Hotwire Questions

I'm hoping some of you hotwire pros can give me some info. I plan on playing with some incandescent bulbs and want your advise on a 12v 4x123 set-up. Can 4x123 handle a 20w bulb and what kind of runtime could I expect? Any bulb suggestions for 4x123? Thanks in advance.

Still in my freshman year of The College For The Advanced Study Of Hotwires, I'm duty bound to quote a little of what I've learned from the upper classmen and Deans of Incandescancy. My report will be monitored and comments on this report will come forthwith.

Voltage or Power = V
Amps or Current = A
Ohms or Resistance = R
Watts = W
True Watts = V x (A x R)

Driven at spec these bulbs might be rated at these watts:

WA01286: (4.2v .70A): 2.94W

KPR118: (7.2v, 700mA): 5.04W

WA01315: (6.27v 1.42A): 8.9W

WA01318 (9.6V, 1.93A): 18.53W

WA01274 (7.2V, 2.77A): 19.94W

WA01185 (9.6V, 3.15A): 30.24W

What is missing is the resistance.

For 123s I think soloco has it down when he uses,
"-0.4159 x 1.67a = -.69v + 3v = 2.31v"

So, 4 x 123 is actually 9.24v and 5 x 123 is actually 11.55v.

The following are a group of member reports that hasn't been updated in months. Reading litho123's GB thread will net much more information. Also, Ginseng's previous GB thread has very good information. Currently, one of the most knowledgeable Hotwire guys is working on a more comprehensive table. He's an awfully busy guy and the subject on CPF has a fast pace so I'm not sure when the database might debute.

Ginseng:

WA01318 (9.6V, 1.93A): Mag3C on 5x123 lith, Mag4C on 4.5 and 5x123 lith, Mag3D on 9xAA nimh, Mag3D 10xAA nimh in 2x modified EL 3-D holders (reduced resistance) and 1xRS 4AA holder also heavily modified for lower resistance and fit Designated "MoMag".

WA01185 (9.6V, 3.15A): Mag3D on 9xAA nimh, Mag3D 10xAA nimh in 2x modified EL 3-D holders (reduced resistance) and 1xRS 4AA holder also heavily modified for lower resistance and fit

WA01274 (7.2V, 2.77A): Mag2D on 6xAA nimh, Mag3D on 6xAA nimh + 1D alkie

CA809: Mag3C on 4x123, Mag4C on 4.5x123
CA805: Mag3D on 3xD alkie, Mag3C on 3xC alkie
CA717: Mag3D on 4x123 lith, acid etched bulb

HPR51: on 3x123

CA1057: on 3x123 (brighter than HPR51).

Wilkey said Lemlux:

WA01319: UK D4
WA01111: MagCharger
WA01160: MagCharger
WA01317: DB8AA
WA01148: DB4AA on 6x123 lith

FlashlightOCD:

WA01160 + MagCharger = Very bright rechargeable light that will outperform a Tigerlight, with an output of about 500 lumens.

Phaserburn:

WA01160 + Powerstream 1/2D batts + MagCharger = runtime of 45-55.

Tech A Billy:

WA01315: (6.27v 1.42A). Energizer 4AA Double Barrel modified to use six SF123's. Runs at 7.2 volts for over 250 lumens with a beam that's nice and tight but not surefire perfect.
WA01286: (4.2v .70A) Energizer 4AAA modified with the DB6AA bulb - 4 NiMH AAA's in series - 70 lumens.

S4MadMan:

WA01660: MAG Charger - PowerStream 1/2Ds - recorded run times of 50-50-49-50 minutes.

WA01660+ Mag + Super WMP (WilkeyMagPack) with UCL vs. Tiger light FBOP + TL approved replacement lamp and batt pack + UCL

Icebreak:

KPR118: (7.2v 700mA) Mag 3D - 9 slightly used Aas @ 1.4v - 3 unmodified E.L. 3toD canisters for 12.6v - est. resistance 3X 1.25 Ohm. Beam =>2X as bright and hot spot is 2X as large as the original configuration.

WA01185 (9.6V, 3.15A): Mag3D on 5X123. Melted stock reflector in 2 minutes. Needs a PMR or a modified Aluminum Carley reflector.

Ailsnail:

WA1318 in mag 3c on 4 x 123 + 1 x E2
WA1274 in mag 3c on four partly spent 123's.

soloco:

DB configs. and TB config in response to 3A WA

CA808: 2x4 123s in a 3D
WA1185: 3x4 CR2s in a 2D
WA1274: 2x3 123s in a 2D

Alan L:

CA717: Mag3D with 9 NiMH AAs in unmodified 3-to-D adapters.

Litho123:
The WA01318 I have has been running great @ 2 stacks of 4x123 with a calculated runtime of over 70 minutes.

Thanks to PaulW for his research in this area.

soloco extended knowledge:

"I only successfully use 12 CR2 batteries with my 1185 in a 4x3 configuration. The 5x2 123 stick I use with all kinds of 12V bulbs that run around 2A. I have 2 3D Mags using it now; one has a 12V 20W MR16 and the other has a WA1166, my personal favorite bulb from Carley or Welch Allyn. The WA1166 has the highest light efficacy I've seen. It's actually slightly underdriven with 10 123s in a 5x2 config. It's perfectly driven by 6 123s in series. I had to figure this out with trial and error and my multimeter. I'm using Voltage per Cell = -0.4159 * Current + 3 in all my 123 calculations."

Hope this was of some help.

Icebreak, this must have been a typo, but just in case,

Power=Watts=Voltage x Current.

Current can be computed from resistance and voltage from V=IR.

V=I x R
I=V/R.

Thus,

Power=V^2/R, and NOT V x (I x R).