is there a difference between the blue trustfire and gray trustfire? both saids with PCB and same dimensions. from the looks of it, it looks identical but in different colors. i have the blue ones right now and i need more batteries. i just dont know if i should order the blue or gray...
14500 trustfire
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I have two slightly different gray trustfires, both say with PCB, and both do have the PCB at the negative end. You can see a little indication of a wrinkle in the gray covering. One pair has a larger button that the other pair but other than that the same.
Note that listed dimensions on websites aren't always correct. 14mm diameter and 50mm long is not correct. A protected 14500 is about 51.5mm long, they just hardly every list it that way.
Hope that helped
Note that listed dimensions on websites aren't always correct. 14mm diameter and 50mm long is not correct. A protected 14500 is about 51.5mm long, they just hardly every list it that way.
Hope that helped
Grey ones are rated at like .5C and actual capacity is around 600mah giving it 300ma rated current discharge.
They stretch and will work but you will wear them out quicker. Ive had one about give up the ghost after 50 discharges
I hear the blue ones are better.
They stretch and will work but you will wear them out quicker. Ive had one about give up the ghost after 50 discharges
I hear the blue ones are better.
I use the grey ones and they take anywhere from 675 to 750 mah on recharge. I don't recharge until they hit cutoff. I have about 10 or 15 recharges on them and so far, so good. I usually get 8 to 10 hours of use before they go back on the charger.
I use an RC charger with a digital readout, so these numbers are accurate for me.
I use an RC charger with a digital readout, so these numbers are accurate for me.
Joe,
The charge/discharge test mode on RC smart chargers is a nice feature.
I haven't bothered because, well, it sort of a bother
I went looking though my batteries because I thought I had a TrustFire blue 14500 that was not protected, but couldn't find it.
I think there are unprotected blue, gray, whatever color unprotected cells being sold, maybe counterfeit?, that people should watch out for.
I have heard some quote the "maximum charge of 4.2 volts, and minimum charge of 2.5 volts" in an ad as an implication that the cell was protected. Nope, that just the max and min
There are some cheap 18650 "protected" cells on ebay that I was looking at and the photo is just not clear enough to see it there is evidence of the PCB. The seller has not responded yet. That's probably enough evidence that they are fibbing and the cells are unprotected.
Watch out for the unscrupulous seller.
A good (not premium) 14500 costs about $5, and a good 18650 about $7.
Yes there are cheaper and more expensive ones.
But if one charge last about one pack of ciggies, then 50 charges ain't really all that bad. 300 would be better, but 50 charges considering how we are mistreating them with currents over the rating, well that still works out to :
pretty darn cheap compared to tobacco.
Rocket
The charge/discharge test mode on RC smart chargers is a nice feature.
I haven't bothered because, well, it sort of a bother
I went looking though my batteries because I thought I had a TrustFire blue 14500 that was not protected, but couldn't find it.
I think there are unprotected blue, gray, whatever color unprotected cells being sold, maybe counterfeit?, that people should watch out for.
I have heard some quote the "maximum charge of 4.2 volts, and minimum charge of 2.5 volts" in an ad as an implication that the cell was protected. Nope, that just the max and min
There are some cheap 18650 "protected" cells on ebay that I was looking at and the photo is just not clear enough to see it there is evidence of the PCB. The seller has not responded yet. That's probably enough evidence that they are fibbing and the cells are unprotected.
Watch out for the unscrupulous seller.
A good (not premium) 14500 costs about $5, and a good 18650 about $7.
Yes there are cheaper and more expensive ones.
But if one charge last about one pack of ciggies, then 50 charges ain't really all that bad. 300 would be better, but 50 charges considering how we are mistreating them with currents over the rating, well that still works out to :
pretty darn cheap compared to tobacco.
Rocket
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I have a question about the "new" Trustfires (the ones with the new black and flame wrapper). I got a pair of them from BestOfferBuy.com, and it's considerably shorter than my other 2 known protected batts, and I really can't feel any wire under the wrapper for the PCB. Would it be safe to assume that this is NOT a protected battery?
Look at the negative end. Does the surface look like the steel case or like a metallic surface of a PCB? It seems to have the tell tale ring at the negative end.
Reviews say they are the same length as AW.
ad says has PCB. The conductor running up the side may be thin and embedded in plastic wrap so hard to feel. You could waste one
EDIT: added info
Most flashlight nerds complain that protected 14500 cells with the PCB are too long. A short 14500 would thus be suspect as counterfeit.
I would contact the supplier. I would also warn others that may purchase them.
Here are 3 photos showing the wrapper near the negative end obviously with a PCB.
