AW RCR123 LifePo4 vs Tenergy RCR123 LifePo4 batteries

[chainvapor]

Ok, I know this has been discussed before and I am no electrical genius. But I have 4 yellow tenergy RCR123 LifePo4 batteries and 6 of the green ones (which are supposed to be the same). I just ordered 4 AW RCR123 LifePo4 batts with a charger and will come back and comment on those once they are fully charged and I have has time to use them. I am using a Prodigy v3.1 with all of these and 2.5ohm smoktech dual coil cartomizers. So far the combination of 6V with these cartomizers has put me in vaping heaven. But I am noticing my Tenergy batts are inconsistent. Some times great, some times not. Some time charge lasts hours, some times only 1 hour before my vaping starts to deteriorate. My Yellow ones are definately stronger than the new green ones but they are almost 16 months old and don't hold a charge very long any more. The green ones (only a few months old) have always been inconsistent.

Anyway, anyone else who has had experience with both of the above batteries, I would love to hear from you and get your opinions on it. (especially whether or not I am making a good move to the aw batteries??!!)

Let me know if any of you can shed some light on this subject.

Thanks!

CV

 

[chainvapor]

Daily Bump. Anybody have any info on these they can share??

CV

 

[Bozzlite]

I don't have any experience with those particular batteries, but it's possible that one of those batteries has gone bad (if not all).

This can be a dangerous situation if you are stacking them in series like that. I recommend that you get yourself a Digital Multimeter and check the voltages. Right after charging, and then again after a short period of use.

It is dangerous to have mismatched voltage batteries stacked in a series, so if there is a variance of say, more than .5 volts between them, discontinue using the Tenergy batteries and use the AW batteries exclusively.

In fact, I would just do that anyway for safety's sake.

Here is something everyone should read:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...oding-mods-current-situation.html#post5146201

PS: I gave you a like so you would know I replied

 

[chainvapor]

Thank you for the reply. However, exploding is supposed to not be nearly as much a problem with the LifePo4 batteries which is why I use them. These are not Li-Ion batteries and they have a safer chemistry. I have read a lot of articles when it comes to safety and I know that stacking Li-Ion batteries is risky, but with the LifePo4 that risk is supposed to be almost non-existent. My mod is totally mechanical so it is extremely unlikely that it will short out. It is also vented with 2 holes in the bottom. That is why I love my Prodigy v3.1 mod. Thank you for your help. It is greatly appreciated. I am really hoping someone replies (posts) who has used the same batteries I am using or the ones I going to use so they can give me more info.

After reading the post you linked to above I am unsure how this person was using LifePo4 batteries, but if so I will definitely use only the AW batteries in the future. There C rating is supposed to be much higher than the Tenergy batteries which is why I was making the switch to begin with. Hopefully I won't end up in the hospital before my new AW batteries get here.

But I have been using the ones I have now for over a year without a problem. I am wondering, if these were new batteries, if one of them was actually faulty from the manufacturer. I have had no problems with mine except with my old saber touch mod which is now history. When the Saber Touch mod shorted out, it almost burnt my hand when I touched it. So I immediately took off the atomizer and waited for it to cool off. Then I unscrewed the cap and dumped out the batteries on the ground outside. Then I threw them away.

I believe a shorted out mod to be the most dangerous problem. I cannot say for sure this happened to the person in the linked post above, but that is what happened to my Saber Touch.

For all that read this - electronic switches can FAIL. They can short out and many of the ones used in mods were not designed to handle the current we use with li-ion and lifepo4 batteries. I believe 100% mechanical mods are safer than others. I could be totally wrong about this because I am not an electrical genius by any stretch of the imagination. But it seems to me that if the switch shorts out and the batteries have a continuous load for a long period of time, that would make for a deadly problem.

Thanks,
CV

 

[hairball]

I had the blue banded tenergies and didn't care for them. They just didn't last as long as the green banded ones plus they were finicky in some of my mods. I've never had problems with the green banded ones. I only have one set of AW's and to be honest, I don't notice much of a performance difference. My favorite out of the lifepo4 batteries are labeled Powerizer. I can only find them on eBay but they are the same chemistry battery and outperform all of them...or so it seems that way to me. So the 2 I mainly use are the green tenergy and the powerizers. I don't know if that is much help to you or not. It sure sounds like you have a bad cell or 2 in the newer sets you have. I vape heavily, 6-7mls a day and only change my batteries out maybe twice in a days time...especially with the powerizer...with the tenergy sets, it varying and is more inconsistent.

