Trusted AW IMR vendors?
- Thread starter JetLiOrigami
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Yeah but can ENS be trusted anymore, with their new ownership? I've already heard lots of nightmarish stuff happening since the new owners moved in.
Also, it looks like they're selling the first-gen AW's...not a bad battery (if authentic), but they're at least a year old by now.
I wonder why they're selling them so cheap...
Provape is a highly reputable vendor (and supporter) of AW batteries.
Fun fact: AW is not a brand that makes their own batteries. The AW stands for Andy Wan, who is a trusted wizard. He tests the batteries to make sure they're safe to use, and re-wraps them with his label as a seal of approval.
I wish there was more of this third-party verification in batteries. The horror stories of people buying sub-par re-wrapped batteries (clones) are just too scary!
I've read the above, and perhaps that was true 3 - 4 years ago when all AW sold was protected ICR batteries. I have a strong hunch that its no longer true.
The old protected ICR batteries had "Assembled in China (Cell and IC made in Japan". That makes sense that these were "rewraps".
Today's AW batteries only say, "Made in China". My guess is AW made a small enough fortune to make his own battery factory in China. What do I base this on?
- I make this assumption because AW, to the best of my memory, was the very first company to offer a high drain IMR battery on the market, before Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, or LG.
- Japanese manufacturers do not make IMR batteries in 14500, 18350, or 18490 sizes. AW does, so who is actually manufacturing these cells if not AW?
- The new AW 18650 3000mAh 20A battery is the only one which says, "Made in Korea". This is probably a rewrapped LG HG2 3000mAh 20A battery, since LG is in Korea.
BAAAAAAD!!!!!I've read the above, and perhaps that was true 3 - 4 years ago when all AW sold was protected ICR batteries. I have a strong hunch that its no longer true.
The old protected ICR batteries had "Assembled in China (Cell and IC made in Japan". That makes sense that these were "rewraps".
Today's AW batteries only say, "Made in China". My guess is AW made a small enough fortune to make his own battery factory in China. What do I base this on?
- I make this assumption because AW, to the best of my memory, was the very first company to offer a high drain IMR battery on the market, before Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, or LG.
- Japanese manufacturers do not make IMR batteries in 14500, 18350, or 18490 sizes. AW does, so who is actually manufacturing these cells if not AW?
- The new AW 18650 3000mAh 20A battery is the only one which says, "Made in Korea". This is probably a rewrapped LG HG2 3000mAh 20A battery, since LG is in Korea.
Wow! A pleasure to see your bones stalking around these parts!
You're MY authority on batteries, and I thank you for that.
I guess I've been operating on outdated info...cuz my fun fact was based on what I read in one of your posts a looooong time ago!
I don't believe Mr. Wan ever admitted that he was re-wrapping batteries, its not good for business. If he was selling re-wraps, I seriously doubt that he was testing EVERY battery that he sold, either.
Only a couple of battery "manufacturers" openly admit they are re-wrapping batteries. Orbtronics admits that their house brand are re-wrapped Panasonics. Xtar admits that their house brand are re-wrapped Sony cells.
Fact is, if you aren't using a battery made by LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, or Aspire (and maybe AW) ... chances are excellent you are using a re-wrap.
A Beginner's Guide to Lithium Batteries
18650 Battery Buying Guide for Vapor Users
Battery companies are extremely competitive, secretive, and often times deceiving. It's hard to know what to believe.
Only a couple of battery "manufacturers" openly admit they are re-wrapping batteries. Orbtronics admits that their house brand are re-wrapped Panasonics. Xtar admits that their house brand are re-wrapped Sony cells.
Fact is, if you aren't using a battery made by LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, or Aspire (and maybe AW) ... chances are excellent you are using a re-wrap.
A Beginner's Guide to Lithium Batteries
18650 Battery Buying Guide for Vapor Users
Battery companies are extremely competitive, secretive, and often times deceiving. It's hard to know what to believe.
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What about bad batteries that are re-wrapped to look like the brands you listed?
