18650 batteries - best torch? Best batteries?

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Time for some boat pressies :)

So after a new torch taking 18650 batteries and a load of batteries.

18650 Batteries are bit of minefield with some many fakes on the market - so rather ( or in addition to ..) than spend half a day on google can anyone recommend a good ebay source for protected 18650 batteries?


ACR seem to be worth a look, and weight seems a good pointer to fake or not >>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIMMYJ97BjM

And a nice torch :)

TIA
 
look for T 38 > 67 & only use Panasonic batteries ( any ebay offering with REDFIRE in the name avoid as fire is what it means ) also the only safe charger is the Nitecore I2 - 2017 Model - Intelligent 18650 26650 18350 Vape Battery Charger
 
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Martin_J said:
Apologies.. Just checked my emails and I bought my Fenix TKxx torches and batteries from Torch Direct

https://www.torchdirect.co.uk/fenix-professional-torches.html
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Ohh yeah, torch porn. :cool: This must be one of the few forums where you can freely admit to get a little more excited about a really nice torch than might be expected :)

Seem to be a few sellers on ebay with capacity tested used 18650 batteries which might be worth a punt.
 
GHA said:
Ohh yeah, torch porn. :cool: This must be one of the few forums where you can freely admit to get a little more excited about a really nice torch than might be expected :)

Seem to be a few sellers on ebay with capacity tested used 18650 batteries which might be worth a punt.
Click to expand...

see post 3
Panasonic are the only really safe battery, most with "fire" in the name are ( we have made the battery-what label do you want on it ) & the chargers in the deal are rubbish too, Nitecore are best
 
sailorman said:
see post 3
Panasonic are the only really safe battery, most with "fire" in the name are ( we have made the battery-what label do you want on it ) & the chargers in the deal are rubbish too, Nitecore are best
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How do you know panasonic are the only safe 18650?

Sounds BS, must millions of laptops around the world powered by other manufacturers , good chance your laptop has samsung 18650 batteries in it.
 
GHA said:
How do you know panasonic are the only safe 18650?

Sounds BS, must millions of laptops around the world powered by other manufacturers , good chance your laptop has samsung 18650 batteries in it.
Click to expand...

I shoot with NV & have advise from knowledgeable & very experienced forumites who make their own equipment.
I only commented on the 18650 battery of which ebay is swamped with them mainly Ultrafire, they make > to 9800 mAh 3.7v & they last no longer than the Panasonic 3400mAh 3.7v,
 
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How do you know panasonic are the only safe 18650?

sailorman said:
I shoot with NV & have advise from knowledgeable & very experienced forumites who make their own equipment.,
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Possible you might have been told less than the exact truth, nothing in google to suggest panasonic are the only manufacturers of safe 18650, Sony, Samsung & LG seem to feature highly.
 
GHA said:
How do you know panasonic are the only safe 18650?



Possible you might have been told less than the exact truth, nothing in google to suggest panasonic are the only manufacturers of safe 18650, Sony, Samsung & LG seem to feature highly.
Click to expand...

I am not bothered, what you may think, i am offering advice from folk who know even more than you or me
Dont forget Ultrafire do what they say
 
sailorman said:
I am not bothered, what you may think, i am offering advice from folk who know even more than you or me
Dont forget Ultrafire do what they say
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So you stand by "panasonic are the only safe 18650? ".
(What's ultrafire got to do with it?) For others who might come by this thread, almost certain he's talking complete rubbish :rolleyes:
 
GHA said:
So you stand by "panasonic are the only safe 18650? ".
(What's ultrafire got to do with it?) For others who might come by this thread, almost certain he's talking complete rubbish :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Ultrafire are widely advertised on ebay, you make up your own mind as what to buy as are the unregulated chargers that come with them. Good lick with your purchase
 
It looks like you have been given good advice freely,in post 9. from someone who uses those rechargeable batteries & that Nitecore charger. Sm did not say Ultrafire & Panasonic were the same batteries, or perhaps i misread the post
 
