Hi Guys. I finally found a seller on eBay that sells the hard to find LifePO4 14440 Batterys + charger. As I asked many questions before buying.
I asked are these LifePO4 14440's the exact same size as my eneloop's or other NiMH and he said there was no difference.
I asked about the discharged rate compared to regular NiMH. I was told even though they are rated at 200 mAh the LifePO4 have more energy and power density and therefore last much longer with slow discharge. They are rated between 3.0 to 3.2 volts.
Now when using a AAA flashlight that uses 2 AAA batterys the LifePO4 this one I ordered comes with some Dummy AAA cell's to substitute for a live AAA because of the power. So for a single AAA cell there will be no problem, its with 2 cell AAA lights that need the dummy cell. Now these batterys are for AAA lights that can handle a 14440 capable light so dont risk putting it in a light rated 1.5 volts.
The LifePO4 are very safe batterys and much so compared to regular 14440's as there is no chance of that fire or whatever else while charging the batterys or a freak of nature of your light becoming a grenade. Only use the LifePO dedicated charger that comes with the batterys. Here is the link hope it works.
200mah seems a bit low for a 14440, but that may be cause they are lifepo4. they are used in many solar lights today, and can be purchased at most stores. well 14430, which is a tad smaller.
Lowes sells 14430 that are (if i remember) 400 mah. 250mah comes IN the fixtures (throw in the cheapest battery they can, standard practice)
Target doesnt sell the batteries but their fixtures come with the 250mah version.
LiFePO4 is safer, but has less density on average (from what ive seen) than Li-ion
From what I was told and read about these batterys is that they do have the power density and voltage with a slow discharge that is for electronics and Flashlights. The low mAH is on the account of the chemistry of this new breed of batterys. I have already ordered these hard to find batterys. I may be the first one here at BLF in doing so. I will post my results.
They were first marketed under the "Saphion" brand. Great energy storage per kg, just not as good as lithium cobalt which we just about all use. They'll probably take more abuse than other lithium chemistries.
The thing I like about LiFePO4 is how flat the discharge curve is. They hold good voltage until the very end and then fall off a cliff. I have Westinghouse 14500's (600mah) that I use in my Mini AA. It makes the light far brighter than NiMH, but doesn't get hot as fast as it does with a 3.7v cell.