Little itty bitty mods under $100.

[AndriaD]

AWs are fairly consistent in length and either fits fine. efest I have 2 button tops that are longer than any AW and don't fit at all. The battery goes in top down and the upper contact is a spring loaded pin giving you some flexibility.

Ok, what exactly do you mean "top down"? The positive post goes on the bottom? That's odd! Both of mine are Efests; I just stuck them both in the charger to make sure they were charged, I hadn't used them in so long, and they appear to be of identical length. The button top is one of the red, 2000mAh; the flat top is a black, 2250mAh.

Andria

 

[PaulBHC]

Yep positive to bottom. My long efests are purple so maybe you will be ok.

 

[VapingTurtle]

The button top is one of the red, 2000mAh; the flat top is a black, 2250mAh.

What brand or type are they, Andria?

If they are AW, you don't want to be using the black one in the kbox. If they are off-brands, I'd think twice before using either of them. Good batteries are inexpensive, and bad batteries have the potential of being very expensive to your well-being. Get a pair of the usual suspects: LG HE2, LG HE4, LG HG2, Sammy 25R, Sammy 30Q, Sony VTC4, Sony VTC5.


Mooch's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[Oregon Linda]

What brand or type are they, Andria?

If they are AW, you don't want to be using the black one in the kbox. If they are off-brands, I'd think twice before using either of them. Good batteries are inexpensive, and bad batteries have the potential of being very expensive to your well-being. Get a pair of the usual suspects: LG HE2, LG HE4, LG HG2, Sammy 25R, Sammy 30Q, Sony VTC4, Sony VTC5.


Mooch's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

I've really been impressed with the LG HG2 batteries. They are 3000 mAh, so they last a long time. I love my Sammy 25Rs, too, but the LGs really beat them for vaping time.

 

[AndriaD]

What brand or type are they, Andria?

If they are AW, you don't want to be using the black one in the kbox. If they are off-brands, I'd think twice before using either of them. Good batteries are inexpensive, and bad batteries have the potential of being very expensive to your well-being. Get a pair of the usual suspects: LG HE2, LG HE4, LG HG2, Sammy 25R, Sammy 30Q, Sony VTC4, Sony VTC5.


Mooch's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

They're Efests.

Andria

 

[aldenf]

I've really been impressed with the LG HG2 batteries. They are 3000 mAh, so they last a long time. I love my Sammy 25Rs, too, but the LGs really beat them for vaping time.

I think the choice for 18650s now are the LG HG2 & Samsung 30Q. Both 3000 mAh. HG2 is 20A continuous. 30Q 15A continuous. 30Q is good to 50W; HG2 to 65W.

You will find many heated discussions regarding these batts. Follow the standard guidelines and you're sure to be safe.

 

[VapingTurtle]

My bottom line is do not use either of those batteries. Especially the black one, which is almost certainly an ICR. Buy a pair of high drain IMR batteries as recommended above.


Some very reputable dealers:
illumn.com
rtdvapor.com
orbtronic.com
liionwholesale.com
imrbatteries.com

Note that ebay is not on that list.

 

[aldenf]

My bottom line is do not use either of those batteries. Especially the black one, which is almost certainly an ICR. Buy a pair of high drain IMR batteries as recommended above.


Some very reputable dealers:
illumn.com
rtdvapor.com
orbtronic.com
liionwholesale.com
imrbatteries.com

Note that ebay is not on that list.

Hey, VT! Please share if you know something about the HG2 or 30Q. I have not read anything that suggests they're unsafe or don't match their specs. But I certainly would like to know if there is something as I'm about to make a purchase. Neither is black from their respective manufacturers. The LG is brown; Samsung is lavender.

Orbtronic, my battery vendor of choice, carries both. Orbtronic lists them both as IMRs. But I don't want to get either if suspect. Thanks!