Reviews say they are the same length as AW.
ad says has PCB. The conductor running up the side may be thin and embedded in plastic wrap so hard to feel. You could waste one
EDIT: added info
Most flashlight nerds complain that protected 14500 cells with the PCB are too long. A short 14500 would thus be suspect as counterfeit.
I would contact the supplier. I would also warn others that may purchase them.
Here are 3 photos showing the wrapper near the negative end obviously with a PCB.
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Look at the negative end. Does the surface look like the steel case or like a metallic surface of a PCB? It seems to have the tell tale ring at the negative end.
It doesn't appear to have a PCB. The neg end is smooth and flat.
Reviews say they are the same length as AW.
I actually had to take a pic for the vendor per their request. The "new" Trustfires are about an 1/8" shorter than my AW 14500, and smaller than my known PROTECTED Trustfire 14500 blues.
ad says has PCB. The conductor running up the side may be thin and embedded in plastic wrap so hard to feel. You could waste one
That's why I bought them, I assumed they WOULD be protected because that's how their listed. I don't wanna waste one because I'm almost positive they are not protected.
It doesn't appear to have a PCB. The neg end is smooth and flat.
Reviews say they are the same length as AW.
I actually had to take a pic for the vendor per their request. The "new" Trustfires are about an 1/8" shorter than my AW 14500, and smaller than my known PROTECTED Trustfire 14500 blues.
ad says has PCB. The conductor running up the side may be thin and embedded in plastic wrap so hard to feel. You could waste one
That's why I bought them, I assumed they WOULD be protected because that's how their listed. I don't wanna waste one because I'm almost positive they are not protected.
Blaze,
I added a little more to my last post.
Customers that have bought these from other sellers have stated they are 52mm long.
Some sites list them as 51mm long (50.8mm = 2 inches). Less than that and I would think something is wrong. Some list 14500 batteries that are 1.97 inches long. That is about 50mm. I bet those are Unprotected.
If you try and measure them with calipers use a piece of scotch tape to prevent a short.
Let us know what you find out.
I added a little more to my last post.
Customers that have bought these from other sellers have stated they are 52mm long.
Some sites list them as 51mm long (50.8mm = 2 inches). Less than that and I would think something is wrong. Some list 14500 batteries that are 1.97 inches long. That is about 50mm. I bet those are Unprotected.
If you try and measure them with calipers use a piece of scotch tape to prevent a short.
Let us know what you find out.
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See, mine don't have that "lip" on the end (neg side) that is a tell tale sign of a PCB and thus protected. I'd take measurements, but I don't own a set of calipers, but with a tape measure they only measure 1 and 15/16 inch, and that's starting from the tab, not the pos end lip.
I've also never seen a protected batt that didn't state that it was protected on the batt. These do not
I've also never seen a protected batt that didn't state that it was protected on the batt. These do not
Well, sounds convincing to me.
What is scary is that many people rely on color when they buy batteries.
"I only use the blue ones, or the green ones, or the whatever ones"
It seems that you can get cells in several sizes, 10440, 14500, 16340, 18650 in light blue, dark blue, gray, and now black with flames and not know if you have protected cells or not. Buyer beware.
Stacked battery vapers beware.
Rocket
What is scary is that many people rely on color when they buy batteries.
"I only use the blue ones, or the green ones, or the whatever ones"
It seems that you can get cells in several sizes, 10440, 14500, 16340, 18650 in light blue, dark blue, gray, and now black with flames and not know if you have protected cells or not. Buyer beware.
Stacked battery vapers beware.
Rocket
It's probably an honest mistake.
Someone probably printed up a whole roll of flame labels that were a little short and wouldn't fit protected cells. So rather than through out the labels, they just put them on short batteries.
Rocket,
A answer can be made for any question.
Someone probably printed up a whole roll of flame labels that were a little short and wouldn't fit protected cells. So rather than through out the labels, they just put them on short batteries.
Rocket,
A answer can be made for any question.
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I've posted the below link before and I've found it very helpful in understanding about protected batteries:
Go Here
Go Here
I've posted the below link before and I've found it very helpful in understanding about protected batteries:
Go Here
Go thereShortstuff, very informative find.
I recommend everyone check out this reference. If you already know everything you can quickly click out of it anyway.
Look close at the connection along the side of the cell going to the positive termainal, and the yellow 'Kapton' tape. Be gently with protected cells. Damage the plastic covering and both positive and negative poles of the cell can be exposed. The spring loaded contact in a lot of chargers can tear this covering with removing a cell. Be careful and exammine you cells periodically.
ROcket
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