What about them? I say avoid buying them in the first place. This is why we veterans recommend purchasing your batteries only from trusted and reputable battery vendors like RTD Vapor, IMR Batteries, Orbtronics, and Illumn. Never buy from Amazon or Ebay, because you don't know where the vendor is getting his batteries from. Most of the counterfeit batteries on the market are sold by Alibaba (Chinese wholesaler), Ebay, or Amazon.
I think that's the best advice for the OP.
The world is full of people trying to make a buck, and not caring who they screw over.
Many people won't think twice about re-wrapping a poor quality battery to look like a "good" battery, just to make a sale.
I'm very thankful for your advice, your top shelf knowledge of batteries, and your willingness to share with those who need it!
Take a look at this thread. Counterfeit LG HG2 batteries on the market.
Counterfeit/Low Grade LG HG2 Test Results
I am still using my first-gen AW's bought in the spring of 2013
They are now over 3 yrs old. These at Electronicstix could more appropriately be called second -gen based solely on the hologram label which first appeared in Dec. 2013.
AW IMR16340 / IMR14500 / IMR18350 / IMR18490 / IMR18650
Oh yeah huh?I am still using my first-gen AW's bought in the spring of 2013
These at Electronicstix could more appropriately be called second -gen based solely on the hologram label which first appeared in Dec. 2013.
AW IMR16340 / IMR14500 / IMR18350 / IMR18490 / IMR18650
Doy. I totally forgot about the introduction of the holo-sticker! So the batteries with the half black band at the bottom are the "third gen"...
I have purchased quite a few of these and have been using them in my 2.5's with no issue. Also I have not experienced any problems on anything that I have ordered or shipping with ENS since the new ownership, I have placed quite a few orders over the last few months and my experience has been very good with them.
Hey seeing as we've got you here, Señor Baditude...
Are these trustworthy batteries?
I just got them (friend is a shop owner) to use in my Wizard's Apprentice Evolved II (WAEII)...it's a DNA30 watt device.
I normally charge my 18350's/18490's at the 0.25A setting on my VP2, but I figured for these guys, the 0.50A would be ok.
I know heat is the major enemy of batteries.
Anywho...any knowledge on this brand?
Are these trustworthy batteries?
I just got them (friend is a shop owner) to use in my Wizard's Apprentice Evolved II (WAEII)...it's a DNA30 watt device.
I normally charge my 18350's/18490's at the 0.25A setting on my VP2, but I figured for these guys, the 0.50A would be ok.
I know heat is the major enemy of batteries.
Anywho...any knowledge on this brand?
<a href="Imren Green 40A 3200mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...just 17A, the purple Imren 3000mAh rewrapped!">Imren Green 40A 3200mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...just 17A, the purple Imren 3000mAh rewrapped!</a>Hey seeing as we've got you here, Señor Baditude...
Are these trustworthy batteries?
I just got them (friend is a shop owner) to use in my Wizard's Apprentice Evolved II (WAEII)...it's a DNA30 watt device.
I normally charge my 18350's/18490's at the 0.25A setting on my VP2, but I figured for these guys, the 0.50A would be ok.
I know heat is the major enemy of batteries.
Anywho...any knowledge on this brand?
I saw this and just had to look, sorry about the messy post, I'm not used to using an iPad...
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Personally, I wouldn't go there. The test results I can find for Imren are pretty consistent in grossly overstating their capacities. This similar "40A 3000 mAh" battery is at best a 15 to 20A battery in the real world.
Test of Imren IMR18650 3000mAh (Purple)
Pick more Imren tests here:
Battery test-review 18650 comparator
Can't find a test result for your specific battery. I won't use a battery I cannot research.
ETA: Enaud beat me to it (Hi Enaud!) but there you have it. At least Imren is consistent - but not in a good way.
Test of Imren IMR18650 3000mAh (Purple)
Pick more Imren tests here:
Battery test-review 18650 comparator
Can't find a test result for your specific battery. I won't use a battery I cannot research.
ETA: Enaud beat me to it (Hi Enaud!) but there you have it. At least Imren is consistent - but not in a good way.
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