I'd like to have the ability to charge C123s. Does anyone have any experience with doing this? I have quite a bit of lights and such that run on them.

see what your light allows.

most are 3.0V only so you need to find rechargeable 3.0V RCR123A/16340 batteries.

a lot are usually 3.7V which will blow your bulbs.


I found some 3.0V RCR123A batts a long time ago and still use them in our WMLs at work.

I have been using the 700ma batteries from Fenix. They have the built in electronics so you just plug a USB cable into it.
There is a tiny led in the top that turns blue when fully charged.

I've used Tenergy.  Batteries Plus has them too.

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?366975-CR123A-and-rechargeable-substitutes


EXCERPT

The 3 common ways to make a RCR123/16340 battery is:

   Use a normal LiIon battery with LiCoO2 (ICR) or LiMn (IMR) chemistry in 16340 size, preferable with a protection circuit (This might make the battery to long). This battery will have 4.2 volt fresh of the charger and will be empty when the voltage is down to about 3 volt. This voltage does not match very well with CR123 that has a maximum voltage of 3.2 volt and is below 3 volt when loaded.
   Use a normal LiIon battery in 16340 size, but add a diode in series with the battery. This will reduce the output voltage with about 0.6 to 0.7 volt. The voltage will be close to CR123, but still too high and the diode will heat the battery at high loads.
   Use LiFePO4 (IFR) chemistry, this chemistry has a lower voltage than normal LiIon, but also less capacity. It does also survive over discharge better, i.e. protection circuit is not that important.



All of the 3 battery types above, does have different charger requirements:

   These batteries can be charger on any regular LiIon charger, i.e. 4.2 volt max. and 3.6 or 3.7 volt nominal.
   Due to the diode, the charger must supply higher voltage to get full capacity, but they can be charger with a regular LiIon charger.
   This chemistry requires a 3.6 volt max. charger, they are usual marked 3 or 3.2 volt.


https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?352608-RCR123A-3-0V-or-3-7V

https://batteryuniversity.com/index.php/learn/article/types_of_lithium_ion

You need to know the driver specs for any light, or device you want to use the rechargeables in.

If it’s 4.2v capable, just get 16340s and then focus on the current demand of that particular device and narrow your choice further.

If your light has a 3.0v driver, then you’re stuck with LiFePO4 3.2v cells (RCR123) and good luck with those, as pickins are slim from the CCP.

Chris

What is the best way to know the lights requirements?

https://www.nitecorestore.com/Nitecore-Rechargeable-Battery-NL166-p/bat-16340-nite-nl166.htm

I run these is several streamlight and surefire lights and havent had issues yet. this thread is making me question if I will though.

NMG

Look at the spec sheet that came with the light, or just assume 3.0v drivers and suck up the spotty ChiCom stuff, buying 6 to cull down to 2.

Chris

The Chinese don't give two shits about proper labeling and lying is a national 'art form.'

'RCR123' should more correctly be applied to LiFePO4 3.2v cells and not the more ubiquitous 16340s, which are a nominal 3.6v/3.7v cell and come in at 4.2v, hot off the charger.

Chris

I found that surefire sells lifepo4 3.2v rechargeables. Are these going to be  suitable for a tlr-1? I believe they top out at 3.65v

You're better off running a single 16650 battery (for 2xCR123 lights.)



https://www.orbtronic.com/16650-li-ion-battery-rechargeable-protected

Made in Japan, work great for many lights, good runtime, safe. Rechargeable R123's usually have poor battery capacity and Chinese construction.

I recently snagged the weird looking Streamlight TLR 9 pistol light so I could use 16650's.



Here's on in a Surefire:



For lights that take a 1x CR123, I'd just buy the Panasonic CR123's for $1 on Ebay (make sure you find a good seller.) I don't think the 123 sized rechargeables offer enough battery life.

At one point, they brought on K2 Energy's RCR123s and charger and like all ChiCom stuff, things could be spotty.

They're what you want, along with Tenergy, if you need 3.2v cells.  Capacity will be about 500mAh-600mAh running in series, but you buy 8 and get 5 good ones and that nets you a spare set when they deplete.

If you run 2xCR123A lights, look to the above guy's recommendation for the 16650 cell, which can have up to 2500mAh of capacity, albeit at a lower voltage.  Many 6.0v devices will still fire up with them, even though output might decrease a tad.

Chris

I agree with you, this was the only option available when I got them. However they have not caused me issues, I know I am asking for it though.

NMG

With regards to fit, Fenix's 700 mAH 16340s are the only rechargeables I have ever used that physically fit in 100% of products designed for CR123s, which is the main thing that drove me absolutely insane when dealing with rechargeables.