With a CR123/16430, considering their size, I wouldn't think they would stay at 4.2 very long, though.
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That is definitely true, especially in a stacked configuration. Usually when you stack batteries one will drop much quicker than the other.
I was basing the 8.4V on 'fresh off the charger' voltages. That's what is going to pop a lesser atty. And like sinister said, the little ones will not stay there long. But using the high (5.5) ohm attys at 8.4V you will draw less current than a standard atty at 6.5V so your batts will hold up a little better.
With my big batts (18650s), I usually throw them on the charger when they drop below 4V, but the little ones are harder to keep up with. Still (IMO) if they hit 3.7V they are past needing charged.
So... With 2x3.7 and a high ohm atty you should be running 7.8V-8.4V most of the time.
*That's unloaded voltages, of course. All those numbers change if you want to look at loaded voltages.
Speaking of voltage drops I use 2 RCR123As that were at 4.3v full charged and after about a day of constant vaping I figured I'd check the voltage. They were both at 3.4v. I took about 10 more drags and suddenly got no vapor. Checked the batts again and they were at 1v each. I guess the weaker they get the faster they drain.
I am not a battery expert by any means, but I think there are a few things at play here. One is the fact that they are in a 'stacked' configuration. From everything I have read, this in itself will cause them to drain faster.
The other thing is that at 3.4V you have discharged them below a level that they 'like' to be at.
I view the '3.7V' as the low end of their charge. I charge them to 4.2, then recharge before they get to 3.7V. Doing this will greatly increase the cycles that you get from them over their lifetime. I'm pretty sure that draining them to 1V is going to reduce their lifetime considerably.
Like I said, I'm not a battery expert, I have just been reading everything I can find since I started vaping (and depending on batteries). If there are any battery experts here that disagree with anything I've said, I would definitely not be offended to hear corrections to my statements.
The other thing is that at 3.4V you have discharged them below a level that they 'like' to be at.
I view the '3.7V' as the low end of their charge. I charge them to 4.2, then recharge before they get to 3.7V. Doing this will greatly increase the cycles that you get from them over their lifetime. I'm pretty sure that draining them to 1V is going to reduce their lifetime considerably.
Like I said, I'm not a battery expert, I have just been reading everything I can find since I started vaping (and depending on batteries). If there are any battery experts here that disagree with anything I've said, I would definitely not be offended to hear corrections to my statements.
I have a question should I also check my 18650 batteries as well and charge them when I get down to 3.7? I have noticed with my 3 volt cr123a that 1 battery will stay at around 3.0v usually the battery at the postive post and the battery at the negitive spring will discharge very low to like 1 volt when I am no longer getting good vaper is this uncommon?
Not sure if JeanieB's 'yes' meant it is common or uncommon.
I think it is pretty common. I have read this everywhere. When you stack batteries, one will drop out much quicker than the other.
Near as I can tell in my attempts to figure this out is that there two possible causes.
First, when you have two batteries, they never have the 'exact' same voltage. This means that one will "push" slightly harder than the other. This causes the other to work harder than it wants to, and makes it drain a little faster. Making the pair even more unbalanced, etc, etc. The effect snowballs until one is dead.
The other thing that could be happening is that the protection circuit is tripping. When you are running 2 batts together, the added voltage combined with the resistance of the atty results in higher current draws than the batteries are rated for. The protection circuit sees this high current and trips. (This second scenario is more likely to happen with freshly charged batts.)
Edit: to answer your fist question. I don't actually measure my batts every time I take them out. I just know (from measuring them every time in the beginning) that after a day and a half or so my 18650 is going to be down to about 3.8-3.9V. I could continue to vape it down to 3.7 over the course of another day, but I like the hit of a 4+ charge so I swap it out almost every day even though it doesn't need it. But in doing this, I think that it extends the life of the batts.
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Thank you very much I got my husband voltmeter out and just started randomly testing my. Batteries as I used them. I am still trying to learn about batteries before I got my PV I thought you just stuck them in and recharged when dead knew nothing of protected batteries or anything else thanks again!
thanks again!
Anyone have a link to these 3.7v batteries anywhere? All I'm finding are 3.6v at Battery Junction... not sure those .2 volts would make much of a difference...
Gracias.
I thought it was the rcr123's that we were using in tandem for 6v?
EDIT: NVM they have those too... thanks for the link!
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