CR123 Batteries and Chargers

[6Bones]

Toys requiring CR123s have increased of late (mostly flashlights and weapon lights) so I went on Amazon to buy rechargeables and a charger but there is such a wide range of milliamperage capacities (400 to over 2400) and charger types that I froze up from analysis paralysis.

Anyone recharging CR123s? If so, what brand/type charger are you having success with and what's your favorite brand of rechargeable battery?

Thanks SET.

 

[6Bones]

Oh, and what milliamperage you pushing?

 

[Sparked_1]

Make sure they are RCR123 not regular cr123. Just getting that out of the way. The capacity of rechargeable cr123 is about half of non-rcr so you're looking at about 750-800 mah (any that claim much higher than this for 16340 size rcr123 are flat out lying). I use AW rcr123s (16340 and 18650) and they have lasted for years and never discharge. Buy once cry once and all that, especially for a weapon light. I use a Nitecore charger. Cheap and excellent.

Also, if your lights use two cr123s, don't just throw two recharbeables in there. They are higher voltage. Most lights that take two cr123s (6v) aren't made to handle two rcr123s (8.4v). Make sure you know the voltage range of your lights.

 

[Sparked_1]

If your lights take two cr123, what you want is a 17670 rechargeable. It's the same size as two cr123s but 4.2v so it should run a 6v light. Those will range from 1350-1500 mAh. I recommend AW or Olight batts.

 

[AirOpsMgr]

Make sure they are RCR123 not regular cr123. Just getting that out of the way. The capacity of rechargeable cr123 is about half of non-rcr so you're looking at about 750-800 mah (any that claim much higher than this for 16340 size rcr123 are flat out lying). I use AW rcr123s (16340 and 18650) and they have lasted for years and never discharge. Buy once cry once and all that, especially for a weapon light. I use a Nitecore charger. Cheap and excellent.

Also, if your lights use two cr123s, don't just throw two recharbeables in there. They are higher voltage. Most lights that take two cr123s (6v) aren't made to handle two rcr123s (8.4v). Make sure you know the voltage range of your lights.

Another vote for the Nitecore charger, I have a digital D4 with display, handles all of my batteries.

I don't run any rechargeable 123s due to fear of the high voltage, but I've had good luck with AW, Panasonic and MNKE brand batteries

 

[6Bones]

I knew I had come to the right place. Thanks fellas.

 

[TattooedGunner]

Hah I just buy the cheap batteryjunction brand batteries at $1 a piece. I get the ones that have 2 batteries shrink wrapped together.

 

[fyroc]

I buy huge packs off of eBay. Then again, I don't really believe in weapon lights.

 

[Sparked_1]

Hah I just buy the cheap batteryjunction brand batteries at $1 a piece. I get the ones that have 2 batteries shrink wrapped together.

Yup. I have a bunch of those Titanium ones too but they're not rechargeable. They work just fine.

 

[cmshoot]

Good info, thanks.