Batteries
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For decent discharge and sheer capacity, I've used the Panasonic NCR18650B. 3400mAh. 2C rated, 6.8A cont datasheet rated output though more has been safely done, which is more than enough for an APV. I get anywhere between a day and half to three days at 12W on my Tesla, which isn't really different.
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$11.03 Panasonic CGR18650CH Rechargeable 2250mAh 3.7V 18650 Lithium Batteries 2-pack - authentic cells / 2-pack at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
Best batteries out there!
http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001638/1119500-nitecore-i2-lithium-li-ion-ni-mh-ni-cd-smart-batte
this is one of the safest chargers to use as well
Best batteries out there!
http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001638/1119500-nitecore-i2-lithium-li-ion-ni-mh-ni-cd-smart-batte
this is one of the safest chargers to use as well
I use the Panasonic batteries TampaToker69 linked to. I also use Efest 18350 batteries when I'm out, as they pretty much cut the Vamo's length by 1/3.
I bought a Nitecore i4 instead of the i2 because I wanted 4 charging slots vs 2.
If you've already bought the Vamo and now need the batteries and stuff, look on Amazon. I actually got my batteries and charger cheaper than FastTech has them. With shipping they were about the same price. The seller I got mine from was R-lsales. Got them in about 3 days.
FastTech doesn't carry good 18350 batteries. The two usually recommended are AW and Efest. I couldn't find AW 18350s on Amazon, so I bought the Efests.
My 18350s don't last nearly as long as my 18650s, but the reduction in size when I'm out far outweighs it.
I bought a Nitecore i4 instead of the i2 because I wanted 4 charging slots vs 2.
If you've already bought the Vamo and now need the batteries and stuff, look on Amazon. I actually got my batteries and charger cheaper than FastTech has them. With shipping they were about the same price. The seller I got mine from was R-lsales. Got them in about 3 days.
FastTech doesn't carry good 18350 batteries. The two usually recommended are AW and Efest. I couldn't find AW 18350s on Amazon, so I bought the Efests.
My 18350s don't last nearly as long as my 18650s, but the reduction in size when I'm out far outweighs it.
My Vamo is on its way, too. I also shop Amazon and eBay for batteries. Some deals can be had that approach FastTech pricing and shipping doesn't take two weeks.
I have had excellent result with Panasonic batteries in other devices so I'll be sticking with them. Good batteries are worth every penny you pay for them--for both performance and peace of mind.
I have had excellent result with Panasonic batteries in other devices so I'll be sticking with them. Good batteries are worth every penny you pay for them--for both performance and peace of mind.
Do they need to be unprotected? Will these ones work?
Amazon.com : 5 Panasonic NCR18650B 3.7V 3400mAh Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries QTY 5 : Electronics
Amazon.com : 5 Panasonic NCR18650B 3.7V 3400mAh Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries QTY 5 : Electronics
Yes. Unprotected and those will work just fine. However, they're somewhat misleadingly labeled. Those are actually Lithium Manganese batteries, not unprotected Li-Ion batteries. The unprotected Li-Mn cells use a safer battery chemistry and the Vamo is designed to work with them.
Get the Nitecore charger and use the cheapo in the kit as a backup. Same with the cheapo 18350 batteries that come in the package.
Get the Nitecore charger and use the cheapo in the kit as a backup. Same with the cheapo 18350 batteries that come in the package.
What are some good 18350 batteries? I prefer to use mine in shortie mode and the 900 mah 18350's that came in the kid from fast tech seem to last as long as the other one takes to change, give or take an hour
Good:
Efest IMR 800mAh 3.7v 18350 Battery - Flat Top
Best:
Batteries : AW IMR 18350 3.7V 700mAh
Button top or flat top both work in the Vamo.
Don't stack 350's in an APV.
Not quite arguing: Last I checked, Lithium Manganese batteries were considered a type of Lithium Ion battery. Why do you specify and talk like they are not?
Because it's an important distinction in the battery chemistry. The LiMn chemistry is safer than the older LiCo chemistry that the industry called "Lithium Ion." The LiMn (designated by IMR for Lithium-Manganese Rechargeable) is safer to use in devices with their own protection circuitry like the Vamo. The LiCo (ICR; Lithium-Cobalt Rechargeable) batteries have a more volatile chemistry and are not as safe in any device, regardless of circuitry.
I see your point, though. I should have said that the batteries are improperly labeled rather than misleading. I think retailers should clearly identify what type of chemistry the battery contains, and by that I mean IMR vs ICR.
The ICR 18350's that ship with some Vamo kits should only be used as emergency backups and should never be stacked. Those are unprotected batteries with the old Cobalt chemistry and they are risky. I know people have used them safely with no problems, but I've also heard some horror stories about them and the cheapo wallmount charger that comes in some Vamo kits.
I think its very strange a battery company would have the word fire in their name. Just a random comment about batteries.
I ordered these Panasonic NCR18650PD 18650 3.6V 2900mAH are they good? I think these are what most are using? however i see that some are NCR and some are something else. whats the difference?
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0...onic-ncr18650pd-18650-36v-2900mah-rechargeabl
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0...onic-ncr18650pd-18650-36v-2900mah-rechargeabl
Those are probably Ok. Usually, FastTech states the manufacturer of the item unless they're selling a clone. That one says the manufacturer is Panasonic. However, be warned that batteries from FastTech are highly suspect. I would use those, but I'd watch'em like a hawk, both in the charger and in the mod, for at least a few charging cycles.
In my experience, new batteries and newly charged batteries need to be babysat until they prove themselves well behaved.
As in how? They don't really hold what they say, or they just don't charge well or get hot, What should i look out for?
