The battery in question was drained way below minimum safe voltage twice, first when ran on turbo in Olight S15R, the low voltage warning of the light kicked in the light shut off after few minutes, I tested its voltage with small LCD voltage tester than can test only from 2.5V and up, the tester didnt even lit up, thus meaning that the voltage has dropped below 2.5V.
Second time was with Skilhunt DS16, also on turbo, it too has low voltage warning, the light started to blink, few minutes later the light shut off, I pulled out the battery, this time my DMM was at hand, tested its voltage just after pulling it out of the light and it showed staggering 1.89V!!!
A while later it bounced back to 3.49V and Im charging it now.
So, whats the problem here, both lights draining it too low or is it some battery chemistry/behaviour thing?
Given that the battery has already been drained twice below its minimum voltage, its life cycle count has been severely diminished.
Since I dont want to use it with these two lights anymore, should I just can it or are there some other ways I could use this battery, aside from these two lights?
Any advice from those in know and more experienced welcome ;)!
This is my first and only and probably last unprotected 14500, ordered it without paying attention to that.
Have a discharge capacity test. If it’s still 85% or more, it’s still usable, especially if the cell didn’t stay very long at a very low voltage. Happened to me several times, even with my imr 14500.
If it is showing 810mah, not getting hot when charging and you feel comfortable running it, use it until it dies. If you reduced the number of charges from 300 to 80, that means you still have 79 left!
I am not sure on the “resting” time that should be there after a high drain run on turbo, but if it came back up to 3.49V, I am unsure if it was severely damaged.
As for an alternate use, how about the power source for testing drivers during mods?
Some off topic:
I tried Samsung ICR18650-22F with new red XR-E on a star the day before and it instantly fried my LED, short flash of red and it was done :D! Not sure if 14500 would be any better probably due to high amp’s they deliver straight to LED?
Used 3xAA NiMh’s in a carrier instead :D!
Will be looking for some driver’s soonish, when I manage to take apart my Jetbeam BA20, that thing has got what appears to be press-fit LED star retaining ring and its huge! Wouldnt want to destroy lens and its OP reflector trying to get things out from the other side…
Its not hot, not even reasonably warm when being charged at 500mA!
Thanks for letting me know that its still usable even in lights :D!
Will test once again on turbo mode and as soon as the low voltage indicator blinks for the first time, will pull it out and measure voltage, who knows, perhaps it sags all the way down to 1.9V only during those last few minutes when the low voltage warning led is blinking ;)!