Substitute primary AAA Lithium for Alkaline?

[srmd22]

I know this must've been asked a million times, but my searches did not quite pull up the right thread with a short answer. Are there any AAA lights that will be damaged by a AAA lithium, and also is a primary AAA lithium ion the same as a so-called L92?

Thanks for tolerating the noob questions.

 

[Marduke]

There is no primary li-ion. L92's are lithium iron disulfide.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I know this must've been asked a million times, but my searches did not quite pull up the right thread with a short answer. Are there any AAA lights that will be damaged by a AAA lithium, and also is a primary AAA lithium ion the same as a so-called L92?

Thanks for tolerating the noob questions.

yes some lights *may* be damaged by lithium primaries especially those designed to only use alkalines that depend on the internal resistance of the batteries in the circuit to throttle current to low power (5mm) LEDs. Some lights that use less than 3 batteries may have boost circuits that would overdrive LEDs harder on lithiums than alkalines also. I would recommend if you are thinking about buying lithiums for a cheap AAA based light then the batteries would probably be worth more than the light is. I have had 3AAA led lights with 8x5mm LEDs fry LEDs off of nimh which supply lower current/voltage than lithiums can.

 

[jumpin jack flash]

Before I moved on to LEDs, I discovered how much brighter, and usable, my Maglite Solitaire was with lithium primaries. That was until they started burning out the bulbs. It's been 3 years since I've used the Solitaire, but I would assume that's still a problem using the standard bulb with lithiums.

 

[srmd22]

Thanks, that was what I was worried about, and thanks for the technical correction-- Li Fe being the primary version versus Lithium Ion. Got a lot to learn still.

Now, some of the cheapo lights I have looked at are actually rated for standard AA or AAA and rechargeable NiCads. Is there any hope of using a primary lithium in those sorts?

 

[Marduke]

It depends on the light.

 

[srmd22]

Like this Nkoray K-106 Cree Q5-WC 5-Mode 230-Lumen Memory LED Flashlight (1*AA/1*14500), for example:

Or this TrustFire XP-EF23 XP-R2-WC 3-Mode 150-Lumen Memory LED Flashlight (1*AAA/1*10440):

 

[Mr Happy]

Both of the lights you show say they will work with a lithium ion cell (14500/10440, 3.6 V). If they will work on one of those, they will work on a lithium primary (1.7 V). Lights that can take such a wide variation in input voltage must have regulation circuits.

 

[srmd22]

Excellent! I learned something new today-- I guess I'm not too old to learn:tinfoil: