Cheap MOD question.

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JWLuke

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If I buy a cheap mod from FT, can I just buy batteries and charger locally, put them in it and I'm good to go? With my own tank of course. Just wanted to know if this would be safe or should I leave that to the experts. I'm definitely not an electrical engineer and do not want to put myself in harms way. I keep seeing them on the FT website and it seems to good to be true to be that simple.

One more thing: people on this wonderful site often mention clones. Is everything on FT a clone if it doesn't say "authentic"? How can I tell what I buy online or even locally is authentic or not? I bought a ProTank at my local B & M and someone asked me if it was a clone. It was in a beautiful box, everything looked ok to me, but how do you tell if something is real or not?
 

BDUAres

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If I buy a cheap MOD from FT, can I just buy batteries and charger locally, put them in it and I'm good to go?

Interstate Batteries All Battery Centers carry 2200 mAh 18650 batteries for about $6 and chargers for them (same cheap dual battery chargers that come with many Chinese kits) for $4. They offer a 1 year warranty, and you can also order their stuff online to be shipped to your door. There is often one of these stores locally for many people.

Radio Shack also carries 18650 chargers, but they can be pricy at $30-40 for a cheap one of theirs, and they have 1500mAh 18650 batteries for $6 as well.
 

D. Waterhouse

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Interstate Batteries All Battery Centers carry 2200 mAh 18650 batteries for about $6 and chargers for them (same cheap dual battery chargers that come with many Chinese kits) for $4. They offer a 1 year warranty, and you can also order their stuff online to be shipped to your door. There is often one of these stores locally for many people.

Radio Shack also carries 18650 chargers, but they can be pricy at $30-40 for a cheap one of theirs, and they have 1500mAh 18650 batteries for $6 as well.

If you don't know EXACTLY what you need in a battery DO NOT trust a non ecig battery vendor to know what you need. Stick with an ecig vendor you can trust. If you aren't sure about your local B&Ms,
RTD Vapor Is a trusted source and can have your batteries to you in a couple of days.
 

Scarey

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If you don't know EXACTLY what you need in a battery DO NOT trust a non ecig battery vendor to know what you need. Stick with an ecig vendor you can trust. If you aren't sure about your local B&Ms,
RTD Vapor Is a trusted source and can have your batteries to you in a couple of days.

+1 on that.
 

Baditude

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FastTech in no way can be considered an "expert" in e-cig supplies. :laugh:

They sell un-protected ICR batteries (which should NEVER be used in mods) alongside protected and IMR/hybrid batteries. They even include the un-protected batteries in their mod kits. Last I heard, FastTech is no longer shipping batteries overseas.

As stated, buy your batteries and charger from a trusted vendor who specializes in e-cigarette supplies like RTD Vapor.

BATTERY BASICS FOR MODS: IMR or Protected?


Mechanical Mod Proper Usage Guide

Vape Safe Mod Fuse
 
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mackman

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If you don't know EXACTLY what you need in a battery DO NOT trust a non ecig battery vendor to know what you need. Stick with an ecig vendor you can trust. If you aren't sure about your local B&Ms,
RTD Vapor Is a trusted source and can have your batteries to you in a couple of days.

Ditto that; excellent advice and one of the best vendors around.
 

DKP#

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Interstate Batteries All Battery Centers carry 2200 mAh 18650 batteries for about $6 and chargers for them (same cheap dual battery chargers that come with many Chinese kits) for $4. They offer a 1 year warranty, and you can also order their stuff online to be shipped to your door. There is often one of these stores locally for many people.

Radio Shack also carries 18650 chargers, but they can be pricy at $30-40 for a cheap one of theirs, and they have 1500mAh 18650 batteries for $6 as well.

1359348336479.jpg
Spend more than $4 for a charger and $6 for a battery for something you're going to be holding up to your face.


Fasttech has the nitecore i2 chargers for about $15. Around $20 at orbtronic
orbtronic and rtd vapor are reputable battery sources.
Orbtronic has free shipping and doesn't insist on getting your phone number or end their responsibility at giving your order to USPS in writing.
 

Baditude

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Interstate Batteries All Battery Centers carry 2200 mAh 18650 batteries for about $6 and chargers for them (same cheap dual battery chargers that come with many Chinese kits) for $4. They offer a 1 year warranty, and you can also order their stuff online to be shipped to your door. There is often one of these stores locally for many people.

Radio Shack also carries 18650 chargers, but they can be pricy at $30-40 for a cheap one of theirs, and they have 1500mAh 18650 batteries for $6 as well.
I checked out your "recommended" sources of Interstate Batteries and Radio Shack:


Interstate sells only one 18650 battery, which is an un-protected ICR generic battery - NEVER RECOMMENDED for a mod.

Radio Shack only sells one 18650 battery, an Ultrafire 2400mAh protected battery. STILL NOT RECOMMENDED for a mod.