 

[chainvapor]

I had the blue banded tenergies and didn't care for them. They just didn't last as long as the green banded ones plus they were finicky in some of my mods. I've never had problems with the green banded ones. I only have one set of AW's and to be honest, I don't notice much of a performance difference. My favorite out of the lifepo4 batteries are labeled Powerizer. I can only find them on eBay but they are the same chemistry battery and outperform all of them...or so it seems that way to me. So the 2 I mainly use are the green tenergy and the powerizers. I don't know if that is much help to you or not. It sure sounds like you have a bad cell or 2 in the newer sets you have. I vape heavily, 6-7mls a day and only change my batteries out maybe twice in a days time...especially with the powerizer...with the tenergy sets, it varying and is more inconsistent.

Thank you very much for the reply. I am hoping the AW batteries will at least be safer. Did you read the post linked above my last?? You may want to check it out.

Thanks,
CV

 

[milo hobo]

Read the battery stuff carefully. When it states safe chemistry, what that means is that the cells are not likely to explode in your face i.e. vent violently. The batteries can still critically fail, heating to high temps and possibly cause a fire. I'm curious as to when we will get safer batteries. I'd love to have a battery with both safe chemistry and the protective circuit.

 

[chainvapor]

Read the battery stuff carefully. When it states safe chemistry, what that means is that the cells are not likely to explode in your face i.e. vent violently. The batteries can still critically fail, heating to high temps and possibly cause a fire. I'm curious as to when we will get safer batteries. I'd love to have a battery with both safe chemistry and the protective circuit.

Even better would be batteries that are actually designed for Electronic Cigarette Mods. I mean, almost every battery we use was never designed for the draw we put it through on a continuing basis. It would be nice to see some batteries hit the market that are actually geared toward ecig mods. As to your comment above for a protective circuit and safe chemistry I agree. But if the batteries are not designed for our use, protected batteries can be a pain, you know shutting themselves down all the time because of the "higher than normal" draw we put on them. It would be nice if we could get some batteries that are not being stressed with a 6 volt setup!! I am hoping the AW batteries I ordered will be better than the Tenergy batteries I am currently using.

CV

p.s. Maybe if we are really lucky a battery manufacturer will come out with a 2 cell battery that run at 6 volts with a protection circuit built in. That would be nice and mods could be built around that technology. What I mean is 1 battery that has 2 lifepo4 cells inside it in series, but where it was DESIGNED to run in series at 6V and has a protection circuit inside it with a charger to support it.

 

[chainvapor]

Update: I have now been using the AW Lifepo4 RCR123 batteries for a couple weeks. They seem to perform the same as the tenergies but a bit more consistent. I have heard these are safer so I am mostly using those now instead of the Tenergy batts but I do hope someday the post above comes to fruition. A new 6V LifePo4 battery with circuit protection that was built to handle a 2.5ohm draw would be wonderful!!

CV

 

[hummingbeard]

Update: I have now been using the AW Lifepo4 RCR123 batteries for a couple weeks. They seem to perform the same as the tenergies but a bit more consistent. I have heard these are safer so I am mostly using those now instead of the Tenergy batts but I do hope someday the post above comes to fruition. A new 6V LifePo4 battery with circuit protection that was built to handle a 2.5ohm draw would be wonderful!!

CV

where did you read that they are safer? im using some tenergy's right now and I definitely wanna switch after recent news/research. Apparently the C is only 1 for Tenergys, how high is the C for AW LiFePO4 RCR123's? Can you post a link to where you read about them and also a link to where you bought them?

 

[chainvapor]

where did you read that they are safer? im using some tenergy's right now and I definitely wanna switch after recent news/research. Apparently the C is only 1 for Tenergys, how high is the C for AW LiFePO4 RCR123's? Can you post a link to where you read about them and also a link to where you bought them?

You can buy them here:
AW RCR-123 16340 LiFePO4 - IkenVape Store

And I read about them in the batteries section here on the ECF.
If you go here -> http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/announcements-rules/76078-exploding-mods-current-situation.html#post5146201 You should find a link to the battery info.

Hope that helps!
CV

 

[echos67]

Thanks or the post, I use the Tenergy's with the green band in my Prodigy, I may need to switch over ? The battery specifics are not the easiest for my mind to comprehend with all the different numbers and such. I could invest the time and learn it all but if I dont stay on top of it I would forget it again in short order, i need manufacturers to just give me a good safe long lasting battery

Do the aw imr batts you linked fit in and safe in the Tenergy charger ?

