Thread: 18650 batteries and charger.

Probably done to death but these things do advance pretty quickly.
Anyone have recommendations for the above batteries and charger?
I am thinking cost vs performance. ie value for money.
They will only be used in one device (a head torch so far) and only using one at a time.
I see there are a heap on trade me but don't know anything about them.

What is the UltraFire stuff like?

Not sure about chargers but be very careful that you buy the original batterys

there are heaps of cheap copies floating around and there have been several e-cigs that have been damaged buy them

Originally Posted by 199p

Not sure about chargers but be very careful that you buy the original batterys

there are heaps of cheap copies floating around and there have been several e-cigs that have been damaged buy them

Ok @199p. Thanks.
What is a e-cig?
How do I know what is a copy?
Any brand/model recommendations?

Originally Posted by Shearer

Ok @199p. Thanks.
What is a e-cig?
How do I know what is a copy?
Any brand/model recommendations?

Ultrafire is normally rubbish. Have seen some with amazingly low capacities. The ones to go for, that I've found good, are Panasonic, Samsung and Trustfire 'flame'.

I've been ripping apart old laptop battery packs (very carefully) that mostly seem to have Samsung or LG batteries and use those in my headlamps. Most of the packs die when the circuit board in them goes belly up and stops charging cells. At some stage I'll set up a small spot welder using a starting solenoid and add protection boards to them.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Ultrafire is normally rubbish. Have seen some with amazingly low capacities. The ones to go for, that I've found good, are Panasonic, Samsung and Trustfire 'flame'.

I've been ripping apart old laptop battery packs (very carefully) that mostly seem to have Samsung or LG batteries and use those in my headlamps. Most of the packs die when the circuit board in them goes belly up and stops charging cells. At some stage I'll set up a small spot welder using a starting solenoid and add protection boards to them.

Ok. Thanks @gadgetman.
What about chargers?

Originally Posted by Shearer

Ok. Thanks @gadgetman.
What about chargers?

I like these as they comfortably take the longer protected cells.

Buy TrustFire All-in-One Charger (for 10430/10440/14500/16340 /17670/18650/CR123A)

The Nitecore are probably a better charger but it is a real squeeze to get Panasonic cells into.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Ok @199p. Thanks.
What is a e-cig?
How do I know what is a copy?
Any brand/model recommendations?

E-cigs are a new way to get your nicotine. No smoke just vapor and heaps of flavours like redbull etc

Og samsung and lg seem to be the best bet.

Originally Posted by 199p

E-cigs are a new way to get your nicotine. No smoke just vapor and heaps of flavours like redbull etc

Og samsung and lg seem to be the best bet.

Haha. Ok. I'm not trying to give up smoking so a damaged e-cig isn't really going to be an issue. I thought it might be some electronic technical term I hadn't heard of.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Haha. Ok. I'm not trying to give up smoking so a damaged e-cig isn't really going to be an issue. I thought it might be some electronic technical term I hadn't heard of.

Hahaha only point is the dodgy battery can damage what ever they are in

Does this set look ok?
SAMSUNG HIGH POWER BATTERIES 18650 + CHARGER 1YR W | Trade Me

Originally Posted by Shearer

Does this set look ok?
SAMSUNG HIGH POWER BATTERIES 18650 + CHARGER 1YR W | Trade Me

Na, you need protected cells, and preferably of a known capacity.

If I was in the market for more: 2 x Panasonic 18650 batteries 3400mAH PROTECTED | Trade Me
And a Nitecore i4 charger: I4 Nitecore Intelligent Charger : ORIGINAL ! | Trade Me

Originally Posted by quentin

Na, you need protected cells, and preferably of a known capacity.

If I was in the market for more: 2 x Panasonic 18650 batteries 3400mAH PROTECTED | Trade Me
And a Nitecore i4 charger: I4 Nitecore Intelligent Charger : ORIGINAL ! | Trade Me

Thanks @quentin.
The blurb on the trade me ad says the batteries are 2600mh with PCB (protection circuit board). Is this not the go?

Originally Posted by Shearer

Thanks @quentin.
The blurb on the trade me ad says the batteries are 2600mh with PCB (protection circuit board). Is this not the go?

Whoops, only read the first few lines. (capacity and protected cell both in there if I read the whole lot)
2600mAh is a pretty low capacity nowdays. Try for something around 3200 - 3400mAh. If you see anything above 3400mAh, it is going to be a case of Chinese exaggeration.

Originally Posted by quentin

Whoops, only read the first few lines. (capacity and protected cell both in there if I read the whole lot)
2600mAh is a pretty low capacity nowdays. Try for something around 3200 - 3400mAh. If you see anything above 3400mAh, it is going to be a case of Chinese exaggeration.

Like the ones with 10400mAh!