2 Questions about batteries in laser

[LEDbeam]

1. When a manufacturer says that the battery size 14500 needs to have a minimum of 6A continuous, what would happen if a 3A battery was used instead? Would it just be dimmer, or would it not work at all, or would the drain on the battery from the laser actually be dangerous and cause the battery to leak or burst into flames from being over-drained?

2. When the battery required is a 3.6 volt, such as 14500 or 18650, and a battery tester indicates after a charge that the voltage is actually 4.2 volts, would this be too much power for the laser that specifies a 3.6 volt battery? I've heard that laser diodes are very sensitive to being overpowered and burn out quickly if over-powered.

 

[WizardG]

1. Asking a Li ion cell for more current than it's rated for can cause the battery to heat up to the point where it may fail rather spectacularly. Even if the battery doesn't go poof, it's life and performance will be short and poor.

2. 4.2 volts is the normal cutoff point for Li ion cells. Laser diodes in our pointers are fed by drivers that act as constant current sources regardless of input voltage (within limits of course).

 

[LEDbeam]

1. Asking a Li ion cell for more current than it's rated for can cause the battery to heat up to the point where it may fail rather spectacularly. Even if the battery doesn't go poof, it's life and performance will be short and poor.

2. 4.2 volts is the normal cutoff point for Li ion cells. Laser diodes in our pointers are fed by drivers that act as constant current sources regardless of input voltage (within limits of course).

Thanks! Yeah, I was thinking of getting a laser that takes a 14500 battery at 6A. I have a pair of 3A and was thinking of trying to use one of those. Doesn't sound like a good long-term idea. But what if I only kept the laser on for no more than 10 seconds or so? Would that be enough to be a danger?

 

[Dusty_Lenses]

Thanks! Yeah, I was thinking of getting a laser that takes a 14500 battery at 6A. I have a pair of 3A and was thinking of trying to use one of those. Doesn't sound like a good long-term idea. But what if I only kept the laser on for no more than 10 seconds or so? Would that be enough to be a danger?

It comes down to the battery. Batteries used for vaping devices are a good choice for high current applications. I have AAA sized that are rated 3A continuous and are fine in short bursts going well over that.
The key is to mind the temperature of the cell and proceed with caution.


I have EFest 14500's that are rated for 6.5A continuous and 9.75A in short bursts. Which cells do you have??

 

[LEDbeam]

It comes down to the battery. Batteries used for vaping devices are a good choice for high current applications. I have AAA sized that are rated 3A continuous and are fine in short bursts going well over that.
The key is to mind the temperature of the cell and proceed with caution.


I have EFest 14500's that are rated for 6.5A continuous and 9.75A in short bursts. Which cells do you have??

Mine are Vapcell 14500's rated at 3A continuous, but the label on the battery doesn't say anything about a short burst rating.

For the record, I bought these for a laser that specifies needing 3A continuous. However, I already had another 14500 that doesn't have a rating listed on it. It's brand name is Sofirn, and came with a Sofirn flashlight I bought in the past. When I use that in my laser (a 700mw 520nm), it seems to work as well as the Vapcells do. That's what led me to wonder if the 3A cells could possibly work in a 6A laser, if only in short periods of maybe 10 seconds or so.

 

[Snecho]

Mine are Vapcell 14500's rated at 3A continuous, but the label on the battery doesn't say anything about a short burst rating.

For the record, I bought these for a laser that specifies needing 3A continuous. However, I already had another 14500 that doesn't have a rating listed on it. It's brand name is Sofirn, and came with a Sofirn flashlight I bought in the past. When I use that in my laser (a 700mw 520nm), it seems to work as well as the Vapcells do. That's what led me to wonder if the 3A cells could possibly work in a 6A laser, if only in short periods of maybe 10 seconds or so.