Samsung 30Q 18650 3000mAh IMR High Drain Battery INR1865030Q
LG HG2 $6.99 3000mAh High Drain IMR Battery INR18650HG2

 

[VapingTurtle]

Hey, VT! Please share if you know something about the HG2 or 30Q. I have not read anything that suggests they're unsafe or don't match their specs. But I certainly would like to know if there is something as I'm about to make a purchase. Neither is black from their respective manufacturers. The LG is brown; Samsung is lavender.

Orbtronic, my battery vendor of choice, carries both. Orbtronic lists them both as IMRs. But I don't want to get either if suspect. Thanks!

Samsung 30Q 18650 3000mAh IMR High Drain Battery INR1865030Q
LG HG2 $6.99 3000mAh High Drain IMR Battery INR18650HG2

Sorry, Alden, I should have quoted a post. When I said don't use those batteries I was referring to what Andria has, not the 30Q and HG2 that you recommended. I don't have either of those, but from reading, I gather they are both outstanding choices and what I would buy if I needed any right now.

 

[AndriaD]

Sorry, Alden, I should have quoted a post. When I said don't use those batteries I was referring to what Andria has, not the 30Q and HG2 that you recommended. I don't have either of those, but from reading, I gather they are both outstanding choices and what I would buy if I needed any right now.

There's not a thing wrong with my Efests. I used them last year in my sigelei zmax and my Vamo. True, they're only 5A batteries, but for 1.7Ω at 9w, that's more than sufficient.

Andria

 

[VapingTurtle]

There's not a thing wrong with my Efests.

Yes, there is. Especially if you are going to try to use an unprotected ICR battery. Don't do it.

 

[AndriaD]

Yes, there is. Especially if you are going to try to use an unprotected ICR battery. Don't do it.

Neither of them is an ICR; they're both high-drain IMRs. Pretty sure if there was anything wrong with them, someone would have mentioned it last year when I bought them.

Andria

 

[aldenf]

There's not a thing wrong with my Efests. I used them last year in my sigelei zmax and my Vamo. True, they're only 5A batteries, but for 1.7Ω at 9w, that's more than sufficient.

Andria

There has been much discussion regarding Efest's batteries and the way they spec them. I've never owned one and have no personal experience with them. You should be fine vaping at 10W or less, however. If you have any doubt, consider replacing your old batteries. Good luck!

The best resources on ECF for batteries is Baditude's blog.

Baditude's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

This is his "Battery Basics for Mods; the Ultimate Battery Guide". You can check to see if your batteries are on his "approved list".
(9) Battery Basics for Mods; the Ultimate Battery Guide | E-Cigarette Forum

ECF's Mooch is the resident "battery expert". His blog is here:
Mooch's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

Mooch's "18650 Safety Grades -- Picking a Safe Battery to Vape With" can be found here:
18650 Safety Grades -- Picking a Safe Battery to Vape With | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[AndriaD]

There has been much discussion regarding Efest's batteries and the way they spec them. I've never owned one and have no personal experience with them. You should be fine vaping at 10W or less, however. If you have any doubt, consider replacing your old batteries. Good luck!

The best resources on ECF for batteries is Baditude's blog.

Baditude's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

This is his "Battery Basics for Mods; the Ultimate Battery Guide". You can check to see if your batteries are on his "approved" list.
(9) Battery Basics for Mods; the Ultimate Battery Guide | E-Cigarette Forum

ECF's Mooch is the resident battery "expert". His blog is here:
Mooch's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

Mooch's "18650 Safety Grades -- Picking a Safe Battery to Vape With" can be found here:
18650 Safety Grades -- Picking a Safe Battery to Vape With | E-Cigarette Forum

I really don't have any doubts about them; they were fine in my Zmax and Vamo, and as i said, if there was some reason not to use those, pretty sure someone (like JeremyR for example, who taught me much of what I know about batteries) in the Sigelei Zmax thread would have mentioned it when I bought them. They're over a year old though, so certainly I'll be getting new ones at some point, just because I know that rechargeable batteries do stop being able to hold a charge over time and usage. I realize the Kbox Mini is a 50w mod, but since I never vape over 9w, I really don't need super-duper batteries, just regular IMRs -- 1.7Ω at 9w is only about 2.3 amps.

