@gadgetman
Are these a good buy or are there better options out there ?
UltraFire 5800 Mah 18650 Batteries+Hard Carry Case | Trade Me
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@gadgetman
Are these a good buy or are there better options out there ?
UltraFire 5800 Mah 18650 Batteries+Hard Carry Case | Trade Me
They are rubbish. Anything that claims to be above around the 3500mAh region is generally fake like these. They are using the Trustfire flames with Utrafire brand name.
Panasonics are excellent and these Trustfire cells are pretty good (what I use). Prices are steep here but at least you can normally get them. From DX they have cost me about NZ$12.50 a pair at my door in the past.
TrustFire 18650 3000mAh PROTECTED Battery x2 | Trade Me
Excellent. Thankyou
I had a feeling the claims on MaH were going to be in the same category as some of the light output claims that are common.
I have six set of those here gadgetmen and they work well
How many do you want pengy I can give you some for free if you need them, brand new never used
Are they really that good that you want to give them away :slow:
Panasonics here. @mudgripz will likely know if these are genuine.
2 Panasonic 3400mAh 18650 batteries | Trade Me
Wrong application of logic pengy :)
I bought heaps of them for my big torch but they are really good and I only need four of them and I have twelve.
My extended hand contains them if your interested
PM incoming
Does anyone sell them retail ? Ie dick smith etc . My two million lumen head Lamps have arrived from China . I don't have the patience to wait 4 days for battery's to be posted
Good barstard!!! :thumbsup:
And if you can wait a few weeks Pengy you can get them in person ;)
Yep, GB for sure. All sorted. :)
With regard to buying batts if you're starting out get a few off trademe to get yourself going. Good batts = panasonic, orbtronic, sanyo, samsung, xtar, nitecore - NOT NOT NOT ultrafire which is crap). Buy 2600+ mAh, though 3000+mAh work best in XML grunters like the Maxtochs for best runtime.
Then contact Terry at Maxtoch (Amanda's helper - she's off at mo having just had a babe) and cost out a batch of Maxtoch 3100 batts by surface shipping. Maxtoch 3100s are relabelled panasonic 3100s and very good. Group buys and bigger orders = better price per batt. Ask also for the slimmer wrapper 3100s to fit all past and present Maxtoch torches as lots of guys here run the earlier model SN/2S etc and they are all very good. Maxtoch should prove more reliable than FastTech - though they also have been good in the past. And stay well under the $400 total Customs limit (this includes freight costs) for the package as NZ dollar fluctuating alot lately.
Email: amanda@maxtoch.cn This gets to Terry also at present. So if you want some good Maxtoch batts, join with few others and email Terry for a bulk price. Then see how that breaks down per batt - if its viable or not. Delivery time by ship is about 25-40 days? Am also checking with a USA supplier to see if we can get them here cheaper than trademe.
Note: if you're getting ready as we are for bunny shooting season keep an eye on your old batts/trustfires. Quite alot seem to die around 2-4 years, and this can make you think its yr torch malfunctioning - giving poor runtimes, switch problems etc. We've had 3-4 older trustfires let go lately giving 'torch fail' symptoms. So check your batts well - with a voltmeter if necessary. If your torch stops working properly, swap in other cells. If still a problem try a different charger as cheap chargers can have a slot die too. Trustfires 3000s = genuine 2550-2650 mAh - good for the buck, but not as good as panasonic for runtime or reliabiity. Panasonic 3100 and 3400 best I know of.
Here's a thread on ultrafire fakes: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/27603 The 5800mAh ones sell for $5US ex China.
I think we should make a thread in the bulk buy section to see how many people are keen for a bulk buy from Maxtoch?
Might be quite popular
keen for a bulk buy
I would be in for some.
Who has time to sort a bulk buy out if there is enough interest? I'm at school and have exams coming up that I need to revise for :p
Ok - an answer back from Richard at Mountain Electronics USA re 18650 batteries.
He says he has freighted units of 8 x 18650 batts out this way without problems and notes the following cost for 8 panasonic 3400 protected buttontops:
"When buying 8 batteries, the price per battery goes down to $9.15/cell (Panasonic NCR18650B Protected 3400mAh), making the price $73.20. Plus shipping costs of $18.20 for a total of $91.40. If that is something you would like to do, let me know and I will send you a paypal invoice."
This is $91.40US for 8 pana 3400s, or about $114NZ, or about $14.30 each = $28.60 for two. By comparison trademe is $34.95 for two plus $5 post = $39.95 a pair. So the mtnelctronics price 25% better. If anyone is interested email Richard/Lisa there and quote the above price to Mike in NZ. I guess $114 for 8 pana 3400s (the best batt) not too bad as they will last for many years.
If buying from Maxtoch someone has to organise a group buy of 30 to make it worthwhile. 30 Maxtoch (panasonic) 3100s x $6.50US each = $195US + maybe $80US freight = $275US. This means about $350NZ or about $23 a pair shipped. Bit cheaper than mtnelectronics in US but the hassle of a group buy.
If buying for just myself and planning to use 18650 lights for few years I'd be talking to Richard/Lisa at mtn.
Very useful info Mike!
I am keen on 4 sets if this goes ahead please, can anyone recommend a good 2 channel charger in NZ?
Edit: Doh just saw page 2...
Are the Nitecore chargers on TM ok? How would you spot a fake?
Nitecore good though I'm still using old trustfire chargers from DX and they are doing well.
Sparky here's the Mountain electronics link to bring in batts ex USA.. The lady to contact is Lisa:
Maxtoch M24 Sniper - XM-L2 U2 LED Flashlight - 2 x 18650
I just ordered the MAXTOCH M24 Sniper light and 2x Panasonic 18650 batteries from Mountain Electronics here in Seattle.
One thing to note is that the batteries are assembled in China by www.evva-tech.com
They may (or may not) include cells made by Panasonic in Japan.
Interesting to note that other "Panasonic" batteries advertised on TRADEME do not show the label so you are looking at the same dilemma.
I'll charge them and compare them with 2x Tenergy 18650's in the MAXTOCH light
Attachment 30459
THE FINE PRINT !
Not all Lithium batteries are created equal. These are top quality cells from Panasonic in Japan and are currently the highest genuine capacity 18650 class battery on the market.
I think ask this question of Richard at Mountain Electronics. He is a very knowledgeable guy, has good reputation, and only stocks the good lights/gear etc. He can test them for runtime in an M24 easy enough.
Last night tested the Maxtoch branded pana 3100s and they performed exactly same as green panasonics.
Sometimes 18650s need to be charged, run and recharged few times before they give best results - unsure why.
know nothing about batteries, so what is the go to aaa battery equivalent . thanks
There is no comparison between Lithium ion and typical AAA.