Buying batteries - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 12:23:41 am
content: Anyone got recommendations on where to get batteries (LiPo's really) in smallish quantity?I was using hobbyking and liked their range/price, but even for small projects I've been bitten a few times by their logistics system being setup for hobbies.I'll design something in that's in stock, then go to order (or maybe make another small batch a couple of months later) and it'll be out of stock in the AUS warehouse. Then you have to backorder and sometime (of which they wont even give you a clue no matter how hard you ask) in the next 1 to 6 months they'll fill your order, if they feel like it, maybe. My last order for 40x batteries took them 4 months to fill, despite them having plenty of stock in every other warehouse in the world.So basically I'm after something like hobbyking that can actually deliver.

author: trophosphere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 01:16:46 am
content: I have had reasonable luck withAll-Battery.

author: Hobgoblin612
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 01:41:23 am
content: Also givehttp://www.master-instruments.com.aua try.

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 04:36:36 am
content: Thanks I'll give them a try.

author: mark03
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 05:10:19 pm
content: I've been happy withhttp://www.batteryspace.com/Their web site is a bit scattered but things are mostly well categorized. I like that most of the Li-Poly cells come with protection PCBs included, unlike the RC hobby-market batteries.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 05:19:15 pm
content: Farnell / Newark stocks batteries made by BAK :https://goo.gl/TgGlCBThey have reasonable prices if you buy quantity.Plenty of batteries made by this company on eBay and considering even my Sandisk Sansa Clip player uses a BAK made battery, I suppose they should be fine.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 10:04:08 pm
content: I recommend batteryspace.com as well.One thing I've found is that it can be somewhat difficult to find a distributor that will sell youlegitimate, name brand cellswithout trying to sneak in a Chinese knockoff under the radar. You need to be very careful about that, not only can the capacity be off, but the protection circuit can be either badly designed, under-performing, or completely nonexistent, which can be dangerous. Amazon/eBay are both horrible about this.

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2017, 11:35:18 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on February 10, 2017, 05:19:15 pmProblem is they are literally x10 the price of hobby king etc. >$30AUD for a 1350mAh 1S cell is just too much to swallow. The only price break is ~$1 off at qty 10.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2017, 01:03:10 am
content: I agree, that's why I said prices are "reasonable", not great.I find myself ordering more often from another European company, TME.eu , which stocks some brands that Farnell or Digikey or Mouser don't stock.They have better prices, for example a 1350mAh flat battery is 8.5$ each, or around 6$ if you buy 100.Here's a link :http://www.tme.eu/en/katalog/rechargeable-batteries/144ff8478f8285ab3be31652ea3b7025.html

author: Audioguru
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2017, 05:08:23 am
content: Some Hobby King batteries areverypoor quality, their low cost shows it. Some batteries work not too bad and others don't work at all.I buy Eflite and Thunder Power LiPo batteries from my local hobby store.