When I get new ones, I'll undoubtedly get AWs from sweet-vapes, who have the best prices on authentic AWs I've seen.

Andria

 

[VapingTurtle]

True, they're only 5A batteries,

Neither of them is an ICR; they're both high-drain IMRs.

 

[aldenf]

I really don't have any doubts about them; they were fine in my Zmax and Vamo, and as i said, if there was some reason not to use those, pretty sure someone (like JeremyR for example, who taught me much of what I know about batteries) in the Sigelei Zmax thread would have mentioned it when I bought them. They're over a year old though, so certainly I'll be getting new ones at some point, just because I know that rechargeable batteries do stop being able to hold a charge over time and usage. I realize the Kbox Mini is a 50w mod, but since I never vape over 9w, I really don't need super-duper batteries, just regular IMRs -- 1.7Ω at 9w is only about 2.3 amps.

When I get new ones, I'll undoubtedly get AWs from sweet-vapes, who have the best prices on authentic AWs I've seen.

Andria

The AWs are fine batteries.

Just so you understand, the below blog entry explains why many consumers, especially vapers, have such negative opinions toward Efest.
(17) Purple Efest Batteries not as Advertised | E-Cigarette Forum

​

 

[Katya]

There's not a thing wrong with my Efests. I used them last year in my sigelei zmax and my Vamo. True, they're only 5A batteries, but for 1.7Ω at 9w, that's more than sufficient.

Andria

They really, really are not (more than sufficient), Andria.

When it's time to buy new batteries, take our advice and a get a couple of those:

Samsung 30Q 18650 3000mAh IMR High Drain Battery INR1865030Q
LG HG2 $6.99 3000mAh High Drain IMR Battery INR18650HG2

They are generally considered the best and safest for vaping. You want to be safe.

I have Samsung and LG HG2 and I'm very happy with them. I've also used the AW IMR (orange) batteries in my Provari for years because ProVape recommends them, but the Sammy and the LG are much better.

I get my batteries from RTD Vapor--I trust them and I've been using them forever.

 

[DPLongo22]

Another resounding vote for Samsung and LG. The LG's are my current favorites, mainly because they seem to last forever.

I will only buy batteries from Orbtronic, RTD or Illumn (a popular tactical gear site).

 

[jefsview]

Oh, what a vapemail day Wednesday was. Not only did I receive my VapeNW order of the Istick 100W and a couple of LG HG2's to power it, and my second [back-up] Evic VT, but I finally received my prizes from Wismec's FB contest from November: the Presa 75W TC and Amor Plus tank.

It was like Christmas Day!

I received them late in the day and haven't had a chance to try them out yet. The Presa is so tiny, but has a heft to it, especially with a battery in it. Wismec sent out a silver one (I was hoping for black, but, hey, it was free). I wasn't certain I was even going to get it by Xmas since I never did receive a shipping notice from them. It shipped from a US authorized Joyetech vendor (ClearmistVape), so no long wait from China. I'll pass along my first impressions later today or tomorrow.

As far as batteries, I've had the best luck with Samsungs and LG's so far.

 

[AndriaD]

The AWs are fine batteries.

Just so you understand, the below blog entry explains why many consumers, especially vapers, have such negative opinions toward Efest.
(17) Purple Efest Batteries not as Advertised | E-Cigarette Forum

​

Oh I know, they're not 30A, they're 20A... both of which are FAAAAAAAAAR beyond my needs. 5A batteries may be "old hat" but they're still fine batteries for us tootlers that don't need massive power for massive clouds. It's like, now that there are all these super-duper batteries, people have the idea that the old batteries aren't any good, and that's just wrong. They worked fine in my mods last year and earlier this year, and they'll work fine again, though they're a little closer now to their eventual replacement.

Andria