Hacked my V3 Magnetospeed today

[357Max]

I was at the range Sat. to try out a new to me V3 magneto speed. Bought in the PX here. Battery was dead, put in spare 9v and it lasted 10 min. F%$k!!
Now the spare may not have been that fresh, but still 9v's suck and CR123 are expensive.
Disassembled it and milled it with a ball mill .025 per side, .025 deeper, & .025 out of lid.

18650 rechargeable Li-ion is the way to go. It'd be great if Magnetospeed would rethink their choice of batteries for these. It makes no sense to stack 2 x CR123's. If you have that much room, then go single 18650.

I'll never have a dead battery again. If it does die I can just plug it in my car. Plus I run the same in my flashlights.

These rechargeable 18650's are great and like $23 with free shipping from Fenix or Nitecore.

Fenix ARBL18 High-Capacity 18650 Battery - 3500mAh

The ARB-L18-3500mAh 18650 battery from Fenix is a high-grade model with an impressive 3500mAh rating, providing superior performance and reliability. It is equipped with protective features like short-circuit prevention, multiple layers of protection, and a button-top design that is suitable for...

www.fenix-store.com

Nitecore NL1834R 3400mAh USB Rechargeable 18650 Battery

Nitecore NL1834R 3400mAh Rechargeable 18650 Battery with built-in Micro-USB charging port for use with High Drain devices such as tactical flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns without the need of a battery charger.

www.nitecorestore.com

 

[Punkur67]

Nice upgrade

 

[McMillan]

I was at the range Sat. to try out a new to me V3 magneto speed. Bought in the PX here. Battery was dead, put in spare 9v and it lasted 10 min. F%$k!!
Now the spare may not have been that fresh, but still 9v's suck and CR123 are expensive.
Disassembled it and milled it with a ball mill .025 per side, .025 deeper, & .025 out of lid.

18650 rechargeable Li-ion is the way to go. It'd be great if Magnetospeed would rethink their choice of batteries for these. It makes no sense to stack 2 x CR123's. If you have that much room, then go single 18650.

I'll never have a dead battery again. If it does die I can just plug it in my car. Plus I run the same in my flashlights.

These rechargeable 18650's are great and like $23 with free shipping from Fenix or Nitecore.

Fenix ARBL18 High-Capacity 18650 Battery - 3500mAh

The ARB-L18-3500mAh 18650 battery from Fenix is a high-grade model with an impressive 3500mAh rating, providing superior performance and reliability. It is equipped with protective features like short-circuit prevention, multiple layers of protection, and a button-top design that is suitable for...

www.fenix-store.com

Nitecore NL1834R 3400mAh USB Rechargeable 18650 Battery

Nitecore NL1834R 3400mAh Rechargeable 18650 Battery with built-in Micro-USB charging port for use with High Drain devices such as tactical flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns without the need of a battery charger.

www.nitecorestore.com

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They actually don't need to rethink it at all you just had a dud battery. Mine has been going for years on the same 9v battery and I use it a lot

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

My sporter eats batteries like a fat kid eats cake.

Magnetospeed should get with the times and connect to your phone and ditch the little display module altogether. There's so much more you could do with an ap.

 

[Stag556]

Que all the fly by night, self YouTube taught, Dremel gunsmiths modding their V3s. I can only imagine the excuses the Magneto warranty department will be getting when a guy sends theirs in for an issue.

All kidding aside, cool mod and if it works for ya, that’s sweet.

 

[b6graham]

My sporter eats batteries like a fat kid eats cake.

Magnetospeed should get with the times and connect to your phone and ditch the little display module altogether. There's so much more you could do with an ap.

StackPath

 

[JMGlasgow]

It says right in the manual that 9v batteries will work but aren't recommended, especially in cold weather. I switched to CR123 batteries and go through about 1 set per year. Same with my LRF binoculars.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

StackPath

No, I mean connect the bayonett directly to the phone while shooting. Get rid of the display box altogether. That accessory is just for downloading data.

