When CR123's die, there's not much warning!

[Mr. Whippy]

While working on the tractor last night, I used a Fenix P1D to light up the work area.  Nice and bright.  Afterwards, walking back to the house, the light went out.  At first I thought maybe it didn't fully twist on, but no, it was dead.

Put a new battery in, (CR123) and it lit back up.

With AA and AAA lights, there's a sort of warning--the light gets fainter--even in the Maratec and Fenix lights, but this CR123 light went from normal beam to out!

Guess I'll make sure I have a spare cell at all times now...

[Styerman]

You got that right , thats why I always carry two lites miinimum. Put it this way , I don't try to reload a magazine , I just change mags . Some of the better multistage lites just ramp you down to a lower setting , cases in point my Surefire E1B and my Novatac 120 EDC .

But sailor take warning , it may not hold that level for any length of time .

Battery changes in total darkness , just invite a lost tailcap .

Chris

[NutSAK]

I try to stay away from lights that regulate like this--flat output with abrupt cutoff.  Not all CR123 lights regulate this way, and not all AA/AAA lights give a warning.  The MagLED AA lights are notorious for abrupt cutoff.

I would definitely carry a small backup light as Styerman suggests.  It only has to be something bright enough to light your way to a fresh CR123.

[Gareth]

I try to stay away from lights that regulate like this--flat output with abrupt cutoff.  Not all CR123 lights regulate this way, and not all AA/AAA lights give a warning.  The MagLED AA lights are notorious for abrupt cutoff.

I would definitely carry a small backup light as Styerman suggests.  It only has to be something bright enough to light your way to a fresh CR123.

I'd never thought of this as a disadvantage before, I'd always though "nice consistent light for the whole life of the battery, what could be better".  But looking at it from the other way round I can see the problem.  As has been said a second light is a good idea, but not everyone wants to do that.

[nuphoria]

I nearly always have a photon type LED on me which I can see enough with to get by in a pinch.

That said, I only have AA/AAA lights which tend to give enough warning.

[John]

Get a shake light but don't shake it whilst parked up in your car as your likely to get some very funny looks 

[NutSAK]

\/\/anklight? 

[Benner]

Like Terry said, that is a characteristic of that light, not the battery.  My P1D used to give plenty of warning.

[NutSAK]

Like Terry said, that is a characteristic of that light, not the battery.  My P1D used to give plenty of warning.

It is a bit odd that two P1Ds would have different regulation characteristics....

[Benner]

Mine was a P1D Q5 FWIW.

[space cowboy]

The Arc AAA, the Fenix E01 & the Gerber Infinity Ultra all go to moon mode..AKA.. dim mode before going out completely. All three are great lights IMHO.

[prime77]

All my Fenix have this kind of regulation. Something I really don't like.