Tenergy 3V RCR-123A Lithium Ion and NiMh 9V Capacity help

[firefly101]

Hello,

I have spent the last 3-4 hours reading alot of your threads and posts, some dealing with my question and some on other issues. To boil it down I didnt really find an answer to my questions and a search on Google didnt produce anything of help except this site.

I need to know the ACTUAL capacity of the Tenergy 3V Lithium Ion RCR123A rechargable batteries. The rating on mine is 900mA but I dont believe it and have no way of testing because of the type of unit I am using.

Second I treid to do a test in my Surefire Shotgun Forend with uses an 80lum light and lasts about 3 hours of constant use. I used the Tenergy batteries which lasted 10 minutes, but it wasnt because of capacity it overheated I assume because of the drain? I am using 2 cells and they are regulated I believe as they claim. Also I am using the Charger that came with 4 Tenergy batteries it seems to work fine, but is it an ok charger? I dont need an explosion.



Third Question I could find is Tenergy 9v 250mA NiMh Batteries. The capacity on them is claimed at 250mA which again I doubt. Does ANYONE truly know what the capacity is on both these batteries?

On a side note I found my (sit for 2-3 years) PILE of NiMh Chinese green colored 2500ma batteries where weak, they showed voltage but the mA were low about 400mA whats more my recycling is helping them much, I am beginning to wonder the REAL capacity. Needless to say I will never buy Chinese ones again.

I did buy some Duraloops on Ebay white tops which seems to be great, back in 05 the batteries were so much I didnt bother with them. Now the prices are low enough to justify the better quality of battery plus they have been truly tested.

Thank in advance for your replies and help.

Firefly101

 

[firefly101]

Hmmm, I was hoping someone would know the answers to my questions?

 

[45/70]

Hmmm, I was hoping someone would know the answers to my questions?

I think that's probably because you seem to have answered most of your questions in your first post.

A mAh rating is based on the discharge of a cell under a specific load. Under different loads, the conclusion will be different. Some of the "cheapie" batteries will come closer (note, I said "closer" not "close") to achieving their "claimed" capacity, if they are discharged under a very light load. Under a normal or high load however, they don't do very well. Most of the types of cells you mention are rated with absolutely ridiculous numbers, as you have discovered. Also, in some cases, the materials used are inferior causing short overall lifespan etc.

Welcome to CPF firefly101! :thumbsup:

Dave

 

[firefly101]

Thanks for the welcome Dave!

I was just wondering if under a light load if the batteries are really 250ma or if that is just a plain lie? The load I need for them is small 1.5ma which should help, but doesnt make much difference if they just made the numbers up. lol

On the RCR123A batteries I was curious as the Draw on them would be about 65ma per hour. So I wonder if Tenergy will be 900ma or if that was a lie and its really 600ma.

I read alot of posts on the forums so I know people have used these batteries, and was hoping to save myself some time trying to test this batteries.

If someone can point me to a setup that would draw 50ma for a rcr123a battery and 10ma-25ma draw on the 9v battery.

Thanks

 

[45/70]

I was just wondering if under a light load if the batteries are really 250ma or if that is just a plain lie? The load I need for them is small 1.5ma which should help, but doesnt make much difference if they just made the numbers up. lol

A lot of cells out there are rated way higher than they could ever possibly be. One exception would be AW's Li-Ion cells. From my own experience and many others here, his cells perform at least close to the printed mAh on the side. eneloops are an exception in the NiMH arena. Anyway, I doubt your 9V is 250mAh.

On the RCR123A batteries I was curious as the Draw on them would be about 65ma per hour. So I wonder if Tenergy will be 900ma or if that was a lie and its really 600ma.

You'd probably be fine with the Tenergy cells. No, I'm sure they aren't 900mAh. Most RCR123 cells tested here on the forums are in the 450-550mAh range. The highest I've ever seen I think was 650mAh, and I believe that was one of AW's.

I read alot of posts on the forums so I know people have used these batteries, and was hoping to save myself some time trying to test this batteries.

If someone can point me to a setup that would draw 50ma for a rcr123a battery and 10ma-25ma draw on the 9v battery.

