Using CR123 for custom battery?

[bigbuzz666]

Hi all,

As the title says, can I use 3 X CR123 3V rechargeable cells to build (or make build by professionals) a custom 9V battery to use on my AEG, so it can fit in the buffer tube? If not, what are the other options to not have to use a li-po battery... I don't really want to risk it explodes in my face

Is the CR123 a li-po?

Thanks...

[AngelusNex]

Originally Posted by bigbuzz666

Hi all,

As the title says, can I use 3 X CR123 3V rechargeable cells to build (or make build by professionals) a custom 9V battery to use on my AEG, so it can fit in the buffer tube? If not, what are the other options to not have to use a li-po battery... I don't really want to risk it explodes in my face

Is the CR123 a li-po?

Thanks...

Likely as being struck by lightening. I've seen 2 lipos fail, neither exploded, one swelled and stopped working in my gun so I pulled it out and said "damn.... your garbage" and the other much less scary looking.

[Azathoth]

I don't see the 3x rcr123 having enough Mah to handle a real play. Also this cheap ultrafire/strikefire batteries are not consistent in quality. I've considered the idea but tossed it for my project

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by bigbuzz666

Hi all,

As the title says, can I use 3 X CR123 3V rechargeable cells to build (or make build by professionals) a custom 9V battery to use on my AEG, so it can fit in the buffer tube? If not, what are the other options to not have to use a li-po battery... I don't really want to risk it explodes in my face

Is the CR123 a li-po?

Thanks...

Buy a quality lipo pack and you shouldn't have problems, stay away from airsoft brand lipo packs as they are all cheaper and on the lower end of the market, Intelect buffer tube packs would be my only exception.

[ThunderCactus]

The danger with buffer tube LiPo's is;
1) over-discharge, as they are generally low capacity
2) over-current draw, as they are generally low current (12C x 1000mah = 12A max)

Get a mosfet switch to increase battery life and reduce trigger arcing, and a PCB to tell you when it's time to change your battery, and it'll be as safe as can be.

[Styrak]

You would have EXTREMELY short life on those, if they worked at all.

[D.Kovacs]

just use some D-cell battery's in a shotgun belt, with a wire running to the gun.

[Wildlife]

Short answer is no. CR123A cells can't give the large, short-term current draw required by AEG motors, I looked into this too. It's possible an A123 LiFePO4 cell could do it, but they're 1.5X longer than a CR123A; can't fit enough of 'em in a buffer tube.

[Lord Jebus]

I've been using li-po batteries in my RC Helicopters for years...
Just buy a good quality Balancer/charger
And never let them drop below their charge threshold.
Even the poor quality li-po's can good when taken care of properly.
You'll know long before they let go that they are gonna let go.

[bigbuzz666]

Originally Posted by Lord Jebus

Just buy a good quality Balancer/charger
And never let them drop below their charge threshold.

What's the use of the balancer? How do I know during a game that the battery is going below the charge threshold?

[m102404]

I think you're going cross message here...

A balancing tap is used for charging...so your charger can supply power to each cell individually such that they all stay charged up the same amount (ideally). It has nothing to do with how each cell or how the entire pack as a whole will discharge...that's completely up to each cells characteristics/chemistry. It can however be used to monitor the status of each cell while in use.

You won't know if the batt, or a particular cell, is going down below its threshold in use unless you use something to monitor each cells voltage (and I suppose you'd need to rig up something similar to a balancing tap in your custom pack to see each cell).

There are digital displays, some with alarms, others with numbers, dots, lights, etc...that you plug into the balancing tap while you're discharging it and they will signify if the entire pack or one of the cells has dropped below some nominal voltage threshold. Some will cut off the circuit...others won't do anything.

In not so brief...since the max for a LiPo cell is 4.2v, if you have a 3 cell pack you might tempted to aim to charge it up to 12.6v (total). However...if you've got a bad cell in the pack that's not taking a charge properly...you'll drive the voltage of the 2 remaining cells way over their 4.2V max charge trying to get the whole pack to 12.6V. And at best you'll swell the pack and you shouldn't use it anymore. At worse...is worse.

Charging with a balancing tap will allow the charger to either detect a fault in the pack and not charge it at all...or essentially stop charging the 2 cells until the 3rd cell catches up. It'll also monitor and ensure that each individual cell is fully charged...again, it won't do anything about how each cell is discharged but at least they're all starting with the same voltage.

Along the same lines...if you have a "tired" cell mixed in with "good" ones...it may reach it's lower threshold (3v) sooner than the other cells. At that point, if you keep discharging the pack, that cell will be driven down below it's threshold as the other packs drain. Once a cell goes below it's threshold it may not take a charge again...ever.

[ThunderCactus]

Get a PCB, it hooks into the LiPo balancing plug and beeps or buzzes or whatever when any cell drops to 3.0v

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

The danger with buffer tube LiPo's is;
1) over-discharge, as they are generally low capacity
2) over-current draw, as they are generally low current (12C x 1000mah = 12A max)

Get a mosfet switch to increase battery life and reduce trigger arcing, and a PCB to tell you when it's time to change your battery, and it'll be as safe as can be.

Sorry I was referring to the 1200mah 20c buffer tube packs out there, I had one 2 years ago and stupidly sold it . I could sure use it for my SU right about now.

[yoyit2]

Originally Posted by Wildlife

Short answer is no. CR123A cells can't give the large, short-term current draw required by AEG motors, I looked into this too. It's possible an A123 LiFePO4 cell could do it, but they're 1.5X longer than a CR123A; can't fit enough of 'em in a buffer tube.

you CAN get LiFe CR123A batteries (same size as Li-ion CR123a batteries) you could also try 14500 Li-ion 1000mah (AA size) or 186500 (2x longer then cr123a @ 2500mah+ @ 3.7v)

best bet by FAR is Lipo! just dont use anything less then 20A