Just bought a Malkoff M61L to replace the P60 incandescent in my older Surefire Z2. The Malkoff operates from 3.4v-9v regulated and draws 300ma at 6v for 5 hours of 175 OTF lumens.
I would like to run rechargeables in it. I have read a bunch of old threads until I’m researched out. Should I run a single 17670 ( I think this would be less lumens) or 2 RCR 123’s? I saw one thread recommending Tenergy Lifep04 RCR123’s from battery junction which was about a year old. It said these would keep the lumens higher than the 17670.
Basically, I need some new advice to make sure there isn’t new options available and what I should chose. Runtime is the main concern but I would like to keep the 175 lumens. I want it to fit my Z2 without further modification and be completely safe.
I have a 6P with a Malkoff M61. I use a Sanyo 16650 and get over two hours run time. That is much better than than any RCR 123s that I have tried. Since the M61L draws half the power or less I would think you should get very good run time.
Allen, is the output as high with the 16650 as with 2 non rechargeable CR123’s? The 16650 was another option but my old research revealed the Sanyo 16650 may only be available in older stock and possibly not as reliable as 17670 but I did consider it as an option. Then there is an issue with some chargers not being able to fully charge the 16650. My basic problem is I am an indecisive research junky but I don’t want to spend my usual month on this choice.
Thanks everyone. How does the combination of two batteries compare to one larger battery? The RCR123’s are 900mah each and 3.2v each. The 16650 is 3.7v and 2000mah. Do the two RCR 123 batteries add to 6.4v and 1800mah ? If they do wouldn’t I get a higher output from the two RCR 123’s at 6.4v than the 16650 at 3.7v? The Malkoff operates between 3.4v-9v. Does that meat it is operating at max between those voltages or is it brighter the higher the volts?
2 x RCR123’s (4.2v x 2 equals 8.4v) add up to a max of 8.4v’s. So you are within operating range by using 2 Li-Ions. The single 16650 has a max voltage of 4.2v at full charge or 4.3v’s if using a 4.3v max charger. You should get longer run times by using the 16650. You may get a little less light output, but not enough to make a difference or notice that much.
You may have been looking at the LifePo’s (3.2v x 2 equals 6.4v) to get the 6.4v.
A little confusing, but stay educated and you will be fine. You must always be cognizant of the battery max voltage and use the correct charging voltage to go with each. The XTAR VP2 should cover all 3 of these batteries mentioned.
Tenergy is the brand I was looking at, and only from a recommendation I read elsewhere. Are the RCR123’s not protected like I read of on the larger cells like the 16650 and 17670? Possibly I just haven’t yet seen protected RCR123’s. Here is a package I considered. http://www.batteryjunction.com/4parc390reli.html
I am not 100% on this but I believe these are LifePo battery chemistry due to the battery voltage and brand. You can use 4.2v Li-Ion RCR123A cells and probably get better results than with the link you posted. There are a few real good RCR123A betteries on the market. AW, Keeppower, and a few others.
Thanks , I’ll look elsewhere for the AW brand. I have heard of that one as being good before. Do you think I’ll be pushing too close to the 9V Malkoff limit with 8.4v? Will the higher voltage result in more lumens than just a single 17670 or 16650? Is the safer route the single protected 17670 or 16650? Thanks for listening to all the rooky questions.
Hi RHC! Welcome to BLF. Malkoff’s website mentions that your drop-in remains in regulation down to 3.4V, which is right around the area where a Sanyo 16650 would be empty. I don’t have exactly the same dropin as you do, but I do remember that my M61 would be similar in brightness with CR123 primaries as it would be with a 16650. In regards to capacity, I’d go with a 16650 or a 17650 if your light permits it; I would avoid tenergy’s 3V RCR123 cells, as their capacity is abysmal when compared to 3.7V RCR123s and CR123s.
I have used efest 16650 (2200 mah) with no problems.
I hate paying for 123a’s so the $9 for a 16650 will probably save me $50 a year. buy more lights now
Ok guys, here is what I have learned from further research, which I told myself I wouldn’t do. The Malkoff runs at a regulated output with a voltage between 3.4-9v. A higher voltage in between those makes little difference in the output.
When voltage is multiple cells in series, you do indeed add the voltage but the mah will be the same as whatever is listed for a single cell.
RCR123’s are usually overstated on their mah ratings so a single 17670 or 16650 will run much longer with the Malkoff M61L and be about the same lumen output as two RCR123’s.
Now I need ask one more question. Does a 17670 and 16650 fit the same in a Surefire Z2 using the Malkoff? I would go with whichever has the better fit. Also there seem to be many more 17670’s available then 16650’s, so that might be a consideration as well.
They both fit fine in your Z2. You’ll have no problems at all with either battery. A Malkoff M61L drop in is fine to operate at maximum voltage of 9v, just be sure not to go over that 9v limit. You could use 3xCR123A primary batteries and be fine as far as voltage goes.
My choice was the Sanyo 16650 with no protection circuit, but that was just my preference. I almost never use protected cells in single cell lights. and I always use protected cells in multiple cell lights.
Since Sanyo does not produce protected cells, the quality depends upon who adds the protection circuitry. Keepower is one good source of protected cells.
AWs are generally considered good cells, but in my opinion they are overpriced.
The battery size is interesting and can be useful and because it is a new generation LiIon it has better capacity than 17670 batteries, even when only charged to 4.2 volt. As long as it is used to replace CR123 batteries, the current limit will seldom be a problem.
All in all I will rate it as a good battery._