Where to buy 18650 batteries?

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neb

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#2730877 18-Jun-2021 21:47

Oblivian:
For Vapes?

Vape shops do bulk lots. Or PBtech do individuals.

Just be aware that vape-use ones are high-current unprotected cells which you definitely don't want to put in a torch or similar gear.

neb

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#2730880 18-Jun-2021 21:52

Gordy7:
What about aliexpress?

Risky unless you know a very specific seller who ships legit cells. When they arrive they'll be packed inside some dummy device so they count as batteries-included equipment (permitted) rather than raw cells (not permitted).

There's a guy on TM who tests the cells he sells and posts ratings, or at least used to be, haven't looked for awhile, so you can trust those ones.

Oblivian

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#2730894 18-Jun-2021 23:23

neb:Just be aware that vape-use ones are high-current unprotected cells which you definitely don't want to put in a torch or similar gear.

I'm open to be schooled. Why would that be?

Like. An electric device requests/draws current, the supply doesn't automatically 'send' it down a fat pipe right? These seem to have a higher max burst draw than standard ones. Which is understandable when it's needed to heat up an element for bursts. I could sure see it being bad putting a low max current one in a vape?

It's a IMR 3.6V ~20A constant, 30A burst 2500mAh. And as far as I'm aware a LED would struggle to draw 10A continual?. The XP-L V6 that are in mine are apparently 2A nominal.

And seems when it does get to about 3v in the cell the driver goes into half brightness as you turn it on on startup to go 'oi, I'm gettin kinda flat here', another quick press makes it go full beam again but it's annoying enough to be an indicator.

Compared to the cells out of a drill I've been swapping them out with which are 3.7v 1400mAh and 25A max.

I don't use em for an hour on end. Quick 'crud I've lost something in the abyss...err car again' or out with the camera.

djtOtago

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#2730907 19-Jun-2021 09:00

Most torchs don't have protection circuits built in, so they could drain an unprotected battery to the point the battery is destroyed.

neb

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#2731087 19-Jun-2021 14:29

Oblivian:
I'm open to be schooled. Why would that be?

Because what you're carrying is an incendiary grenade. Google "lithium battery fire", this is why virtually no commercial carrier will accept them for transport and they have to be shipped as dangerous goods. A torch is a set of conducting surfaces intended to route the current through an LED emitter, but that worst-case may bypass the load, resulting in your battery changing from "battery" functionality to "incendiary grenade" functionality.

They can also over-discharge the battery, resulting in a similar dangerous situation later when you try and recharge it. Vapes have a lot of battery protection circuitry built into them, everything else doesn't and the assumption is you use protected cells.

For more on this, google "unprotected 18650" or similar...

Oblivian

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#2731098 19-Jun-2021 15:42

I'm aware what can happen to them when they go bad. Infact almost any cell when you drive them outside their norm.

But was somewhat taken back by being broadly told use in a torch is all but stupid. When the multiple bike forums etc weren't as clear cut.

Be interested to know why the OP was after some. Presumably chances are the reason most people buy them off the shelf or enquire in threads like these is for high demand use like torch drivers, repacking cheap electronics which are costly to replace packs and probably skip on the protections too.

Like, have heard of vapes blowing up even with those added protections than a torch or bike light packs they're widely used in. (which suck because the cells are parallel and don't charge evenly so run risk)
Sure it could be a number in use thing. But as far as I knew In the case of an LED module like the one this is advertised as using. Only work between 3-9 volts, (so somewhat of a discharge cutoff) and module likely consisted of current driver with multi-modes (click of power button) indicates it's likely got something in between to look out for flows vs shorting? - Not talking an incandescent.

But higher risk of circuit failure leading to direct current loop would have sufficed than being that direct.. multiple times.

I'll have to look deeper. As as far as I know they ship with unprotected and didn't stipulate/warn against particular cells.
If I didn't consider it after some shopping around and reading, I doubt the people walking into jaycar or vape shops looking for cells like this for not vapes would either.

Gordy7

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#2731165 19-Jun-2021 18:28

18650 does not describe the battery chemistry..... Available 18650 battery chemistries:

LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) – Least Volatile.
LMO (lithium-manganese-oxide)
NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt)
NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum)
LCO (lithium-cobalt-oxide) LiPo – Most Volatile.

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Oblivian

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#2731184 19-Jun-2021 18:55

Gordy7:

18650 does not describe the battery chemistry..... Available 18650 battery chemistries:

LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) – Least Volatile.
LMO (lithium-manganese-oxide)
NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt)
NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum)
LCO (lithium-cobalt-oxide) LiPo – Most Volatile.

Naturally - it's the size of em, like a C/D size is known. In the case of my Nitecore. LiMN. So presumably 2nd there.

neb

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#2731227 19-Jun-2021 21:57

Gordy7:
18650 does not describe the battery chemistry..... Available 18650 battery chemistries:

Well, yeah, but when you say "18650" you mean generic ICR/IMR or equivalent. If it's something like LiFePO4 then it's explicitly named as such, not "18650".

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