What kind of laser is asking for 6A from a 14500? Seems a little crazy high

 

[LEDbeam]

What kind of laser is asking for 6A from a 14500? Seems a little crazy high

This one:

C3 - Orion (3.5W 465nm)

OD 4+ Laser Safety Goggles are required to operate this product. (465nm range)Requires 1x 14500 3.7v button top, unprotected cell capable of at least 6A CONTINUOUS. (not included) 2-Element glass lens included.DO NOT BURN OBJECTS CLOSELY! Lens will collect soot. Keep lens CLEAN at all times...

jlasers.org

 

[RedCowboy]

https://illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/14500-vapcell-inr14500-h10-1000mah-10a-high-discharge-flat-top-li-ion-battery.html

Vapcell H10 14500 Purple/White 10A Flat Top 1000mAh Battery - Genuine

Looking for a button top version? You can find it here! *Please note that the voltage of this cell is 3.6V, so your device must be made to handle the higher voltage (Alkaline AA are only 1.5V). Vapcell direct. These batteries are direct from Vapcell. Priced per battery, not per pair. Vapcell...

liionwholesale.com

https://www.vapcelltech.com/h-pd-44.html

Vapcell H10 INR14500 1000mah 10A High Drain Rechargeable Flat Top Battery

Specifications: Model INR14500 H10 Size 14.3*49.4mm Type Flat top Nominal voltage 3.60V End-of-charge voltage 4.20V End-of-discharge Voltage 2.50V Typical Capacity 1000mAh (0.2C discharge) Min capacity 900mAh (0.2C discharge) Weight Max:24g Internal resistance...

www.brightlumenshop.com

 

[LEDbeam]

https://illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/14500-vapcell-inr14500-h10-1000mah-10a-high-discharge-flat-top-li-ion-battery.html

Vapcell H10 14500 Purple/White 10A Flat Top 1000mAh Battery - Genuine

Looking for a button top version? You can find it here! *Please note that the voltage of this cell is 3.6V, so your device must be made to handle the higher voltage (Alkaline AA are only 1.5V). Vapcell direct. These batteries are direct from Vapcell. Priced per battery, not per pair. Vapcell...

liionwholesale.com

https://www.vapcelltech.com/h-pd-44.html

Vapcell H10 INR14500 1000mah 10A High Drain Rechargeable Flat Top Battery

Specifications: Model INR14500 H10 Size 14.3*49.4mm Type Flat top Nominal voltage 3.60V End-of-charge voltage 4.20V End-of-discharge Voltage 2.50V Typical Capacity 1000mAh (0.2C discharge) Min capacity 900mAh (0.2C discharge) Weight Max:24g Internal resistance...

www.brightlumenshop.com

Oh, I'm aware that 6A and more can be bought. I'd do that later on but was just wondering if the 3A versions I already have (which I bought from the website you linked to) would operate the laser in question without causing the battery to become dangerous--especially if used in just short periods, say maybe 10 seconds or so at a time.

 

[Snecho]

Oh, I'm aware that 6A and more can be bought. I'd do that later on but was just wondering if the 3A versions I already have (which I bought from the website you linked to) would operate the laser in question without causing the battery to become dangerous--especially if used in just short periods, say maybe 10 seconds or so at a time.

If you have a question on battery compatibility for the product, why not ask the creator directly?

Maybe @loreadarkshade can chime in here

 

[RedCowboy]

You likely won't get full output, maybe for a few seconds from a full charge, maybe, but as voltage sags under load, your driver will need even more current to compensate, it's less an issue if using 2 cells and a buck driver, but just 1 cell as it sage means the driver will boost, that takes more current in than out for your blue laser diode, so if your battery can't maintain the needed current, you will lose output quickly.

Is your 3A battery an INR or IMR formulation? If not then why not buy the right battery?

As for blowing up the battery, probably not, but no guarantees.

 

[LEDbeam]

You likely won't get full output, maybe for a few seconds from a full charge, maybe, but as voltage sags under load, your driver will need even more current to compensate, it's less an issue if using 2 cells and a buck driver, but just 1 cell as it sage means the driver will boost, that takes more current in than out for your blue laser diode, so if your battery can't maintain the needed current, you will lose output quickly.

