Bolt + CGR18650CH batts? Safety question......

[Gunner83]

Since the Bolt does not have any built-in safety features, you're supposed to use protected batteries, correct? Well my Vamo is out of commission for awhile, and the batteries I have for it (Panasonic CGR18650CH) are unprotected, since the Vamo has built-in protection.

I noticed that using them in my Bolt, is giving a much better hit than my Ultrafires that I normally use in it. I plan on picking up a short circuit safety soon, just be on the safe side.

But in the mean time, am I taking a big risk by using the unprotected Panny batts in my Bolt?

 

[madstabber]

I wouldn't worry about it. The cgrs are considered safe chemistry and as long as your batteries are in good working order and you use a decent charger the risk is really pretty small.

 

[Liv2Ski]

I run them all the time in a Bolt. Should they be protected yes but there is a collapsible spring in the bottom. How do I know? A switch shorted on one of mine and the spring did it's job and once collapsed batt could not make contact. While not fail-safe it did work in my situation.

 

[kiwivap]

Should be ok - its the unprotected Li-ions that are an issue. What you have is a safer chemistry.

 

[Baditude]

I use IMR (safe chemistry) in all of my mods, including the mechs. I feel safer using them than the so-called protected batteries, of which I had a protected Trustfire vent in a mech mod after it hard-shorted.



I've read it here on ECF before, and I wholeheartedly agree, "Never trust a battery that has "fire" in its name. YMMV.

I noticed that using them in my Bolt, is giving a much better hit than my Ultrafires that I normally use in it. I plan on picking up a short circuit safety soon, just be on the safe side.

 

[Gunner83]

Thanks, everyone! Putting one back into my Bolt right now!

 

[kiwivap]

Thanks, everyone! Putting one back into my Bolt right now!

Good one. I have used AW IMRs in my Bolt sometimes. The Panasonic CGR18650CH are not strictly IMRs from what I have read about them, but are a hybrid that has safer chemistry than protected batts. Like IMR - just as good (some say better). They get called IMRs because they are so similar and they are high drain, low impedance, safer chemistry cells.