I am getting a Magnetized charge lead for my Icharger to charge them with, I do not like chargers w.o displays on them, just trying to find out before they get here how many amps is safe to charge them at. they say 2900mah so thinking maybe 1amp.
What battery's and from where have you found to be good ones?
I was looking for some 18350's so I be able to use it in short mode but Not sure, i only could find up to 800mah, Do they have larger mah 18350's? What sites are good to order or what brands are good
I can't get the AW link to open. Maybe it's down atm. Can't get RTD Vapor to open either. That's my suggestion for AW.
I use the Efest for both 18350 & 18650 in my V3 and the best price I know of is from Empire. Efest IMR 18650 Battery
Efest IMR 18350 Battery
I'm new to this, so can you explain why my Vamo V3x kit came with two 350's and the extension tube to hold both? The Vmax that I am selling did the same. Can you educate this newbie on why we should not stack in an APV that seems designed to do so?
Because there is variability from battery to battery, even within batteries produced by the same manufacturer. Even though they are manufactured using high levels of quality control, there is still some difference between the capacity of one cell and the capacity of what looks like its twin. One with a nominal capacity of 800mAh may have an actual capacity of 790, while its apparent twin might be as high as 830.
When the higher capacity "twin" sees that its lower capacity brother is getting low on his charge, it could try to share his charge and the result is usually very bad. Edited to add: One battery going into thermal runaway inevitably heats the other and causes it to do the same thing. So, now you've got two unstable batteries venting flames and hot gasses. BOOM.
There are also minute differences in the exact amounts of chemical goo inside the battery, as well as potential differences in the battery's own internal resistance.
We're using these cells in a high drain system that is capable of putting enormous demand on them. There are many variables involved, and all it takes is one of the cells to exhibit one bad value in any of the variables to cause problems. And, the lower the quality of the battery, the higher the probability that one of the cells does so.
Those two 18350's may work just fine for a while, but as they age (measured in charge cycles, not time), the less stable they can become and the more likely they are to misbehave when placed under the demands that your Vamo is capable of putting on them. The lower the quality of the battery, the more likely they are to misbehave. Pairing batteries of different chemistry and different manufacture only increase the probability of failure.
Unprotected ICR cells can explode, and the ones that come with the Vamo are just that. Unprotected IMR cells vent gases and enough heat to cause a fire. Unprotected hybrid chemistry batteries just die gracefully.
Go get one (or two) of those AW IMR batteries from RTD. They're not that expensive and they're the safest available.
All that said, you can stack batteries in the Vamo. It is indeed designed to do so. But the batteries that ship with it are just about the worst possible ones to do it with. If you must stack, do it with IMR's.
More in the next post...
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Stacking batteries is discouraged because while it can be safely done, the steps that must be taken to do it are extensive and the penalty for breaking the rules can be disastrous.
You have to make absolutely sure that both batteries are brand new and of the highest quality possible. Both must be from the same maker.
Both batteries must have identical nominal and nearly identical actual capacities. Just because they both have 700mAh on the label doesn't mean that they both have actual capacities of 700mAh. There are variations in the manufacturing process and the batteries could have significant differences between them, even if from the same manufacturer. That's why AW IMR's are so highly recommended. They perform as closely to spec as can be.
The batteries must be married and never be separated, until death do them part. They have to be labeled and can never be used without the other.
They have to go on the charger at the same time and come off at the same time. They have to be rested for an equal amount of time and have to be tested with a multimeter once they've rested.
They have to be rotated in position. Battery A goes in first one time. Battery B goes in first the next time.
Forever and ever, Amen.
You must make sure that you never exceed 5.0 volts, and you must always use the mod in voltage mode. If you want to know why, refer to Ohms law, calculate the amperage using the voltage and resistance, and compare that to the battery specs. Those little grey ICR's are not designed to handle that kind of drain.
This is actually an advantage that the Vamo has over much higher priced systems. It's designed to take two 18350's, but there are still some careful steps to be taken. Even though it has the protection circuitry that the other mods don't, that doesn't mean something can't go wrong. That's where the safer chemistry of the IMR cell comes into play. Other mods, most notably the ProVari, are not designed for stacking batteries at all, and doing so voids the warranty.
You can stack'em if you want, but unless you're OCD enough to keep up with all of this, it's best to just stick an 18650 in there and let it ride.
You have to make absolutely sure that both batteries are brand new and of the highest quality possible. Both must be from the same maker.
Both batteries must have identical nominal and nearly identical actual capacities. Just because they both have 700mAh on the label doesn't mean that they both have actual capacities of 700mAh. There are variations in the manufacturing process and the batteries could have significant differences between them, even if from the same manufacturer. That's why AW IMR's are so highly recommended. They perform as closely to spec as can be.
The batteries must be married and never be separated, until death do them part. They have to be labeled and can never be used without the other.
They have to go on the charger at the same time and come off at the same time. They have to be rested for an equal amount of time and have to be tested with a multimeter once they've rested.
They have to be rotated in position. Battery A goes in first one time. Battery B goes in first the next time.
Forever and ever, Amen.
You must make sure that you never exceed 5.0 volts, and you must always use the mod in voltage mode. If you want to know why, refer to Ohms law, calculate the amperage using the voltage and resistance, and compare that to the battery specs. Those little grey ICR's are not designed to handle that kind of drain.
This is actually an advantage that the Vamo has over much higher priced systems. It's designed to take two 18350's, but there are still some careful steps to be taken. Even though it has the protection circuitry that the other mods don't, that doesn't mean something can't go wrong. That's where the safer chemistry of the IMR cell comes into play. Other mods, most notably the ProVari, are not designed for stacking batteries at all, and doing so voids the warranty.
You can stack'em if you want, but unless you're OCD enough to keep up with all of this, it's best to just stick an 18650 in there and let it ride.
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