All I can say here, is keep reading. It is true that most inferior cells will perform their best at low discharge rates. That's not to say they're "good" cells though.

Dave

 

[firefly101]

Yes but arent AW batteries unregulated? I use Tenergy because of I need 3v not 3.6v I use them in Night vision and I am afraid too much voltage may damage the unit, I am in the process of trying to find out rom the manufacture.

 

[45/70]

Yes but arent AW batteries unregulated? I use Tenergy because of I need 3v not 3.6v I use them in Night vision and I am afraid too much voltage may damage the unit, I am in the process of trying to find out rom the manufacture.

AW sells both protected and unprotected Li-Ion cells. There are no "regulated" Li-Ion cells, that I know of. I think what you're referring to are the voltage reduced, or voltage corrected 3 Volt LiCo Li-Ions. These cells are simply a regular LiCo cell with two diodes installed (usually at the "+" end) that cause a reduction in voltage of the cell. They are not really "regulated", per se. Your Tenergy cells fall into this category. AW used to sell a version of these, I don't think he does anymore.

The other available Li-Ion 3 Volt cells are LiFePO4. These cells are, by nature of their chemistry, the same voltage (about 3.2 Volts under load) as the diode corrected cells. These cells require a totally different charger. The regular 3.7, or 3 Volt LiCo chargers will not properly charge these cells. AW does offer these.

Dave

 

[firefly101]

Thanks I will check it out, but do they have a charger that can use 12v dc Cigarette light connection? I would be interested in portable use that AC doesnt allow for.

I also wonder with the ad being old if he still carries them?

 

[45/70]

LiFe chargers are hard to find. Don't try to use your Tenergy 3 V charger, it's voltage is way too high (higher than a 3.6 Volt charger). The only charger I have that is specifically for LiFe's, is a WF-138 (set to 3 V). It seems to work well. Unfortunately, it won't run off 12 Volts.

The ultimate solution is to get a hobby charger. With the proper cradles etc. you can charge just about anything. I say that, but I keep buying lights instead of getting one myself.

I'm sure AW still sells the 123 LiFe cells, most of his sales are in the main thread. He also sells the WF-138. If in doubt about anything, shoot him a PM. He always responds. He's a :thumbsup: guy.

The LiFe's were just an idea. I'm getting away from the 3 Volt diode jobbies myself. They're getting hard to find. I do have a few lights and a CR2 laser that won't tolerate 3.6-3.7 Volt Li-Ions, so the LiFe's work well for them.

Dave

 

[firefly101]

Well I dont have permission yet to PM anyone. so there must be ALOT of spam on this forum because I have never been on one with this much security! lol

I know Tenergy has a LiFe charger with batteries so getting AW batteries and then the charger could work since it has DC Cord also.

Well I just bought a BC900 actually by mistake because reading a review on Amazon I though the MAHA 9000 was the newer unit BC9009. lol So I bought the older 900 I wonder what the difference it between the 900 and the 9009?

Anyway I spent enough on super chargers especially for what I am using them for.

Thanks for the help.

 

[45/70]

I sent AW a PM for ya, firefly.

Dave

 

[AW]

firefly101,

In order to make sure you are getting the correct charger for LiFePO4 cells, check the output voltage ( it has to be 3.65V ). DO NOT use the 4.4V charger for the diode regulated 3.0V cells. The charger you mentioned charge two cells in parallel so make sure the cells have similar or close voltage to prevent damage.

AW

 

[45/70]

firefly101,
DO NOT use the 4.4V charger for the diode regulated 3.0V cells.

I've just exchanged PM's with AW. The statement above is incorrect. What he meant to say was you shouldn't use a 4.4 Volt charger intended for 3 Volt diode corrected cells to charge LiFe cells.

He does still offer the LiFe 123 cells.

Dave

 

[firefly101]

So your know of Tenergy LiFe charger that comes with 2 batteries will that work for your cells? Reason I liked it was the DC ability, if there are better chargers that still have DC I am all ears?

Whats the price on the RCR123A LiFePo 3v batteries?