These are the kinds of batteries that can blow up in mods. ECF Members, please don't be a bargain hunter when it comes to mod batteries. It really is worth it to pay a few bucks more for a safe high-quality battery when your safety and that of others is on the line.
 
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BDUAres

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I checked out your "recommended" sources of Interstate Batteries and Radio Shack:


Interstate sells only one 18650 battery, which is an un-protected ICR generic battery - NEVER RECOMMENDED for a mod.

Radio Shack only sells one 18650 battery, an Ultrafire 2400mAh protected battery. STILL NOT RECOMMENDED for a mod.

IB search system can be tricky for some.

(New)3.7v 2.2Ah Li-Ion 18650 PCB - LIT2012 from Interstate Battery System of America, Inc

OP question was for a local B&M source for 18650 batteries and charger. B&M sources, other than small local shops, will limit the OP's options to Radio Shack, IB, Fry's, etc, and the 2 most likely sources to have for anyone without knowing their address is IB and Radio Shack.

I was not giving a review or lecture on safety on a particular battery, and I know you have done extensive web research to put information into the ECF on a variety of batteries. I am not against safety at all, and with more than 3 million vapers in the USA at last estimate the percentage of battery injuries among vapers has been fairly close to 0 regardless of how safe or dangerous any particular battery may be, so that is a good thing. Surprisingly most people who vape seem to have enough brains/common sense to not blow themselves up.

I have been personally vaping on several of the IB protected 18650's for much of this year, both in my mechs and my Vamo, with zero issues, and have exclusively used then with both the $4 dual 18650 charger sold by IB and FT (same model) and the HuanGao USB powered 18650 CC/CV chargers which I have been testing daily for a month, again with no issues. Everyone's experience will vary just as much as the manufacturing process of any item might vary day to day. I can only relate what I have been personally using day in and day out, and what my own experience with it has been. I would not attempt to review a battery I had not actually laid hands on, used realistically, and tested myself.

IB batteries, btw, are made by Johnson Controls, who make the OPTIMA, Heliar, LTH, and VARTA car batteries and the Li-On batteries for Ford and Mercedes.
 
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SissySpike

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If you dont use the proper batteries all you can say is it has not happened to me
Y-our
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If you want to risk your self and your property by going against what the specks and recommended uses of any said battery thats on you, but please don't spout off its ok to do so because its not.

BAs battery list is rock solid and you cant go wrong by following his advise. There have and will continue to be injuries and property loss with the misuse of batteries.Stating there has been 0 injuries is an out right lie and a 100% misinformation.

Atta boy the OP for asking questions. I would not listen to anybody who states these are ok inspite of what every one thinks!

Personally I use RTD they are there to provide quality chargers and batteries for Vapors. They will also answer any questions you might have, and they have great customer service.
 

JWLuke

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Thanks for all the replies. Very useful information. I will be buying my batteries from my local B&M. I was just trying to make sure that if I ordered the tube from FT that I wasn't missing something or needed to later purchase the electronics or guts or whatever. Thanks again for all the help. ECF is literally a lifesaver.
 

Pinggolfer

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I really don't know about mod batteries and chargers but from reading this thread I have to ask why would anyone purchase a battery from FT to save a buck or two? It appears you can buy good batteries which are protected right here in the USA and not put yourself in danger. Still FT is selling mod kits with batteries and chargers when they know there is a issue shipping batteries to the US. My mods are iTaste VV-3 and the MVP 2 which have contained batteries and are basically throw away mods.
 

Baditude

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OP question was for a local B&M source for 18650 batteries and charger. B&M sources, other than small local shops, will limit the OP's options to Radio Shack, IB, Fry's, etc, and the 2 most likely sources to have for anyone without knowing their address is IB and Radio Shack.
Until vendors like Radio Shack, IB, Fry's, etc see the protential for offering proper mod batteries in their stores, these are not places to look for safe batteries for mods. The best answer would be to say if your local vape shop does not carry the battery you need, you will need to purchase from an online vendor that specializes in offering the proper batteries for their mod, ie RTD Vapor.

The batteries that you choose to use are far down the list of acceptable batteries to use in a mod:


1. AW IMR Li-Mn rechargeables.
2. Panasonic hybrid cells. (Sony cells are new on the market at the date of edit [2013-09-01] and it is likely they will also prove acceptable, they are an Li-Mn type).
3. AW Li-FePo4 rechargeables [Li-FePo4's mostly NEED A SPECIAL CHARGER]. Note that these batteries are mostly three volt nominal so the system voltage will be lower than normal. They are the best choice for stacking.
4. Good quality (such as AW or Pila) protected Li-ion rechargeables.
5. Branded protected Li-ions come next - (Trustfire, Surefire, Ultrafire).
6. The least-preferable option is a generic protected Li-ion.
7. Unprotected rechargeable Li-ion cells should not be used.
8. Standard cells (non-rechargeable) MUST NOT be used.

