm diameter compared to about 14mm for an AA. I think the A is the same length as AA, but I don't recall wether or not I've seen one. I think I have some real oddball (obsolete eveready) instrument batteries that are A size, I'll have to measure one and find out.