Best 18650 battery?

[hifistud]

Oct 19, 2012 3:57:23 GMT Balllsy said:

So what happens if inferior batteries are used ?

There is a number of issues:

1. Protection - Unless you're absolutely certain that a supposedly protected battery has, in fact, got a good protection circuit, you may as well be using unprotected batteries. Earlier Li-ion battery designs were somewhat volatile in their handling of short and near short circuits. With AW batteries, you can be sure that the protection circuit (where they're necessary) are good ones. Some "protected" batteries (sold as such) have, in fact, had no protection circuit at all. Not good.

2. "C Rating" Sometimes difficult to grasp, but the C Rating is, pretty much a guide as to how much current a battery can deliver before it starts coming under stress, and therefore entering the cycle that leads to thermal runaway. Most batteries on sale (all the ***fires, for instance) tend not to have their C Rating explicitly stated. For E-cig use, you want the highest C Rating you can get - look for 8C as a good number, and 4C as the minimum. Again, AW IMR and Panasonic CGR18650CH have C ratings at or above 8C

3. Batteries like the AW IMR series (built on Panasonics) and the Panasonic CGR18650CH use what's known as "safer chemistry". What that means, put as simply as possible, is that in extreme failure mode, they will vent with a farting noise, but not with flame, while non-iMR or non-hybrid - that is Li-ion - in extreme failure mode will potentially explode, or vent with flame. The likelihood of extreme failure is remote in normal usage (it's more likely under improper charging conditions, and even then quite unlikely), but it's worth noting the differences.

4. Authorised AW dealers, and the outlets for the Panasonic CGR18650CH are "pukka" - you stand no chance of being sold a clone, copy, or something masquerading as either type. Both battery types are well tested, trusted and, in my view, the ones to go for.

In real terms, although AWs may seem "expensive" compared to no-names or ****fires, they're not - in fact, given the marginal cost of running AWs or the Pannies (because they'll last and last and last and last) you're talking fractions of a penny per day.

FWIW, I use only AW IMR and Panasonic CGR18650CH for my everyday stuff - like most folks who write and broadcast about these things, I've used just about every other battery type out there, and still return to these two without fail.

[lardarse]

Oct 19, 2012 2:22:34 GMT Anne (fuzzy) said:

Don't have a clue about these TBH, but if they're OK for a LT, they'll be a good buy. Need an expert opinion though. Anyone?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-3-7V-2400mAh-18650-Lithium-Ion-Rechargeable-Battery-/221032075792?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item337689d210

If you look at his listings he sells 10 for £12.97 delivered I'm tight but I think I'll pass on that.

[Perpetua]

Oct 19, 2012 10:38:28 GMT hifistud said:

In real terms, although AWs may seem "expensive" compared to no-names or ****fires, they're not - in fact, given the marginal cost of running AWs or the Pannies (because they'll last and last and last and last) you're talking fractions of a penny per day.

My batteries take a real hammering, with the amount of vaping I do . . . AW's that I bought over a year ago are still going strong, paid for themselves several times over, compared to lesser priced ones.

[Balllsy]

Wow thanks Hifi for such a detailed explanation. This has definately swayed my decision.

[Roger]

Just to add, it's worth buying a decent charger as well. The Xtar WP2II is well thought of. Jason sells them as do others.

[Balllsy]

Thanks Roger saved my next thread re: charger

I shall use my 4.2v charger with the 18650 batteries I currently have until I have my imr batteries and charger delivered.

[spike74656]

Well what a brilliant amount of feedback. cheers guys.

Off to shop for some AW IMR batts

[alanfinal]

Was quite stunned to read one quite large manufacturer was re packaging old laptop batteries,myself I have genuine AW bought from Jason,but I also have cheaper ones from Torchy on e bay,his own make which are the equivalent of Samsung batteries,both work fine but the Torchies are for a tin mod and longer than the AWs,its another thing to watch,some batteries are too long for some mods,as many batteries are designed for torches and not e cigs

[robby]

If you check out this ad and this seller, he doesnt sell any bad batteries that I am aware of, there are also test results on most of his batteries. Prices are reasonable as well

SenyBor, Panasonic, Torchy, Xtar, LG, FJD, Yezl, Sony and Sanyo live up to the manufacturers claims

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Torchy-2400mAh-18650-3-7v-Li-ion-batteries-protective-case-Top-Quality-/300796775799?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item4608e28d77

[Roger]

Nov 3, 2012 18:28:18 GMT robby said:

If you check out this ad and this seller, he doesnt sell any bad batteries that I am aware of, there are also test results on most of his batteries. Prices are reasonable as well

SenyBor, Panasonic, Torchy, Xtar, LG, FJD, Yezl, Sony and Sanyo live up to the manufacturers claims

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Torchy-2400mAh-18650-3-7v-Li-ion-batteries-protective-case-Top-Quality-/300796775799?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item4608e28d77

Watch those Torchy that you have linked to Robbie, they are are 66.8mm long. Too long for a lot of mods.

[robby]

Nov 3, 2012 18:36:50 GMT Roger said:

Nov 3, 2012 18:28:18 GMT robby said:

If you check out this ad and this seller, he doesnt sell any bad batteries that I am aware of, there are also test results on most of his batteries. Prices are reasonable as well

SenyBor, Panasonic, Torchy, Xtar, LG, FJD, Yezl, Sony and Sanyo live up to the manufacturers claims

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Torchy-2400mAh-18650-3-7v-Li-ion-batteries-protective-case-Top-Quality-/300796775799?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item4608e28d77

Watch those Torchy that you have linked to Robbie, they are are 66.8mm long. Too long for a lot of mods.

Thanks, be great if we had a database of what will and what wont fit

[robby]

MEASURED CAPACITY AT 1AMP CONSTANT.

Got this off Ebay, useful actual capacity table.

The usual suspects at the bottom

[robby]

Capacity stated as a percentage of the "CLAIMED" capacity

[deesigner]

I've just purchased these for my LT, they actually do have good staying power

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300805792559?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

[santa668]

Just ordered these Sanyo's from Torchyboy on ebay clicky: IMR and 65mm long, good price!


Although, just noticed they are Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NMC), not Lithium Manganese (Li-Mn)... hmmm, does anyone know if my sysmax intellicharger will like them?

Nick