CR123's Pro's and Con's Please

[cerbera147]

So I'm starting to dabble in the flashlight market. A lot of these lights are powered by CR123 batteries. They are smaller lengthwise but in the UK they cost silly money. I have seen a pack of 5 for £2-50 from Hong Kong though.

Could some kind soul explain the why's and why not's I should go for a flashlight powered by CR123's?

If it genuinely is a better powered battery I guess I could stock up especially since a lot of these give runtime of 90mins, etc.

Also what is an 18650 battery? Seems as popular as the CR123's but I have no idea what it is; it looks like an AAA 

Thanking you in advance 

[Swiss Man]

My personal opinion is I don't like them, I found a Surefire G2 on the highway and purchased two Cr123's (Durcell) for $6.50.

Yes, they are bright but they don't last nearly as long as they should for the price
and not all stores carry them it is easier to find AA's and AAA's at any store.

[cerbera147]

My personal opinion is I don't like them, I found a Surefire G2 on the highway and purchased two Cr123's (Durcell) for $6.50.

Yes, they are bright but they don't last nearly as long as they should for the price
and not all stores carry them it is easier to find AA's and AAA's at any store.

This is my concern too. If I want to get them cheap I have to order online and wait two weeks. If I want to buy them at a store I need to find a store that sells them and then get ripped off  .

Ideally, I would want bright and long lasting 

[jzmtl]

Here's the problem with store bought AA, they are alkaline and will suffer a quick death under high current draw of high output flashlights. You could buy lithium AA, but they are even more expensive than 123a. NiMH can handle high current, but they generally have high self discharge, i.e. will lose 50% of charge after a week unused. So the only realistic option you have left is LSD NiMH such as eneloop, but they aren't cheap either, have lower capacity than 123a and pretty much useless below freezing.

I buy 123a in bulk for $1.5 each, not much expensive than store bought AA, and always have spare on hand.

[Benner]

I find they last absolutely ages personally.  I am still on my original pair of cells that came with my Surefire A2 and I have had that a few months now and have carried and used it every single day.

You are going to hear a lot of differing opinions on this subject and TBH I don't see why so many people have such big issues with CR123 cells.  Order from the right places and they are not more costly at all.  I buy 10 packs from 4sevens and they last me bloody ages and are just as cheap as decent AA's over here.  You can also get re-chargable cells as well (check specs of light first) so cost wise they can be just the same as other rechargables.

So far the only real negative I can see is that if they ran out in an emergency situation then you couldn't just nab them from a remote control for example.  But for day to day use that makes jack all difference in my book.

Don't be put off buddy.    The guys at the top (Surefire) use them for a reason.

[Zack]

For bright and small lights they are perfect.  I use rechargeable 123's when I can and enegergizer lithiums when I can't.  My 123 lights are edc lights, and I can get a couple months out of a set of batteries if I am mindful not to use the highest setting on my light.  For survival lights though, I just use fenix E01's as they will suck th elife out of just about any battery, even ones I have deemed dead.

[Mike]

Over the years I have re-evaluated my illumination needs. I have had flashlights that used 123's, no big deal as I just ordered a lot of them at a time. When my personal "inventory" dropped to a certain level I just ordered more so I wouldn't run out. But then I went more towards lights that didn't require me to order batteries on line. I wanted my lights to have long run times and be able to use easy to get batteries. I get my alkaline's locally when they are on sale. Though I still have a couple lights that use 123's. Just depends on what you're looking for.

If you want to really think ahead, get a couple "C" cell lights. Seems that during an emergency the AA's and D's go the fastest and the C's are still available. And always, always have a few AAA lights around. Most times, you just need some light to get around and that last a long time, so AAA lights really fit the bill here. And you can always raid various remote controls for batteries if you have to.

Mike

[Zack]

I am putting a C cell light in my BOB as we speak.

[Benner]

I am putting a C cell light in my BOB as we speak.

Sounds so dodgy that. 

[Zack]

I am putting a C cell light in my BOB as we speak.

