I was sent photos of wraps allegedly used by a Chinese battery company to create counterfeit LG HG2's using HE2's, HE4's, and MG1's. I am trying to confirm the authenticity of this report but just the existence of these wraps means there could be counterfeits using them.
The wraps can be identified by the second line of printing, i.e., the date/batch codes, "P148E272AG".
Using the BatteryBro date code lookup tool (18650 Date Code Lookup Tool) shows the date code as valid for May 2016. The date/batch codes may be a copy of an authentic date/code so if you have an HG2 with this code it does not mean it's a fake. Just that it could be.
Here are some ways to determine if any of your HG2's are fake, not just the ones with these codes:
- If the white top ring insulator is self-adhesive then it's a fake. Every genuine LG battery uses a free-floating insulator.
- If the white top ring insulator is semi-gloss/shiny then it's a fake. Every genuine LG HG2 battery uses a matte/textured insulator ring.
- A matte/textured ring does NOT guarantee that your battery is genuine! The counterfeiters may have started using these, I don't know.
- The MG1, HE2, and HE4 are all almost identical in appearance to the HG2 so trying to authenticate by the appearance of the bare battery won't work.
If you aren't able to use any of the above methods to determine the authenticity of your HG2's then try vaping with them, carefully, at 40W EACH or higher. The MG1 version of the fakes will perform terribly at this power level. The HE2/4 versions will deliver about 15% less vaping time and will be tougher to sort from the fakes but careful testing can do so.
If you have any HG2's with this date/batch code please let me know if they were genuine or not. If you have any fakes using this date/batch code please PM me the vendor's name. Your name will be kept confidential if I speak to the vendor.
Vendors, if you have any fake HG2's with this date/batch code please PM me with the name of the distributor you purchased them from. Your name will be kept confidential.
Please don't send me pictures of your HG2's and ask me to authenticate them. I can't see the top insulating rings nearly as well as you can and I won't be able to tell you if they are fake or not.
Thank you!
Mooch
The wraps can be identified by the second line of printing, i.e., the date/batch codes, "P148E272AG".
Using the BatteryBro date code lookup tool (18650 Date Code Lookup Tool) shows the date code as valid for May 2016. The date/batch codes may be a copy of an authentic date/code so if you have an HG2 with this code it does not mean it's a fake. Just that it could be.
Here are some ways to determine if any of your HG2's are fake, not just the ones with these codes:
- If the white top ring insulator is self-adhesive then it's a fake. Every genuine LG battery uses a free-floating insulator.
- If the white top ring insulator is semi-gloss/shiny then it's a fake. Every genuine LG HG2 battery uses a matte/textured insulator ring.
- A matte/textured ring does NOT guarantee that your battery is genuine! The counterfeiters may have started using these, I don't know.
- The MG1, HE2, and HE4 are all almost identical in appearance to the HG2 so trying to authenticate by the appearance of the bare battery won't work.
If you aren't able to use any of the above methods to determine the authenticity of your HG2's then try vaping with them, carefully, at 40W EACH or higher. The MG1 version of the fakes will perform terribly at this power level. The HE2/4 versions will deliver about 15% less vaping time and will be tougher to sort from the fakes but careful testing can do so.
If you have any HG2's with this date/batch code please let me know if they were genuine or not. If you have any fakes using this date/batch code please PM me the vendor's name. Your name will be kept confidential if I speak to the vendor.
Vendors, if you have any fake HG2's with this date/batch code please PM me with the name of the distributor you purchased them from. Your name will be kept confidential.
Please don't send me pictures of your HG2's and ask me to authenticate them. I can't see the top insulating rings nearly as well as you can and I won't be able to tell you if they are fake or not.
Thank you!
Mooch
