I must be doing something wrong, or don’t understand these batteries. My nightcore EC11 came with an IMR 18350 battery (NI18350A). I didn’t want to have to deal with keeping track of the voltage of the battery and making sure it didn’t fall below a certain level, so I picked up some of these Olight RCR123A batteries which have the built-in over discharge protection in them. Both batteries I have basically used until the flashlight doesn’t turn on anymore. I figured this was the lowest voltage it would go. So I put it on the only charger I have (Nightcore UM10) and they say 0% and won’t charge. I tested them on a voltmeter and they have said anywhere from 0.00V to 0.40V. Sometimes if I leave them on the charger, or take them off and put them back in, it will register as 1% and start recharging again. This latest time, however, neither battery will charge anymore. I’ve left them on the charger for hours, but nothing. Shouldn’t the circuit protection be stopping them from getting this low? I’m frustrated. My brother in law has the same setup but an EA11 and he has the same problem.
Those cells are not designed for a high drain light.
The protection has tripped so you will get the voltage readings you have but the actual cell will be around 3v. (hopefully)
Some chargers cannot reset some protection circuits, try this trick or a "dumb" charger. Was the light not tripping the circuit on highest mode?
Hmm, the manual says the light works with the CR123A batteries as well (It just won’t be as bright as with the IMR batteries), so thats why I bought the rechargeable kind. I will have to try that trick you posted. The light doesn’t trip anything on the highest mode, it worked just fine.
Also, the batteries even state on them: For high-drain devices
Don't believe the hype :D
Are these the cells you have?
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As you can see, these struggle with even 2A current draw and protection trips around 2.8A
/Olight%2016340%20RCR123A%20650mAH%20(Cyan)-info.png)
/Olight%2016340%20RCR123A%20650mAH%20(Cyan)-CapacityTime.png)
Yep, those are the ones! I think mine are toast too, I tried that trick, butnothing. Do you have any suggestions for a protected battery that I can use with teh Nitecore EC11? Maybe I should get a new light, perhaps a S10R Baton III or an S1 Baton.
Yeah nothing wrong with having a few choices in smaller lights 
Maybe the Keeppower 18350 protected would be better for you but I’m not sure about it fitting lengthwise.
The Keeppower 16340 should be ok though with non high discharge cells they will wear out a lot faster in this light.
The EC11 can pull about 4.5A if I remember right but it’s a real pain the driver not having low voltage protection, I can understand you wanting a protected battery.
I would recommend just using a proper high discharge cell like the Aspire 18350 and get into the habit of checking your cells regularly. It will also release the full potential hand warming function of the light :laughing:
I would stay away from Olight, Nitecore, Jetbeam and **Fire cells, there are better alternatives.
Hey, CRX. what do you think about the high drain cell that comes with the mini mk II turbo?
I haven’t got it or seen any tests but I think 47’s would be supplying something decent there.
I use the yellow wrapped AWT 16340’s.
I don’t think the Nitecore UM10 or UM20 will reset the protection circuit. Maybe get a Nitecore D2.
When you tried the trick, was one of the cells a charged/working Lithium or Lithium ion battery?
No I did not, both were dead. Assuming I should try with one that works?
Sorry, yes.
Tried it a couple times, 1 time when I put it back on the charger it said 1, and I was like yes! but then it went back to 0 about a second later 
I found out about those Olight RCR123A the hard way, same as you with a Nitecore MT10C. I switched to the Fenix ARB-L16-700 16340’s, which I got on sale…and they work just fine.
One of the Olight RCR123A now live in a S1 Baton; the other in a Trustfire Mini-01….both low drain lights. Live and learn! :person_facepalming:
Hmm. I wonder if bridging to a working cell a few more times before placing in the charger would be worth trying.