RCR123A 3.2 volt vs. RCR123A 3.0?

[TheKingOfKool]

I ordered 4 new tenergy batteries and they sent me RCR123A 3.2 volt batteries instead of the 3.0 ones. I think they no longer carry the 3.0 ones. I charged all 4 of them in the charger for the 3.0 batteries. the website said I shouldn't use batteries in chargers if they are rated above what the charger is rated at.

The 3.2 volt batteries have only been lasting me around 3-4 hours. Is this because of them being charged in the 3.0 charger? And/Or is it because they use more voltage than the 3.0?

Anybody have any idea why they don't last 10-12 hours like the 3.0 batteries?

 

[buGG]

Are you used to getting 10-12 hours of use from the 3.0V tenergy batteries? About 30% or so of that battery's makeup is the protection circuitry and a resistive diode which is in place to bring a nominally 3.7V cell down to 3V. So a lot of wasted space and energy wasting processes in that size battery compared to what's going on in the 3.2V LiFePO4. They still make both, however, the packaging has changed a bit. My experience was always that the LiFePO4 versions were much better performers and lasted longer in PV applications, but as a heavy vaper I didn't get a lot of time from them either.

Now because they are different chemistry batteries designed with the intent to do different things under load, they require two separate chargers, and one cannot be used in place of the other. It sounds like you took a 3.2V nominal voltage cell intended to be charged to a peak voltage of 3.6V, and put them in a charger that is intended to charge a very unique battery as well, a true 3.7V battery charged to 4.2 in normal circumstances, but above that for this particular configuration to work as intended. So you are probably overcharging the 3.2V cells, and likely charging them too fast at too high a rate. This will diminish performance, and risk problems with the batteries as well as the charger. So look for the right charger and double check the specs to make sure it fits the batteries you're using. Of course if the 3.0V (blue) batteries are what you are used to and enjoy using, then grab those to use with the charger you already have.

 

[TheKingOfKool]

They were yellow batteries. Are you saying they changed them to blue? the 3.2v ones are green.