Where to buy 18650s? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 03:00:55 pm
content: Where to buy single (or small quantities) 18650 lithium cells that we know aren’t counterfeit, and whose specs are reliable?I’m looking for high drain (20+ amps).In USA, preferably…Personal experiences please. Anyone can Google…Thanks.

author: soubitos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 03:36:24 pm
content: Batteryhookup in the US might be one source but living in EU my go to is NKON who I think they also ship to the US

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 03:47:16 pm
content: If I had to have non-counterfeit 18650s, I’d go straight to DigiKey or Mouser. I trust their supply chain better than most and have always been happy with the coin cells I’ve gotten there (yeah, yeah, different tech but another place where counterfeit crap is rampant in the general market).They’re going to be $12 instead of $3-4, but they’ll likely be genuine and work as the specs say.

author: Peabody
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 03:56:56 pm
content: Episode 458 of the Amphour podcast featured Ken Burns of TinyCircuits. One of their products is an 18650 with 2500mAH capacity that is flat top, unprotected. They sell for $5.95 at Digikey. I don't know about the current capacity or who manufactures them. Apparently they sell a bunch of them.https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tinycircuits/ASR00050/9808766https://theamphour.com/458-an-interview-with-ken-burns/

author: AndyBeez
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 05:16:50 pm
content: Agreed, Digikey and others. They will have a traceable supply chain and will ship baterries correctly packaged and marked according to postal regs. Cannot go to wrong with official Samsung or Sony cells.Recently I encounterd someone making ebike power packs with 18650s; batteries received in a large cardboard box from a China Ali' seller. No "battery inside" markings on the box. No padding inside the box. Just 200+ batteries all jumbled together direct from the PRC. Maybe the Customs paperwork was in order? No branding on the batteries, just a mix of plain blue and green sleeving. The ebike packs were well made, it's just the cells inside were all untraceable.Branded batteries may cost more and be on a 6 month back order, but you will not end up with a box of dubious vape cells

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 08:23:22 pm
content: Quote from: Peabody on November 01, 2022, 03:56:56 pmThe Tiny Circuits datasheet doesn’t have a max current spec, but Ken Burns replied to my email that their 2500mAh cell is a 1C or 2C discharge rate. Good for tiny circuits, but not for my application.

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 08:24:34 pm
content: Quote from: soubitos on November 01, 2022, 03:36:24 pmNKON do not ship to US.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 08:33:19 pm
content: Depending on your needs and enthusiasm, you could consider disassembling a power tool battery pack? A 2 Ah pack would give you 5 cells, and if you look out for deals it might not cost you too much. (Of course you would have to figure out in advance what cells are inside. They could be 26650 cells, perhaps.)

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 09:17:19 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 01, 2022, 08:33:19 pmThat's pretty much were I am now: I'm repairing a power tool battery. There's 1 cell that is dead, all the rest seem to charge normally. So to buy another used battery...? If that's the only way to get a few 20+ amp cells, I might have to.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 10:15:08 pm
content: You can find plenty of USA suppliers of genuine high drain cells.Just a quick google found this:https://www.18650batterystore.com/en-ca/products/molicel-p28aProbably some on Ebay as well.Also worth looking on Marketplace for that tool brand, as you mentioned.But you'll want to get a similar cell, if not the same one if possible.And question if the other cells are degraded or not, you won't know this unless you do a capacity test on each one.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2022, 10:41:15 pm
content: I've bought from Battery Hookup several times and have been happy with what I got. They often have new boxed cells and sometimes new unused battery packs you can salvage cells from. Lots of used battery packs and cells too.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2022, 12:32:16 am
content: Quote from: iXod on November 01, 2022, 09:17:19 pmWell, to be frank, power tool batteries are almost a consumable item. If one cell is dead, it is possible the others are also wearing out. It would be more rational to recycle the pack and get a replacement.Not only that, but the batteries in such a pack are matched and balanced for even charging and discharging. If you put a brand new cell in amongst old ones, even if it is the identical manufacturer and part number, it will likely be mismatched for load and charging characteristics and could accelerate the decline of the other cells.If you took the battery to Batteries Plus, they might be able to rebuild the pack for you with all new cells, but I do not know if that would save any money over buying a replacement for $50 to $100. I've recently picked up a free battery and charger just by catching a special deal on a tool that I wanted.