Sounds so dodgy that. 

[Zed]

Im also new to this whole flash light thing, but last week i picked up some energizer lithium cr123 , they was £2 each and so far seem ok, but i must admit that i use my 3 AAA torches more as cheaper to run, the cr123 batteries seem pricey,

paul

[Benner]

Im also new to this whole flash light thing, but last week i picked up some energizer lithium cr123 , they was £2 each and so far seem ok, but i must admit that i use my 3 AAA torches more as cheaper to run, the cr123 batteries seem pricey,

paul

...in this country.  You can get good cells for less than half what you paid.

[John]

I've been using AW's RCR123 protected cells for around five years without regrets and quilt free lumen's to boot,highly recommended  

as for primaries they have a very long shelf life around ten years IIRC I've had a panasonic one in my 120 mw laser for four years again no regrets  

When using battery cells it would be a good idea to bookmark this  
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone.htm



[edit] Oh cerbera a 18650 battery relates to it's size typically twice the size of 123's but it's down to the capacity of the cell typically a RCR123 may have 330mAh and a 18650 2200 mAh

here some examples of size left to right RCR18650, RCR14500,RCR123 and CR123 primary 


That should keep your brain cells charging for awhile 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Great thread guys

I'm still torn myself, but if I could find a decent rechargeable 123 (that doesn't cost the earth!) I'd be tempted to get one

[John]

Great thread guys

I'm still torn myself, but if I could find a decent rechargeable 123 (that doesn't cost the earth!) I'd be tempted to get one

Mike they're only $6 each ok you have to get a charger  as well but it will charge most RCR's I use a ultrafire WF139 with alu spacers(with RCR123) also available from AW  
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=200812

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

On that basis it's even harder to ignore them!

Thanks John

[jzmtl]

They have piss poor capacity thou, ranging from 1/2 to 1/3 of 123a.

[cerbera147]

Thanks for all your views guys   

A vast array of knowledge out there and I haven't even looked into lumens, cree and R2's and 3's  Is there an idiot's guide to this stuff?

Think I'll stock up, where did you get yours John?

I'm off to Battery University to read up thanks John 

[John]

cerbera if you decide to go the recharge route I get mine from here http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=200812

If you don't have an account there I could act as mule 

[cerbera147]

Thanks John, appreciated 

I'll take a look

[Styerman]

I like CR123's , I get em cheap , about $2.50Can. In single cell LED lites , I get about a month and a half of use per cell . Works for me ! You poor residents of third world countries like the UK are in a much more difficult situation .

Another selling point , long shelf life , work well in extreme cold , at -20 C forget about your Alkalines !

I mostly use primaries , and always have primary spares , but I am begining to explore rechargable 123's , and other such life forms - that said , I will always keep fresh primaries as backups .


Bottom line , I like them !

Chris

[NutSAK]

If you're not planning to use rechargeable LSD NiMH or Li-Ion batteries, I recommend you use CR123a.  AA alkalines are great for a backup power source but, as mentioned earlier, they are terrible at the high currents required by today's lights.

Good rechargeable batteries are by far the cheapest power source you can use in a flashlight.  The initial purchase of the batteries & charger might seem expensive, but they're much cheaper in the long run.

[Styerman]

The rechargable 123 sized cells are interesting , the best only have about 66-70% of a new fresh primary , but 500 cycles offsets that . One has to be a tad picky about chargers , and indeed cells . Lighthound seem like about the best source .

All that said , you still need fresh primaries !

Chris

[NutSAK]

The rechargable 123 sized cells are interesting , the best only have about 66-70% of a new fresh primary , but 500 cycles offsets that . One has to be a tad picky about chargers , and indeed cells . Lighthound seem like about the best source .

All that said , you still need fresh primaries !

Chris

+1.  If you're going to use 16340s (RCR123), then you still need to have some CR123a primaries on hand for backup.

[John]

+2 I keep a couple of CR123's for back up they can be stored for ages