Re: Can the New Surefire Cree E2L take 9 volts? ... I've been testing it.
OK, here are the results. First of all, sorry that I had no rechargeables to test BUT if it could take 9v it should be fine with the rechargeables.
OK, had to get up last night and so I checked on the light... it had been on for 9 hours and the LED was still going very strong. I turned on my other Cree E2L and the beams were the same.
I went back to bed and woke up 3 hours later. The light was still on but the batteries were clearly fading and the light was probably only half as bright, if that, as it was on fresh primaries. I can't say at what point the light started to diminish but I can say it ran at full power for 9 hours on 3 primaries (9v) just fine.
Just to make sure it was the batteries running down and not damage to the LED, I put in fresh primaries and compared it to my other Cree E2L... the beams were the same... no damage whatsever to the LED.
OK, this may be only anecdotal evidence but I'm comfortable, for myself, that 9 volts is no problem with the Cree E2L. It ran 9 hours at full power and the beam did not burn out, change color or over-heat. You'll all have to make your own call but based on this experiment I'd say it is safe for rechrgeables.
I got what I wanted... with the Vital Gear 3 cell body I now have an emergency light I know I can count on for at least 9 hours at full power and it can stand on the tailcap... I can't ask for more than that.