Hi all. I just purchased a Thorfire C8s. Does anyone know the voltage range of the light? I would like to run 2 CR123 (non-rechargeable) batteries in it. The owner’s manual says this is acceptable, but an email from Thorfire says it is not. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
Regards,
Frank A.
I believe that the C8s is using a buck driver and as a result it should be able to handle the double cell setup.
To verify that it’s indeed a buck driver you can check if the back side of the pcb contains an inductor (coil).
Either way, I don’t think that it’s worth running the light out of two CR123s.
You will get both a lower runtime & performance.
Let aside the fact that CR123s are quite dangerous while connected in series.
Thanks Bill. I want to use this as a communal light for my family, and I am hesitant to put an 18650 in it. Which is the safer method in a light like this: the 18650 or the 2 CR123s? Thanks!
Frank
A single 18650 with a protection circuit would be the safest. Unprotected 18650 would also be safe, as long as you check the battery voltage before recharging to make sure it hasn’t been drained well below 2.5v.
If your family has a habit of turning on lights and forgetting to turn them off, then use a protected 18650. That will shut off the battery at 2.5v.
I’m assuming the Thorfire doesn’t have built-in low-voltage-protection, but if it does, then a protected battery is probably redundant.
Also, if Thorfire is telling you not to use 2xCR123, then don’t.
A protected 18650 is by far the safer way to go.
My Thorfire C8, quite an old one, has a good buck driver. Using an 18650 it starts blinking at low voltage, but doesn’t cut off immediately. It also steps down so only the lowest levels work (a big clue that the cell is empty, but it doesn’t suddenly leave you with no light). Eventually it stops working, at rather low cell voltage, but recoverable.
It runs very well with x2 CR123, but of course when they die, that’s the end. LVP is set for one cell, not two. No danger. A dead CR123 is dead, as is a discharged 18650.
A very safe torch IMO.
Edit: no need for a protected 18650 in this torch, it has decent LVP.
“Protected” sounds like a good thing, but all it really does is “protect” the cells from over-discharge. Not needed in this one.
I have one of the last-generation C8s’s they were clearing out for $8or 9 a couple of weeks ago. It has a buck driver.