Free out of old laptop?

Edit: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/09/18650-things-to-do-with-an-old-laptop-battery/

If you had a load of batteries from old laptops how would you find out of they were protected?

Its one of my riding buddies that uses them here is what he posted on different tread:

I went down the ‘cheap torches’ route – which is an inexpensice way to start, and a very flexible approach when you want to upgrade.

You need 18650 cells – but as I have access to old laptops they are ‘free’. I have a £5 charger from Dealextreme, which I run with an old clockwork timer ‘just in case’… and various mounts for bars and lid are about £1.50 each…

At the moment my basic set up is a C8 XML-U3 on my bars (£16) and 2 x 501b XML-T6 torches (£8.50 each) – one on my lid and one on the bars.

I run the C8 and my lid on MED which gives a decent light for 3 hours, and use the other bar light on FULL when I want a boost. If starting new I’d go for 2 x XML-U3s as the C* XML-U3 kicks out about 800 lumens on full so is plenty bright, and another 501b XML-U3 just as they are brighter… though the MID mode driver current is one of the more important settings and you have no idea what that will be. For extended runtimes all you need is a couple of spare cells in your pack… sorted!

Best of all an ‘upgrade’ to the latest LED is around £10-20… maybe I’ll try an XML2 next!

Posted 3 months ago # Report-Post

have you looked at torchy the battery boy on eBay. some panasonics on there
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_ipg=50&_sop=1&_osacat=0&_ssn=big_f_d_d&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.X18650&_nkw=18650&_sacat=0&_from=R40

I’ve bought cheap 18650s from Chinese suppliers. They were OK, no complaints for the price.

I’ve also bought Torchy’s own-brand 18650s which were more expensive but noticeably better.

If you’re in a rush, I’d go with Torchy

I got two 18650’s from torchy…have never had them show any issues after 90mins at the full bhuna.

E-Cigs use em…
Might be worth a look..

Ok. So we’re straight, you’re eschewing a uk supplier used by many on here (who is upfront and explains about how his products are rebranded) in favour of a Chinese source that sell counterfeits of all sorts of products. Good luck!

I’ve had a few from Ecolux on eBay. I haven’t checked how their prices compare with importing direct, but they’re genuine batteries with quick delivery.
I’ve had Samsung 2800s and Panasonic protected 3400s from them.

I got some NCR18650B 3400mah jobs from this guy

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161168056647

edit..
looks like those above are cheaper though

p8ddy I appreciate your warning but I think DX will be safer & more likely to be reasonable to deal with, than some ebay seller with interesting feedback.

One what basis? I’ve already demonstrated that DX sell counterfeit items. Look at some of their feedback on other items too – so the idea they’re safer is simply without basis. They are no safer than an ebay seller. And you’ll have less comeback with DX than a UK seller, for example.

And reasonable to deal with? Again if you mean ‘If something goes wrong I can return it’? That you can, but you’ll find the postage costs to China are so expensive it’s cheaper to simply bin the item and buy something else.

It’s up to you what you buy – no skin off my nose if you burn your house down, but just be aware of the risks. DX sell *counterfeit* items. There’s no discussion around that. But you’ll discount UK selling in case what they’re selling might be fake?

Good luck with your search anyway!

This

I use reclaimed laptop cells… I’d say about 75% are keepers, with the odd one being ‘dead’ and getting damaged by my less-than-subtle attempts to get them out.

The cells are all unprotected, but they are of good quality – I can’t say what capacity they have as I don’t have the kit to measure them, but they charge up to 4.15v, they hold their charge, and they give decent run times. It would be interesting to have a ‘known’ quality cell to compare them to… maybe I’ll buy one at some point, but a decent cell costs more than a new light!

I now have a C8 XML-U3 and 2 x 501b XM-L2s… that’s just over £30 at today’s prices.

Just a warning to anyone thinking of using reclaimed laptop cells or any cheap cells, never ever use them in multi-cell set ups, as you increase the risk (very likely) of a nice wee or big explosion.
They’ll be fine in single cell flashlights etc…
The iMax B6 is a nice wee charger that will tell you how good the cells are you have and if they’re compatible with others.

DX are okay for battery’s, but they do regularly get given fakes from their suppliers.
I got some 2600mAh battery’s from Torchy a while back, and they were as advertised.