1 X 18650 or 2 X CR123

torva_lupus · May 11, 2012

Hi, will be any problem if I replace the 1 X 18650 with 2 X CR123?

Does it make any difference in which flashlight I am going to do it or there is any general rule?

thank you

zenbeam · May 11, 2012

There are lights built to handle either/or and lights built to handle 1x18650 ONLY and those built to handle 2xCR123A but not 1x18650.

Pay close attention to the manufacturer or seller's specs listed for the light. Best if you can go to the manufacturer's page for that type of information.

But I am somewhat the rookie at all this - however, I believe that what I did say was moderately accurate. :naughty:

BarryG · May 11, 2012

It depends on the operating voltage of the light. I have one of Download's Pocket Rockets and it uses an 18650 only. I also have a couple of Quarks, one a 2x123 with the high voltage head<3-9volts> and a 1xAA with the low voltage head<0.9-4.2volts>. Both of the heads would run off of an 18650 but only the high voltage head could use 2 CR123's.

Which light are you going to try this in? Someone on here probably has one like it and could tell you if it is a safe move or not.

Barry

torva_lupus · May 11, 2012

so what I understand is that there is NOT a general rule but specific manufacturer guidelines for every flashlight.

madecov · May 11, 2012

It even gets worse. The Klarus XT-11 can handle 18650/CR113/16340 batteries but the Xtar TZ20 with the same emitter can only handle the 18650.
Every manufacturer has a specified voltage range for each light. Sometimes a given model with different emitters will have different voltage specs.

madecov · May 11, 2012

Oops double tap

Danielight · May 11, 2012

Checking the mfg's furnished specs is always important. And be careful not to assume that similar batteries will work, e.g., cr123 (priimaries) and rcr123 (rechargeables). Even though those batteries may have similar names and sizes, the rechargeables usually produce higher voltage readings, and so may have too high of an output for your light, which may run safely on primaries.

reppans · May 11, 2012

As long as you stay within the voltage guidelines for your light: 18650 is 4.2v, 2xCR123 is 6v and 2x16340 is 8.4v, you should be ok... make sure the batts are closely matched if you run multiple.

As a general rule, however, a single cell will always be safer than multicells due to the possibility (likelihood) of imbalance. And the single cell will always have more energy/runtimes than the multicell, due to the "double packaging."

1 X 18650 or 2 X CR123

torva_lupus

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madecov

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