16650 Battery with Argus?

Has anyone tried using 2-16650 batteries in their Argus camera? They seem to have the same dimension to fit the camera and with the higher capacity of 2500mAh each makes it a much better rechargeable option than 4-CR123A rechargeables, which at most have a capacity around 800mAh each.

Bob

We are sorry that we haven't test this kind of battery, sir.

If you haven't tested it then why has Reolink stated on Amazon that it doesn't work? And if it doesn't work then why not? The 16650 battery has the correct specifications for the Argus, so it should work. Why did you have to pick the CR123A battery, when it's so expensive?!

Two 3.7V 16650 (2500mAh Keeppower) batteries fit but the camera doesn't work. That's probably because it needs two pairs of two 3V or 3.7V batteries in series. Maybe connecting the two batteries in series to both contacts could, but I am afraid to test :-).

You can use rechargeable 16340 batteries ("RCR"), unfortunately they have lower capacity. It's really a shame that Reolink doesn't support high capacity 18650 li-ion batteries (3500+ mAh). They are now common and cheap, and superior to rechargeable CR123A.

Bob

Hi guys, we know there are a whole bunch of batteries models out there on the market, and we pick CR123A because they are mostly-common used in cameras. We tested a few models (here is the list: https://reolink.com/faq/choose-batteries-for-battery-powered-camera/) and there are performance differences.
As to the different kinds of batteries you mentioned, we indeed haven't tested all of them, and there certainly could be a lot of possible problems with them. Seems we can't make a choice that makes everyone happy
But we will take your ideas into consideration for future products.

Hi Bob, thanks for answering. Yes - it's impossible to make everyone happy :-).
CR123A is a fine battery format - the primary (non-rechargeable) have a high energy density, can be stored for 10+ years and work in extreme weather. The disadvantage is the cost (~1.5$ for quality cells).

A 16650 li-ion is the same length as two CR123A and has a capacity of 2500 mAh, but has the voltage of only one cell (3.7V). Some flashlights for example have circuit boards that support both 2x CR123A (6V) or 1x rechargeable battery (3.7V). The 18650 have the best capacity - 3500 mAh, they are about the length of two CR123A but are a little thicker (2mm).

Argus can fit 2x 16650 batteries but doesn't work - maybe in the future you could support 2x 3.7V input. It would have more capacity than non-rechargeable CR123A (in case of 18650).

So - for Argus right now the best choice is quality (Sanyo, Panasonic, Sony, AW) rechargeable CR123A (RCR123A) batteries.

Bob

Dear Daniel,
Thank you so much for your informative reply. You show great understanding and we really appreciate it.

The problem with rechargeables is that they have almost 3 times lower mAh rating. This means you will be replacing/recharging them much more frequently. Yes, in the long term you will be saving money. However, depending on how many cameras you have, having to constantly recharge the batteries often can be a pain in the rear.