Using protect and unprotected cells together

[Kevbodian]

Hey all at CPF. My first post here. Forgive me if this has been answered.

I currently am using a light with a q5 led. I have 4 16340 cells. 2 which I received from a colleague and 2 which I purchased. I will one day move up to the 18650s instead.

Basically, at work I go through each set of these every ~4 hrs. I swap at lunch time. My dilemma at the moment is that I run the two protected together and then I run the two unprotected together. The protected always charge correctly because they never over discharge but the same cannot be said for the unprotected duo. Sometimes one of the unprotected cells will not charge right away and it may take a whole day for it to kick into charge mode (odd, yes).

My question: would running my light with 1 protected and 1 unprotected work? Would the protection of one cell kick in when it drops below the minimum voltage and then switch off the light? Or would the light keep running and if the unprotected cell was at a highe voltage could it damage the protected cell or the protection circuit?

Thanks.

 

[Kevbodian]

Appologies to the moderators. Looks like I pulled a newb. I just did some reading and found many questions regaring using 2x 18650 unprot with a single protected etc... and from what I found I think my question is answered.

Today at work, however, my new craplight (superfire c1 q5) died and so I will replace it with a P3D or TK11 if I can make up my mind. The number of settings on the P3D is a lil bewildering. But alas, that is another thread.

Please close; thank you.

Hey all at CPF. My first post here. Forgive me if this has been answered.

I currently am using a light with a q5 led. I have 4 16340 cells. 2 which I received from a colleague and 2 which I purchased. I will one day move up to the 18650s instead.

Basically, at work I go through each set of these every ~4 hrs. I swap at lunch time. My dilemma at the moment is that I run the two protected together and then I run the two unprotected together. The protected always charge correctly because they never over discharge but the same cannot be said for the unprotected duo. Sometimes one of the unprotected cells will not charge right away and it may take a whole day for it to kick into charge mode (odd, yes).

My question: would running my light with 1 protected and 1 unprotected work? Would the protection of one cell kick in when it drops below the minimum voltage and then switch off the light? Or would the light keep running and if the unprotected cell was at a highe voltage could it damage the protected cell or the protection circuit?

Thanks.

 

[DM51]

As the OP has realised, cells that are of different manufacture, capacity, type, age or state of charge should NEVER be used together.

Thread closed at OP's request.