Fenix P3D and Lithium-ion Batteries

[ChocolateLab33]

Just got my three P3Ds, very quick observations on one sample with various batteries:

2 CR123 – all modes work
2 RCR123 - all modes work
1 unprotected 17670 - all modes work (had to take the wrapper off to fit)
1 14500 – all modes work in L1D body
2 14500 - all modes work in L2D body
2 Ni-MH – barely lights up
1 CR123 - only one mode (low) works in P2D body

The 17670 was measured at 4.10V. The 14500 was 4V.
One 14500 at 3.86V in the L1D body will trigger the low battery warning mode, a very high flashing rate. The regular strobe mode works. All other modes work fine with 3.86V.

Thanks so much!!!

 

[BMRSEB]

Thanks for clearing that up, WHO. ..

 

[soffiler]

Just got my three P3Ds, very quick observations on one sample with various batteries:

2 CR123 – all modes work
2 RCR123 - all modes work
1 unprotected 17670 - all modes work (had to take the wrapper off to fit)

The 17670 was measured at 4.10V...

Keeping this on-topic, I trimmed anything not specific to P3D. What I'd like to know is the runtime on the 17670. If you believe Fenix, the P3D should start to flicker at 4.2V, yet who (OK, you can cue the "who's on first?" skit now) says it works at 4.1V. No real surprise; there is a tolerance on the nominal 4.2V value, and who's lights apparently fall on the lower side. Maybe they start to flicker at 4.05V, who knows? (Does who know?)

 

[who]

The P3D looks like ~ 130 lumens OTF (out the front) to my eyes, which is not bad.

Some update on rechargeable batteries and the Fenix P3D head:
Using my small sample set, all single cell rechargeable batteries (RCR123, 14500, 17670) that could be used with the P3D head and various Fenix bodies (L1D, L2D, P2D) will start to flicker at 3.7-3.8V in the Turbo mode. The P3D head will work perfectly in the remaining 5 modes (strobe, low, medium, high, SOS) after that. I am pretty sure that it will do that until reaching 3V. I know that 3V would not work as I did try a CR123 in a P2D body. The 17670 is till going strong in high mode after a few hours now.

 

[luchs]

which brand of 17670 battery fits in your P3D?
is it a protected one????

 

[who]

which brand of 17670 battery fits in your P3D?
is it a protected one????

I use unprotected Ultrafire 17670. You can get it from Lighthound or DX.
It works great in many lights, including Surefire and Inova. For the P3D, I had to remove the wrapper to fit.

 

[cave dave]

I can say that a protected AW 17670 does not fit.
An unwrapped, unprotected LiIon sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, I think I'll pass.

 

[saltwater]

Anyone here that can confirm that the AW hicap protected RCR123's fit the P3D. I think that some here have claimed that they do and others have claimed that they don't. If you have other protected cells that fit list them here so we will know what works and what doesn't. Thanks.

 

[luchs]

it's a desaster that AWs protected 17670 doresn't fit :thumbsdow:thumbsdow

fenix should produce new tubes with wider diameter as replacement!!!
(perhaps for 18650, would be nice)

and where's 7777??
i would have expected that he gives a statement here + now.

 

[soffiler]

it's a desaster that AWs protected 17670 doresn't fit :thumbsdow:thumbsdow

fenix should produce new tubes with wider diameter as replacement!!!
(perhaps for 18650, would be nice)

and where's 7777??
i would have expected that he gives a statement here + now.

Um... Fenix is already on record as stating the P3D is not designed for use with a single Li-ion. Right in this very thread.

 

[XeRay]

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/1990491&postcount=498

Relative performance comparison P3D, P2D and L2D-CE.

 

[shakeylegs]

saltwater,
AW's hi cap 123's fit and the light turns on. I'm getting a UI anamolie using them however. If I go back to 123 primaries, alls well.

 

[martonic]

I put in 2 battery station RCR123's (3.6v) and it works great on all modes!

An AW protected 17670, on the other hand, does not even fit - the tube is too narrow.

 

[who]

I can say that a protected AW 17670 does not fit.
An unwrapped, unprotected LiIon sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, I think I'll pass.

I did rewrap the cell with thinner material to fit.
I think using a single unprotected cell is acceptable. I try to avoid multiple unprotected cells in series if possible.

 

[cliff]

The 17670 is till going strong in high mode after a few hours now.

Does it look to you like there is enough thickness in the P3D battery tube that it could be "sanded" out a little bit to fit a protected 17670? I had a E2D body that these batteries would not fit into, but with a little emory paper I got it to work.

There may be thicker wall on the battery tube of an E2D though.

 

[oracle2]

Just got my P3D today. None of my rcr123a batteries fit.
I still like the light can't wait till it gets dark.

 

[sonofjesse]

Just got my P3D today. None of my rcr123a batteries fit.
I still like the light can't wait till it gets dark.

Mine either. I heard that before I got mine. I still this light is cool!