Evening folks,
Nights are getting darker now so I’ve dug out the lights. I’d like to replace a couple of 18650 batteries that are getting a little old now and don’t hold as much charge as they used too. Apparently they’re 2500mah.
Any reputable brands out there that do these side batteries? The bigger the mah capacity the better.
Cheers
Might be worth checking Torchy the Battery Boy and mtb batteries. Both reputable uk businesses that have good reputations for supplying decent quality batteries.
Panasonic, Xtar or Senybor - Torchy seems to use these. I've seen Xtar sold from UK companies - you don't want to be importing them, and, as Torchy says, avoid anything with 'fire' in the name.
I have some panasonics and Senybor's - been reliable last 3 years in the 'Pannovo' battery boxes.
THat's a lot of batteries.
Cheers guys I’ll take a look
Play safe, buy from torchy. Too many forgeries out there.
I got mine off Amazon, cant remember if it was Amazon or another shop but it wasn't an imported fake crap from china type shop. You can even get them at RS and CPC/farnell.
Panasonic do the best ones if you need big currents* but the samsung cells were much better value if powereing something like a solar storm.
*2A+ from a cell, i.e. ~3000lumen lights on a 2s2p 7.4V battery. Worth noting that that's more than the contacts in the solarstorm type boxes are rated for.
I scavenge them from dead laptop batteries.
Usually when the pack dies its just one cell gone bad, the rest are good.
Normally decent brand high capacity cells in laptops too.
I use an older version of this. https://www.7dayshop.com/products/samsung-25r-2500-mah-3-7v-18650-high-drain-rechargeable-battery-twin-pack-with-safety-case-dmmodbatsamblu25rx2
Laptop batteries for me too. My friendly IT engineer at work keeps me supplied with batteries out of our Dell computers.
these capacity testers from the bay give you an idea of how the battery is fairing.
113164887435
FWIW my Torchy battery was dead when I came to try and charge it, and as it was only used for one winter I'm not impressed - have had better lifespan out of cheap Chinese ones. Its' probably my own fault for not charging it regularly, but I've not charged either since the spring and it's the Torchy one that hasn't took a charge, not the (older) Chinese one. Will try MTB batteries next time.
FWIW my Torchy battery was dead when I came to try and charge it, and as it was only used for one winter I’m not impressed – have had better lifespan out of cheap Chinese ones. Its’ probably my own fault for not charging it regularly, but I’ve not charged either since the spring and it’s the Torchy one that hasn’t took a charge, not the (older) Chinese one. Will try MTB batteries next time.
To be fair I've had exactly that with MTB batteries.
It'll just be one cell thats so low the basic chargers can't wake it up. If you're feeling brave you can disassemble them and charge the cells individually.
I do wonder why the more trusted 'brands' don't make balancing battery packs, it's a more expensive charger, but still only ~£15 or so and would make them last a lot longer.
It’ll just be one cell thats so low the basic chargers can’t wake it up. If you’re feeling brave you can disassemble them and charge the cells individually.
Just be careful. Just seen on the German news that someone blew them selves up (deaded) trying to charge 2 Li ion batteries using an alkaline battery charger!
Have you emailed torchy about it? Before you complain, give him a chance yo sort it, you never know.
Search for Trailscorcher on Facebook and send a message. I do pukka LG 3500s in a 4 cell pack, all balanced, protected and with an extra fuse in case all else fails.
To be honest, after a year and a bit (one winters' riding, then summer where I've not needed it) I'd feel a bit cheeky complaining it didn't work any more!
I scavenge them from dead laptop batteries.
wzzz, I'm guessing I google and find a couple of hundred how to vids on youtube, but how do you go about doing this? I've got another laptop battery going lame on me, but I've still got the previous one. It'd be a result if I could combine the good cells from both into one battery.
guessing you need some kit for charging and checking the cells individually?
Ta.
The oldest 18650 I've got is a Trustfire. Still going strong after about 5 years and hasn't burnt the house down yet. I've had various ones from Torchy, the last ones seemed to have been modified with a protection circuit and as a result were longer and fatter than normal so were hard to fit into the charger and torch.
I just ordered a couple of packs of the 7DayShop ones above.