Is your 3A battery an INR or IMR formulation? If not then why not buy the right battery?

As for blowing up the battery, probably not, but no guarantees.

My battery shows it's an INR configuration.
I'll eventually get the right battery after getting a laser, but I wanted to wait until after it arrives before ordering a special battery for it. In the meantime I would want to use what I already have, but only if it would be safe.

 

[RedCowboy]

Nobody's going to guarantee that overloading an underrated battery would be safe.
Even if your battery has built in protection, you should still observe the manufacturers rating.

 

[LEDbeam]

Nobody's going to guarantee that overloading an underrated battery would be safe.
Even if your battery has built in protection, you should still observe the manufacturers rating.

Maybe not guarantees, but I'm sure some here have tried it and have experience as to whether there were any ill effects, and if the laser performed as well as with the "correct" amperage. I was surprised after getting the 3A batteries I have now, trying out the "lesser" battery I have with no rating seems to work the same as my 3A Vapcells. I even ran it tonight on that battery for about 30 seconds and then took the battery out right afterwards to see if the battery had heated up. It hadn't. The brightness was the same as with the Vapcells too. So that's my experience.
But as I mentioned, my older Sofirn battery doesn't specify an amp rating. I asked about using it back in April of last year before I got my current laser that requires 3A. Here's the thread where I started writing at post #5: https://laserpointerforums.com/threads/battery-amps-and-brand.111321/#post-1625020

From what I understood from the graphs Gryphon posted, the Sofirn shouldn't be able to perform even close to what the Vapcells are capable of, but I've still had good experience with it. But I have no idea if the difference between the Sofirn and Vapcell is as small of a difference as between my Vapcells and a newer 6A version.

 

[zigzag123]

This one:

C3 - Orion (3.5W 465nm)

OD 4+ Laser Safety Goggles are required to operate this product. (465nm range)Requires 1x 14500 3.7v button top, unprotected cell capable of at least 6A CONTINUOUS. (not included) 2-Element glass lens included.DO NOT BURN OBJECTS CLOSELY! Lens will collect soot. Keep lens CLEAN at all times...

jlasers.org

Be carefull with the duty cycle.
I believe JLaser is over rating it. You have a SS host and a small 12 module, even if it a copper module he's rating it at 30 seconds on but a good 5 minutes off.
I wouldn't do more than 20 seconds on.

He has a IR laser in the same host at 500mw and mentions a 100% cycle. No way on that cycle.
Same host with a 1.6W blue aand he's got it at 1 minute on

 

[RedCowboy]

Maybe not guarantees, but I'm sure some here have tried it and have experience as to whether there were any ill effects, and if the laser performed as well as with the "correct" amperage. I was surprised after getting the 3A batteries I have now, trying out the "lesser" battery I have with no rating seems to work the same as my 3A Vapcells. I even ran it tonight on that battery for about 30 seconds and then took the battery out right afterwards to see if the battery had heated up. It hadn't. The brightness was the same as with the Vapcells too. So that's my experience.
But as I mentioned, my older Sofirn battery doesn't specify an amp rating. I asked about using it back in April of last year before I got my current laser that requires 3A. Here's the thread where I started writing at post #5: https://laserpointerforums.com/threads/battery-amps-and-brand.111321/#post-1625020

From what I understood from the graphs Gryphon posted, the Sofirn shouldn't be able to perform even close to what the Vapcells are capable of, but I've still had good experience with it. But I have no idea if the difference between the Sofirn and Vapcell is as small of a difference as between my Vapcells and a newer 6A version.

IF YOU USE THE UNDERRTED BATTERY AND HAVE A PROBLEM THEN YOU ALONE ARE RESPNSIBLE, LPF IS NOT RESPONSIBLE and NOBODY HERE CAN GUARENTEE YOUR SAFETY WHEN YOU EXCEEDE THE BATTERY MANUFACTURERS RATING.