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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

18650 or 2x 16340 batteries

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May 24, 2012
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Hi,

My 1W blue came with two feeble 880 mAh 3.6V 16340 batteries and other manufacturers don't seem to go much higher than that mAh rating.

I'm wondering if it's possible to swap the two 16340's for a single 18650, which has a higher mAh rating. My concern is that they're inserted end on end, so that should mean they deliver (3.6V x 2=) 7.2V.

Does this mean I should be looking for a 7.2V 18650? These don't seem to exist, so maybe my logic is faulty :undecided:

Joe
 





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Your logic is fine... numbers are a tad off.

For one, it's not likely that the mAh rating on the batteries is accurate. For 16340 880mAh isn't bad at all. If it's a chinese battery, the rating means nothing.

Second, if your laser is meant to take two batteries, this means it requires input between 6V and 8.4V. Lion batteries are generally meant to operate at 4.2V fully charged, but generally no lower than 3V.

Depending on the kind of driver in your laser you may be able to put in one 18650 battery, and get much better run time, but the power will be reduced greatly... you are correct that there are no 18650 batteries rated at 7.2V. The highest is 4.35V at the moment.

Your best bet is to see if the laser can fit two 18350 batteries instead.

What kind of laser did you get, and from where?
 
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Blord

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The Chinese 880mAh 3.6V 16340 have 400-500mAh in real life if you are lucky. The batteries are mostly not up to spec.
The Ultrafire 1200mAh 18350 isn't much better but people have measured 800-900mAh capacity. At least more than the 16340 battery.

Btw welcome to the LPF forum
You nick sound very much DUTCH ! :D
 
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@Infinitus: Thanks, I will definitely explore the 2x 18350 avenue. In the mean time, 1x 18650 sounds like a nice standby if I don't need maximum power. (The unit doesn't come with adjustable output.)

It's a serious No Name Brand Chinese one, which is all that I could get in South Africa. Come to think of it, maybe someone here can identify the device based on presentation and configuration?

@Blord: In truth, I'm not overly worried about the mAh. I can always carry spares and recharge on the fly. I was more interested if a single cell battery could maintain the proper voltage. (And yes, I'm Afrikaans, which is passing close to Flemish, though simpler in structure.)
 
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Blord

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In the mean time, 1x 18650 sounds like a nice standby if I don't need maximum power. (The unit doesn't come with adjustable output.)

It doesn't work that way. If the laser needs two 3.7 cells to operate then one cell doesn't provide enough voltage for the driver no matter how much capacity the cell has. You always need to carry two smaller cells as reserve instead of one 18650 cell.
 
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Thanks, you've helped me a lot. I'm so taken with laser technology, I'm already eyeing a 150mW green now. Bug seems to have bitten me, d'oh!
 
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It doesn't work that way. If the laser needs two 3.7 cells to operate then one cell doesn't provide enough voltage for the driver no matter how much capacity the cell has. You always need to carry two smaller cells as reserve instead of one 18650 cell.

Depends on the driver. When it does work, the output is greatly reduced though.
 
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The device came with 2x 3.6V cells, but the 18350s I got from the States today are 3.7V and they seem to fit more snugly in the chassis.

Could it be that the device shipped with slightly underpowered batteries?

And more importantly, if 3.6 is spec, could a mere extra 0.2V cause damage?
 

Blord

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The 18650 and the 16340 have the same chemistry. You can use both of them in your laser. The 0.2V will cause a tiny more heat but nothing to worry about.
 
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No, re-read post #8 by Stadsjaap as he stated he used 18350 batteries not 18650 batteries.

Read the #2 reply by InfinitusEquitas and the #5 reply by Blord for the info you need.
 
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No, re-read post #8 by Stadsjaap as he stated he used 18350 batteries not 18650 batteries.

Read the #2 reply by InfinitusEquitas and the #5 reply by Blord for the info you need.

Ah ok gotcha misread that part. Oh well guess i will be buying that later.
 

Zator

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Jun 13, 2020
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Hi,

My 1W blue came with two feeble 880 mAh 3.6V 16340 batteries and other manufacturers don't seem to go much higher than that mAh rating.

I'm wondering if it's possible to swap the two 16340's for a single 18650, which has a higher mAh rating. My concern is that they're inserted end on end, so that should mean they deliver (3.6V x 2=) 7.2V.

Does this mean I should be looking for a 7.2V 18650? These don't seem to exist, so maybe my logic is faulty :undecided:

Joe
I need some help. I bought this laser pointer online and it came with no batteries and doesn't tell me what kind of batteries to get the 18 650 seems to fit but it doesn't work it doesn't turn on I can't find 16340 anywhere and I don't know what to do it's a silver like aluminum looking case with rods going all around it and the button is on the bottom and it's got Allen key screws all around the top for those rods that run the length of the laser does anyone know what I'm talking about
 

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