Apart from the extra output a 14500 Li-ion will provide in the sc52, whats the best batteries to use? Li-ion or Eneloops?
I have an Xtar sp2, so Li-ion seem the logical choice. The only NIMH charger is an 8hr Energizer charger.
Cheers
Matt
What do you we your SC52 for? Personally I use mine as my backup EDC, I always carry it in my pocket with an eneloop but I always have another light (usually my new burst mode quark) on my belt so I don’t need 500lm from my SC52.
The runtimes are much lower on a 14500 than an eneloop, if I need brightness I use my quark, I basically carry the SC52 in place of a spare battery, if the 17650 in my quark dies instead of pulling out a spare I just pull out my SC52, 280lm is plenty bright for most jobs
I ordered the sc52 on Friday. I’m not sure if it will be a general use light for edc, around the house and dog walking, or a work light(I’m an electrician). More a backup work light as I use a solarforce L2M already.
I read in Cpf that using some calculation involving cell voltage and capacity, you can calcate the wattage output of the cell and they came to the conclusion that using a 4.2v Sanyo vs a 1.3v eneloop, the runtimes would be similar if you disregard the turbo mode. I don’t know if there is any truth in this though?
I could get some 14500’s and be good to go with my xtar sp2, but I’m concerned I’ll need another charger if I buy some eneloops, unless I can get away with my energizer charger.
Cheers
Matt
Hi MattSPL.
For my sc52 i use eneloops and a nitecore 14500.
If you buy eneloop get them here http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/brands/sanyo/sanyo-eneloop-aa-rechargeable-batteries-nimh-hr-3utgb-4bp.html
Classic batts 3rd gen 2000mah (1900mah minimum)
And these
http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/brands/sanyo/sanyo-eneloop-xx-aa-batteries-hr-3uwxb-4bp-min-2450mah-uk.html
XX 2550mah (2450mah minimum)
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1.44 X 2.550 = 3.672 wh
1.44 X 2.000 = 2.88 wh
(both just of the charger)
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If you buy moday they’ll usualy get to you in 2-3 days with just the 1st class post.
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I also use a nitecore 750mah
Fenix, Nitecore, Zebralight, Eagletac, Olight and Maxpedition
4.2 X 0.750 = 3.15 wh (just of the charger)
But generaly i think li-ion go down to 3.7v within 30 seconds, so that will get you
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3.7 X 0.750 = 2.775 wh
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I don’t know if flashaholics will post li-ion batts to ireland mate that’s coz of the new laws in the uk but if you send them an email they will answer, it’s usualy anthony who’s the owner.
In my sc52 I use primarily the zl 14500 battery and I have 12 eneloops charged, and all work fine. The 14500 is brighter. Have heard energizer li-on disposables are bright too. anyone?
0:) 
I’m not trying to discredit caculations but I can tell you from personal experience that my SC52 lasts a lot longer on a eneloop 2000mAh than a 750mAh eagletac 14500. I am a machinist by trade and my shop doesn’t have the best lighting so I use my light quite a bit all day long to see little details on stuff. When I first got my SC52 I was only carrying it and the battery wouldn’t last me one day, I posted on CPF and was told the math said a Li-ion would do me better so I ordered some and i can tell you in my case it didnt last 75% as long as the eneloop. That’s the main reason I now carry 2 lights.
And yes I keep my SC52 set to H2 so I didn’t use turbo mode, had I been using turbo I can only imagine it would have been even a bigger difference.
Like I said I’m not trying to discredit the calculations and they give you a good baseline but they don’t properly reflect real world conditions.
Thanks for the info, I’ll have to look into getting some eneloops. Those XX black eneloops look good.
I ordered a couple of Sanyo 14500’s and Efast 14500 IMR’s fo try and get me started once the sc52 arrives.
I have some Energizer 1300mAh’s, but they are a good few years old now, so probably not upto much.
Energizer 1300? You mean 2300? The energizer 2500’s are the biggest POS but the chrome 2300’s are actually pretty damn good batteries, I just gave my last set of 4 away cause I have switched over to ONLY eneloop/Duraloops but every one of mine I had since 2010 tested ABOVE 2300mAh (and the first 2 years i had them i only had a “dumb” charger that charged at 280mAh and used a timer for termination). They don’t supply quite as much amp draw as eneloops do (according to HKJ’s testing) but up to 3A they are on par with eneloop and actually have more capacity.
black xx’s are not any better than regular eneloops
If you use the light often and don’t need LSDs then there are higher capacity AAs out there you could use.
Here’s the Energizer’s i have. I’ve had them quite a long time. I can’t remember what i bought them for, but it wasn’t for Flashlight use. They say 1300mAh?
What’s the best performing rechargeable AA that isn’t lithium? Standard Eneloops? What charger would i need?
Cheers
Matt
package deal-4 eneloops and sanyo charger-try amazon
Want Eneloops cheap? Go to your local Target and get a four pack of Duracell rebranded Eneloops for $6.08. You won’t find a better deal than this ANYWHERE. Plus, you get them right away instead of having to wait for them.
As far as regular Eneloops vs Eneloop XX, I wouldn’t say regular Eneloops are just as good. Although they have their advantages over the XX in terms of cycle life, the fact is that there ARE times when you want more than 2000mAH. And using your light for work (where taking the time to recharge is not feasible) is such a situation. Getting a battery that might last a couple of years instead of five might not be a bad deal. Of course, you could also just get a plastic case to carry additional Eneloops.
Now that we’re on the subject of higher capacity batteries, there are always those new Ion Core Duracell 2400mAH batteries at Walmart. Not sure how good they are. But they seem to be at least okay. And at $10.97 for four, they’re not terribly expensive. Given Duracell’s relationship with Sanyo, they MAY be rebranded Eneloop XX’s. But I’m far from certain on this one.
In my sc52 I use,
1. the zl 14500 battery
2. eneloops charged
3. nice lithium
Thanks for the suggestions. U fortunately I can’t get the Duraloops from Target as I’m in Ireland. It’s 20euro for a pack of 4 Duraloops in Argos here.
At 1.8V the disposable energizer lithium “L91” batteries are considered direct replacements for alkaline & NiMH AA’s. they’re not like 3.6v Li-ion’s,
they may offer a slight increase in lumens (not detectable by eye) but not the 500lm turbo like on 14500’s. they are great batteries and offer almost 50% more runtime over even the best NiMH’s. You can often find them for around $1/ea. They also offer the extended (>10yr) shelf life like CR123’s and are very stable and dont leak like alkalines. All-in-all they’re great batteries but they’re not to be confused with Li-ions.
If you do get some make sure to pick out the “ultimate” as opposed to the “advanced” (nothing wrong with the “advanced” but the ultimate’s have more capacity)