I have a lot of Ultrafire 18650 and have no concern re fire while charging. They do however make wild claims about capacity. Generally something like 10% of what is claimed. However they are cheap and for me quite OK in a torch.
I have bought 18650 flash lights for around 3 squid. Very bright and I love them. Avoid the ones claiming multiple modes. I prefer just one mode. (on). At the price you cna buy multiple torches so always have one to hand. Likewise the batteries available for replacement if they go flat.
However for all that I also have bought 14500 batteries and flashlights. They seem to me to be just a bright as 18650. Perhaps don't operate for as long on a charge but 14500 batteries don't come with such a terrible reputation. The torch is so tiny easily carried in pocket and water proof. (at least to some degree) Try ebay 14500 flashlight. look for a type that takes AA battery as well as 14500. Good for emergency less slight on AA but might just save the day. So cheap buy a hand full to stash away . ol'will. (I seem to have become a torch addict they are so good and so cheap)
I also bought very cheap a 14500 headlight with a band to strap on forehead. Just love it. ol'will
 
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Note:

There are two standards of this battery. One style has a protruding positive button and are slightly longer, maybe 3 or 4 mm than the other style which has an almost flush button.

The first option, which includes Nitecore, are the only ones that fit my torch!

How can this be such an emotive subject??

Tony
 
William_H said:
I have a lot of Ultrafire 18650 and have no concern re fire while charging. They do however make wild claims about capacity. Generally something like 10% of what is claimed. However they are cheap and for me quite OK in a torch.
I have bought 18650 flash lights for around 3 squid. Very bright and I love them. Avoid the ones claiming multiple modes. I prefer just one mode. (on). At the price you cna buy multiple torches so always have one to hand. Likewise the batteries available for replacement if they go flat.
However for all that I also have bought 14500 batteries and flashlights. They seem to me to be just a bright as 18650. Perhaps don't operate for as long on a charge but 14500 batteries don't come with such a terrible reputation. The torch is so tiny easily carried in pocket and water proof. (at least to some degree) Try ebay 14500 flashlight. look for a type that takes AA battery as well as 14500. Good for emergency less slight on AA but might just save the day. So cheap buy a hand full to stash away . ol'will. (I seem to have become a torch addict they are so good and so cheap)
I also bought very cheap a 14500 headlight with a band to strap on forehead. Just love it. ol'will
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You have fake ultrafire by the sounds of it, the company seems to have a good reputation, maybe why so many fakes use that name. After a while on google ;) there do seem to be a few pointers to fakes - if it's too cheap to be true it's not, large capacity figures - many "ultrafires" on ebay with capacity figures which the real company don't even make and weight if specified on the listing - below 40g it's likely a fake. https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-know-a-fake-18650-battery/

What weight are yours?

Intereting published paper here, with fake ultrafires, though cost per capacity is still pretty good for the fakes even with drastically less capacity than the published figures >

http://www.juliandehoog.com/publications/2015_JES_18650testing.pdf

I'm thinking maybe the capacity tested used ones on ebay could be the way to go , still cheaper per mAH than the fake ones. No protection circuitry but that should't be a problem with a decent charger and don't discharge all the way.
 
Well 10 on the way, 6 @ ~1400mAh for 2 quid/3.80 post, 4 @ ~1200mAh for 1.20/3.20 post.

Looks like could well be genuine with the figures if they are real - all the fakes seem to have wacky data. We'll see, should be down here in a week or so. Suppose I'll have to make a capacity tester now to check :)
Weight seems as good a check as any, all the ones I have at the moment are 35g or less, fakes all round :rolleyes:



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Just to add my two penneth worth to this torch/battery debate. I've been using (up until a few months ago) 18650 batteries in my day to day vape ecig. Have been buying those batteries for years. I understand the wariness of the cheap chinese ones, but I have bought the cheapest I could find and all the ones mentioned above. Never had a problem with any of them - eventually all batteries degrade, but I was still left with 30 ish when I changed my ecig. Gave a load away, and to get some use of the ones left bought a couple of these recently https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2PCS-20000LM-X800-SHADOWHAWK-XML-L2-LED-Police-Tactical-Military-Flashlight/391855937702?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Seem really well made and a very strong light! :)
 
Update - result! By the looks of it, haven't done a capacity test yet but a couple in a big headtorch have been running since this morning. Mixture of Panasonic, Samsung & Sony. (Panasonic are NOT the only safe 18650's )

All weigh in at about 43g so unlikely to be fakes. Couple of datasheets showed 1800mAh & 2000mAh capacity - most are labeled as round 1300/1400mAh - so about 20Ah of 18650 for £3.20 plus post. :cool:
 
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