Trustfire 14500 protected - 1.03v!

[petergunn]

Just tried my Ultrafire C3 SS which has been sitting on the shelf for a couple of weeks - click click - no light. Tested the tailcap connection - no light. Cleaned the threads - no light. Tried a 1.5v alkaline - works fine

Perhaps the protection circuit tripped?

Checked with the DMM - nope - 1.03v!!! yikes! Im so glad I bought a DMM - otherwise I might have just assumed it needed charging and... :eeksign:

Making me think Lithium just isn't worth the risk. I'm seriously thinking of going back to nimh & primaries.

-PG

 

[Bullzeyebill]

You might need to do that if you are just using UltraFire's. I have accidentally run some of my Li-Ions down about that far, and had quickly discovered that fact. I did recharge them, but watched very closely, and pulled them off to check voltage. In all cases they had rebounded up to 3+ volts within seconds after placing them on the charger. I am using pretty good cells, Powerizer RCR123's and mostly LG 18650's. These are hardy cells, and well made, so they are ok, and I did note them with a ? mark so I can continue to monitor them.

Bill

 

[jasonck08]

In the future use QUALITY cells with a QUALITY protection circuit that prevents over discharging.

 

[petergunn]

The puzzling bit is how it came to be discharged Total runtime since the battery was charged two weeks ago is < 5minutes. I checked the voltage was 4.2v after charging. I have other Ultrafire C3s and have never noticed any parasitic drain - the identical one sitting beside it was fine.

I'm thinking it must be a defective cell as well as having faulty protection

But where did all the current go?

-PG

 

[kramer5150]

Toss it... its done.
Yes it would be wise for you to strongly consider switching to NiMH or Lithium primary.

Lithium-Ion recharge capable chemistry requires more "hands-on" if you want to use it safely. Sporadic use after periodic storage without voltage monitoring... this kind of user routine lends itself better to NIMH.

You might also want to try and diagnose why the light continually drained the cell. The click switch should have completely disrupted the circuit.