 

[b6graham]

No, I mean connect the bayonett directly to the phone while shooting. Get rid of the display box altogether. That accessory is just for downloading data.

I wonder if anyone has tried a simple splitter

 

[Steel head]

My sporter eats batteries like a fat kid eats cake.

Magnetospeed should get with the times and connect to your phone and ditch the little display module altogether. There's so much more you could do with an ap.

My original sporter battery lasted for two years and I use it quite a bit.
I finally changed it just because it had. dipped into the 6’s

I do agree they could do some innovations.

 

[deanq]

What is the voltage cutoff of the Magnetospeed? You do realize an 18650 is 3.6v and two CR123's are 7.2v.
Given the flat voltage curve of Lion batteries, it may be ok....or not. YMMV JMHO

 

[357Max]

What is the voltage cutoff of the Magnetospeed? You do realize an 18650 is 3.6v and two CR123's are 7.2v.
Given the flat voltage curve of Lion batteries, it may be ok....or not. YMMV JMHO

Good point and I didn't fully explain my thought process on this hack. I will disagree on one thing though. CR123 are 3.0V so 6.0V for the series.

Per the Magneto manual, it will operate normally down to 3.4V, Doesn't say what cut off is.

The 3500mah Fenix and all my other 18650's charge to 4.2V, I charge them when they get down below 3.6 & that is about 60% charge.
Since mah does not double with cr 123 in series you've got 1400mah available on a fresh set. 40% of 3500 is still 1400 with room to go before reaching 3.4V.

I like having the option to plug a single battery into my car for a couple minutes to get back up and running.


I thought about running 2 x Fenix mini USB rechargeable 16340's in series. They will fit without modification.........but = 7.2V vs 6V for the CR 123's. Didn't want to risk over voltage on the Magnetospeed when set for CR 123's
It would be an easier drop in option but we'd need Magnetospeed to confirm 7.2V is GTG for the CR123 setting????

 

[EN2722]

StackPath

Not sure if you own one of them, but I do. It was a nightmare to get it to work with ios. Currently, is located in my Magnetospeed box, not being used. I purchased an SD card reader for my MacBook instead.

 

[357Max]

So just as a follow up I ran one of these 18650's from a full charge 4.215V down to 20% in another device that has good battery monitoring info. At 20% charge it still had 3.1V popped it in Magnetospeed and it still worked albeit with a low batt warning.

3500mah x 60% (should still be above 3.4V) = 2100mah available or 50% more then a good set of CR123's @ 1400mah.

 

[flyfisher117]

My sporter eats batteries like a fat kid eats cake.

Magnetospeed should get with the times and connect to your phone and ditch the little display module altogether. There's so much more you could do with an ap.

I'm the opposite. I dont like running my phone on the range. I prefer the display box. Just wish it could show SD and ES at the same time.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

I'm the opposite. I dont like running my phone on the range. I prefer the display box. Just wish it could show SD and ES at the same time.

Lol, thats cool. You have a miniature super computer in your pocket but would rather use a watch calculator that doesn't do what you want.

 

[flyfisher117]

Lol, thats cool. You have a miniature super computer in your pocket but would rather use a watch calculator that doesn't do what you want.

Yeah every time that little super computer even sees sunlight it gets hot and over heats.

Every time I take said super computer to the range it somehow finds itself face down in the Gravel with a shattered screen protector.

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

Can't buy Harbor Freight batteries and expect them to last like Duracell. Always check the dates on the package. My wife bought some batteries on sale from Safeway without checking the date, they were ten years old. You get what you pay for!

 

[TACC]

Definitely like the unauthorized upgrade

 

[GenericUser]

Thanks for this info, the second I saw that it took 2x CR123 I looked up whether it would take an 18650. Huge oversight by MS to not accommodate the most popular flashlight battery. I'll be modding mine in the exact same way.