Tenergy 900ma 3v cells not compatible?

[Cascade Range]

Guys, sorry if this has been asked a million times before but why on Tenergy's website do they say that the 900ma, 123's, cell rated at 3 volts are not compatible with Surefire lights? I just bought the charger and it came with 4 batts and would like to run them in my Surefires? Thanks for any info.

 

[45/70]

The voltage of a "3 Volt" cell of this type, is actually closer to 3.2-3.4 Volts under load. At initial startup of your light, the voltage will likely be higher than that. Depending on the DMM used, the open circuit voltage of a LiCo Li-Ion cell with diodes installed to reduce the voltage under load, is usually either ~3.80, or ~4.20 Volts. It is only when the cell is under load, that the voltage is closer to 3 Volts. The same is true for LiFePO4 cells with the exception that the fully charged OC voltage of LiFe cells is usually somewhere between 3.4 and 3.5 Volts.

Dave

 

[Cascade Range]

thanks, so in short I cannot use these cells in the Surefire?

 

[novice]

Cascade Range,
This type of battery was my first foray into rechargeable li-Ion cells, and I am not that knowledgeable about them. I got them mainly to use in my SF A2s. The circuitry of the A2 is supposed to be stepped down to about 4v for use with the incan bulbs, but I don't think the led ring is protected. The thing is, since I have a Koala led ring, and a FiveMega strion adapter, if I blow anything, it is either a fairly inexpensive Nichia 5mm led, or a relatively inexpensive Strion bulb. I haven't used it a lot, but so far no problems. I selected this one because I thought that it would overdrive things less than a 'regular' '3.7v' RCR123a, but I'm hoping that it is not even worse than the others before the circuitry protection kicks in. If I were to start blowing things, I could try replacing leds and bulbs, tossing the Tenergy and Tenergy charger, and maybe try another type of RCR123a. I would still have the stock SF led ring and lamp assembly tucked safely away.

This type of cell only fits in my A2 by taking off the outer wrapper (not the clear shrink-wrap). Once you do that, be careful about not mixing the battery with any other type of RCR123a charger. I've saved a couple of the wrappers in a SF hard nylon case, just to make sure I never forget what it is. And - you can blow up other RCR123a cells by putting them in your Tenergy charger.

This is the only e-series SureFire I'm willing to put RCR123a cells in, because of the aftermarket components. There was a thread a while back in which someone said that you could use RCR123a cells in any 2-cell e-series SF, but I am very, very nervous about trying that, and probably won't do it.

They would work okay in a SF with a drop-in such as a Malkoff, since most of those go up to 9v (except for the M30/M31 series).

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I can weigh in and give you additional information about this.

 

[Cascade Range]

Novice, thanks for the advice! I'm running them in my G2L right now and all seems to be well. I'll be cautious about where I put them as far as incandescent lights.