 

[Rocketman]

Check the U.S. site for PureSmoker. The Tenergy's out 'Out of Stock' on purpose.
Secondary sources for the Prodigy, like overseas, still offer the Tenergy cells.

If in doubt check with PureSmoker for recommendations.

For those that have posted "don't seem to be consistent"
inconsistent is a BAD indication. Stacked cells need to perform the same, be about the same age, and capacity.
Something changes with your vape, something has changed.
Not good.

 

[echos67]

Rocketman, I was going to buy some more Tenergy's a few weeks ago on PureSmoker and they were out of stock then as well. Interesting,
I guess I better get some 16340 cr 123a batteries on order from someplace, just need the safest longest lasting i can find.

Chainvapor, they also have these with alittle higher mah, AW IMR-16340 CR-123a High Drain 550Mah - IkenVape Store. What factor made you decide on yours over this one ? Also is this 550mah about as good as it gets or any of these cr123 style batteries ?

Going to look on Battery Junction

 

[echos67]

Disregard the above question asking about higher mah, I found they do come in higher ratings.

Battery Junction has the Green banded Tenergy out of stock as well

 

[Rocketman]

Often with batteries, mah ratings are a lie.

Maybe not a big problem if even the true mah rating is more than enough.
But it may be a problem if the current (amps) capability is marginal.
Think of it as a 'Margin of Safety'.

Little stacked batteries need as much margin as possible. Might suffer a little in labeled charge capacity but the higher C rating might get you a little more 'Margin'/

 

[echos67]

My current charger is the Tenergy M01207, this kit with batteries that I have is not out of stock.
Tenergy 2 RCR123A 3.0V 750mAh Rechargeable LiFePO4 Li-Ion Batteries Kit with AC/DC Smart Charger Tenergy 30203

Battery Junction has these, I think I would have to get another charger mine is not in the reccomended. I also dont think from a safety standpoint they are any better then the green banded ones I am currently using ?
Tenergy 30201 RCR123A 3.0V 900mAh Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery

I do not see any aw imr batteries on the battery junction site, it may be that I overlooked them.

I also only see the aw imr come in 3.7 instead of 3.0 volts, now im starting to confuse myself so I will walk away again for awhile. Just need a safe long lasting battery for use in series (stacking).

 

[chainvapor]

Rocketman, I was going to buy some more Tenergy's a few weeks ago on PureSmoker and they were out of stock then as well. Interesting,
I guess I better get some 16340 cr 123a batteries on order from someplace, just need the safest longest lasting i can find.

Chainvapor, they also have these with alittle higher mah, AW IMR-16340 CR-123a High Drain 550Mah - IkenVape Store. What factor made you decide on yours over this one ? Also is this 550mah about as good as it gets or any of these cr123 style batteries ?

Going to look on Battery Junction

Hello Again. The 550mah batteries you posted about are 3.7V each. That would be 7.4V combined. That is why I use the 500mah ones. They are 3.0V each for 6V vaping.

I do not know that much about these batteries (hench the original post in the thread) but I have been told that the AW batteries are safer than the tenergy batteries if for no other reason than they were built better. AW has a better reputation for High Quality. The Tenergy Batts are known for being cheap, but not reliable.

CV

 

[echos67]

Hey Chain, looks like the aw lifepo4 you linked may be the safest and also reccomended for our V3.1 using stacked.

How long do you find the length of battery life in these with 500mah ? How do they compare to the Greenband Tenergy that PureSmoker has listed ?

I agree with your wanting an e-cig specific battery and seems like a wide open market for battery manufacturers to take advantage of.

 

[chainvapor]

The AW batteries seem to last just as long as the Tenergy Batteries. But I would not say they last any longer than the Tenergy ones. I get around 5-8 hours of good vaping from the AW batts. The Range is large because if I vape like a freight train (which I sometimes do) I only get about 5-6 hours. But I think that is rare. I usually can get through a full day at work on 1 set (and I am allowed to vape anytime at work), but I change them before driving home. Hope that helps.

CV

P.S. DO NOT use the Tenergy Charger for the AW batteries! You need a Charger designed for the AW batts. I am using a Ultrafire WF-138 Switching charger and set it on 3V. It works well.