I know this is probably a.dumb question to ask but I had someone asked me if he could use 2 each CR123. Instead of a18650 in a C8 light EDIT: The firechief relented and asked me for the contact info ie…websites so he can outfit his team with XMLC8’s nitecore i4. Chargers rechargeable 18650 batteries and holsters after doing a quick informal performance test with maglights and Streamlights I really hope they work out for them they put their lives every call out here
Physically, it would be fine, although CR123’s have a smaller diameter so there may be some rattle.
However, make sure the driver can handle the doubled voltage of 8.4V instead of 4.2V.
If you’ve got a driver that’ll take the extra voltage of cr123’s, it’ll work. If I recall correctly, the resting voltage of a cr123 is in the ballpark of 3.1-3.2v, but the 2.8v-6v AMC7135 drivers off of illuminationsupply seem to work fine with two cr123’s in series.
In terms of length, two cr123’s are about the same length as my protected 3100mah Panasonic cells, which are pretty big in comparison to some of the other 18650’s I’ve got.
I really need to know local volunteer firedepartment guys love this C8LU3 But for some reason they do not like the idea of rechargeable 18650’s and asked if they could use CR123 in series .I let them use a couple of my C8s and they loved them for search rescue
Could you point to the direct link of the product?
Perhaps we can figure out how much voltage it can take.
It is a Lightmalls Ulatrafire C8LU 3
Is it this: buy Ultrafire C8 Cree XM-L U3 1800-Lumen 5 Modes LED Flashlight (1 x 18650) - led flashlight lightmalls ?
Then no, the driver will get fried, and possibly the LED too.
Any othwr suggestions as bright C8 capable of such a feat?
All you need to do is find a light that is either listed as 2xCR123a compatiable or has a voltage range upto 9v.
The Crelant V9CS is a similar sized light (although now discontinued), but that would run on higher voltages fine.
Hey, LJ! Get the Convoy C8 from fasttech. It uses the Nanjg driver which handles up to 6v just fine. The CR123 is a 3v primary cell and 2 of them will work fine in that C8. The quality is far superior to the ultrafire c8 and is only a few dollars more. Go this route and your firefighter do B's will be very happy and so will you by knowing you helped them. ;)
If the FD guys are refering to CR123, those are Lithium Primary batteries, 3V each. So most common 7135 or similar drivers will handle 6V w/o trouble. The 16340 [also referred to as RCR123] are Lithium Ion Rechargeable batteries, 4.2V each, which requires a buck driver circuit. Many FD and LEOs use the CR123s because its less work to just toss used cells and install fresh, rather than swap cells and carry the discharged cells for recharging.
The CR123s have a very long shelf life compared to Li-Ions which require a top-off charge every few months if not used frequently. I’ve seen CR123s sold by the box [50 cells] for as little as $1.00 to $1.50 each. I have a small cache for “final gasp” lighting if all the rechargeables are drained.
Okay I guess next round ill try the convoy I personally like the rechargeable 18650 but then again im not one them so it what they want any idea what the convoy c8 lumen out put is?
The Convoy will burn out if you use 2xCR123.
It uses a Nanjg driver which uses AMC7135 regulator chips. Since the voltage difference from 2xCR123 to an XML is almost 3 volts, the power dissipated by the AMC chips will be about 1 W per chip. That exceeds the max specs for the AMC (700mW) and will result in damage to the driver over time.
The light will power up and work initially, but eventually, it will burn out.