Westinghouse LiFe at Wal Mart

[Chrontius]

They now have four for $10, 14500s and 18500s.

Remember, 3.2v LiFe voltage.

Both sizes are 600 mAh nominal; the 18500s are kinda flat-top.

What can be used on these?

 

[Conte]

Raw cells ?

Why would they cell LiFe cells at Walmart ?

Because they are a lower and more usable voltage for typical electronics, I have seen them marketed to replace AA cells, where you use one cell per 2XAA cells, and they give you a dummy AA to put in the second slot.

I wonder if that's what they are up too.

I'm in Canada. I doubt they'd have those here.

 

[Morelite]

They now have four for $10, 14500s and 18500s.

Remember, 3.2v LiFe voltage.

Both sizes are 600 mAh nominal; the 18500s are kinda flat-top.

What can be used on these?

Do they sell a charger for them?

 

[Mr Happy]

I believe they are replacement batts for solar lights?

I bought a few to evaluate, but they are quite disappointing for flashlight use. The chemistry seems to have been modified so they can tolerate trickle charging without damage, but perhaps related to this modification they have a very low current capability. If you try to draw even 1 A from them the voltage drops markedly.

 

[T0RN4D0]

600 maH 18500, haha.

Why in the world would some want to replace 2AA with one LiFe and a dummy? For a quarter of the capacity and double price?

 

[ltiu]

600 maH 18500, haha.

Why in the world would some want to replace 2AA with one LiFe and a dummy? For a quarter of the capacity and double price?

Because I can!

 

[Chrontius]

They're for solar lights; the new Westinghouse ones offer a 'budget' model using NiMH and a brighter model using LiFe cells, either 14500 or 18500.

Hm. I wonder if anyone makes anything well matched for these for an emergency light?

I also wonder how self-discharge is on these things.

 

[Lightcrazycanuck]

 

[adam83]

The local walmart has these red-tagged down to $5/4pack. Only 18500s left, I was hoping to get some more 14500s for the Quark AA.

I have been using them for several months now and the self discharge seems to be pretty low. I am pleased with their performance(the 14500s).

 

[elseis66]

What type os charger has to be used for these?

 

[adam83]

I just use a CC/CV power supply set to 400mA/3.60v.

 

[Demon27]

I've been using these in my Nitecore D10 and my ICON Rogue for a couple months now. They are noticeably brighter than nimh and Energizer Advanced Lithiums. They last about 1-2 weeks with average flashlight use. I did already have an RC hobby charger though.

 

[mitro]

I still say that the 14500s are a perfect fit for a light like the mini AA. I have done some testing on the ones I have and they generally have around 500 mah under a 1 amp load and don't lose much up to 2 amps (I haven't tested beyond 2A). Thanks to the lower voltage, I can use my mini AA on high for 5 minutes + while getting a lot of lumens, where with an ICR or IMR it is uncomfortable to hold in 2 minutes.

 

[Mr Happy]

Here are few relevant threads with discharge graphs and light tests:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=263630
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=265275
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=292045

 

[nickelflipper]

I believe they are replacement batts for solar lights?

I bought a few to evaluate, but they are quite disappointing for flashlight use. The chemistry seems to have been modified so they can tolerate trickle charging without damage, but perhaps related to this modification they have a very low current capability. If you try to draw even 1 A from them the voltage drops markedly.

I wonder what type of circuitry the Westinghouse solar lights uses for these Lifpo4 batts?

In my own experimentation, you do not want to run these unregulated, even with a mini solar panel set up. With a little 6V 100ma solar panel, it could repeatedly overcharge to +5.1V (bright sunny summer day), no worries about fire thank goodness. As anecdotal evidence, the overcharging knocks the stuffing out these cells. To put it another way, expect severely reduced capacity, or run times.

I think the AA Lifepo4 cells will be popular for all manner of low power portable electronics. Most microcontrollers need 1.8V or more to run. There are a few new (or soon to be) micro's, with built in boost circuitry, that can run from a single nimh cell.

I would have picked up a box of those cells, at $5 a 4 pack, but no AA's here either.

If someone can pass along the sku of the AA's (I tossed my packaging), that would be great!