genuine 18650 batteries - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2017, 04:28:11 pm
content: I want to buy Panasonic, LG, or other branded 18650 batteries, but reading the comments on Amazon it seems some/many are cheap fakes that have no performance whatsoever. With so many "generic" 18650s out there, how can I find the real, genuine branded ones?

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2017, 04:35:19 pm
content: Trynkon.nl. Never had an issue there. If you're not in the EU, be sure to use theinternational site.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2017, 04:49:40 pm
content: And get a proper and decent charger that can analyze the cell, then you will know for sure.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2017, 01:17:58 am
content: Since you are in England, I am not sure my USA purchase experience apply to you.I have 6 purchased 18650's to supplement my "recycled" laptop batteries. The 6 purchases were 6-12 months ago.At both FastTech and Gearbest, I got 18650's that meet their advertised capacity. I know FastTech do internal testing since their selling page often lists FastTech's own tested capacity along with the manufacturer's (re-packagers') claimed capacity. I have good experience from Gearbest also, but I don't know if they do internal test or not.

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2017, 04:11:56 pm
content: Are there any recommended brands?I've noticed when looking at sites which sell 18650s there tends to be a variety of brands, like Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, at varying prices. All the laptop batteries I have use Panasonic.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2017, 07:22:56 pm
content: There are some brands which are genuine and crap, some which are fakes, and some which are genuine and good. One of the best place to find the real good brands is the vapers forums. To save you trouble some of the brands are: Efest, Basen, AWT. On top of course of the Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Sony.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2017, 07:25:34 pm
content: Quote from: steve30 on April 06, 2017, 04:11:56 pmQuote from: akis on April 06, 2017, 07:22:56 pmDon't forget NCR.I personally like NCR and Sony but this is mere personal experience from a very limited pool of samples.Some Samsung cells at FastTech are the 4.35V (charge termination) variety. I avoid those because all my charging solutions are 4.2V based.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2017, 12:09:39 pm
content: NCR? That's just one of the models of Panasonic...

author: PointyOintment
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2017, 07:22:31 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 06, 2017, 07:25:34 pmAren't they the same, the only difference being how far you charge them (and how long they last)?

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2017, 09:14:41 am
content: Quote from: PointyOintment on April 11, 2017, 07:22:31 amSure, but if you use a 4.2V charger with a 4.35V battery, you don't get a full charge.... and if you get it the other way around, you may have bigger issues.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2017, 09:23:06 am
content: Quote from: ovnr on April 11, 2017, 09:14:41 am+1 , and if you going to use a 4.35V rated battery to be charged at 4.2V with the purpose of longer life.Why not use common 4.2V ones, probably with even bigger capacity than the 4.35V, and also probably better too as 4.35V version don't have too many variants to choose from.Just as simple mod on the existing charger to lower the charge voltage to get the same long lasting cell purpose and with larger capacity.