Resource: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/129569-rechargeable-batteries.html
 
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BDUAres

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If you dont use the proper batteries all you can say is it has not happened to me
Y-our
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T-o
If you want to risk your self and your property by going against what the specks and recommended uses of any said battery thats on you, but please don't spout off its ok to do so because its not. BAs battery list is rock solid and you cant go wrong by following his advise.

In case you have forgotten the origin of the term "mod" with regard to e-cigs, it is from taking something and modifying it against it's recommended use and specifications (or specs) into something to vape with. Additionally, no - as in ZERO - battery has been designed and manufactured specifically to be used in a mod, and ALL are potentially dangerous to use in any mod, Provari or $10 mech. Spouting that "the sky is falling!" and "the sky is going to fall!" because someone successfully uses something you know nothing about is illogical. More so when the devices in question are not designed to do what we do with them to begin with, and each and every one of us takes some risk when we hit the button.

What makes a tried and proven protected battery, made in China from a USA design, from the 2nd largest battery specialist company any worse than any other tried and proven protected battery, also made in China but for a much smaller and less capable company, for use in a manner for which it was not designed? Nothing except lack of information, bias and arrogance. Yes BAs battery list is good. It is also, however, far from all encompassing and all inclusive. There are other options, other batteries, available which will work just as well, just as safely. At least as any potential electrical based chemical explosive device could be considered safe.

There have and will continue to be injuries and property loss with the misuse of batteries.Stating there has been 0 injuries is an out right lie and a 100% misinformation.

From the incorrect spelling throughout your post I take it you also have reading and comprehending issues. No one stated there have been 0 injuries. I stated this:

I am not against safety at all, and with more than 3 million vapers in the USA at last estimate the percentage of battery injuries among vapers has been fairly close to 0 regardless of how safe or dangerous any particular battery may be, so that is a good thing. Surprisingly most people who vape seem to have enough brains/common sense to not blow themselves up.

Frankly, if there were even 1,000 battery explosions in mods injuring 1,000 people this year alone (which there haven't been or we would be inundated by mass media about that little bit of news), that would equate to 0.0333 percent of the estimated 3 million vapers just in the USA. Or, as I correctly stated, "fairly close to 0 percent."

No one is saying that buying some no-name battery from an unknown company in China does not increase the risk of injury to anyone using it for something it was not designed to do. It can increase that risk, though much more likely it ends up being not as powerful or long lasting as it was advertised. Such is the Chinese junk.

Someone like Andrew Wan (AW) takes high quality unprotected Panasonic/Samsung batteries, tests them out and puts a PCB on them, and markets it as their own. I verified this myself. You could as well. His email is awwan01 at yahoo and you can find him on CPF Marketplace (candlepowerforums), which is where he got his start. His batteries are arguably considered the best. They are also technically homemade "mods" of other batteries. Go figure.

By the same token there are batteries not on BAs list which can and do function, safely, and which come from companies even larger and more knowledgeable about Li-On batteries than most of the companies on his list. This might explain why Johnson Controls makes the Li-On batteries for Ford & Daimler, and the batteries for Chevrolet, while AW/Efest/MNKE only wish they did.

That there are other options than BAs list is unquestionable. His list is good, and someone following it will be as safe, and in as much danger, as the next guy. It's all a crap shoot with Chinese manufactured products. But his list is, and always will be, incomplete and not being on his list does not necessarily make a battery "bad", "unsafe", or "sub-par".

Would I trust an Ultrafire battery? Not really, but it would be more a distrust of the mAh label than the safety. Would I use one in a pinch over some generic Chinese no-name? Yes, but unhappily and I would replace it ASAP. It's main attraction to me would be that it was readily available, with warranty, from the largest B&M electronic retail chain in the USA - Radio Shack. Would I trust the Johnson Controls Interstate Batteries 18650 PCB? So far yes, both because of their expertise and experience in Li-On technology as well as the fact that I have personally tested them and use them daily, they work as advertised, and the quality is very good and they also come with a 1 year warranty. Trust is a misnomer, however, and when used in the e-cig mod battery genre it is akin to trusting a snake or scorpion in your hand.
 
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Caridwen

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I really don't know about mod batteries and chargers but from reading this thread I have to ask why would anyone purchase a battery from FT to save a buck or two? It appears you can buy good batteries which are protected right here in the USA and not put yourself in danger. Still FT is selling mod kits with batteries and chargers when they know there is a issue shipping batteries to the US. My mods are iTaste VV-3 and the MVP 2 which have contained batteries and are basically throw away mods.

No clue. I'm like that L'Oreal commercial when it comes to batteries/chargers "I'm worth it". Won't be sticking any cheapo batteries in my mouth, between my teeth, near my eyes.
 

Pinggolfer

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No clue. I'm like that L'Oreal commercial when it comes to batteries/chargers "I'm worth it". Won't be sticking any cheapo batteries in my mouth, between my teeth, near my eyes.

I don't blame you at all. I went with Innokin mods only because they seem to make a solid, dependable, and safe product. Of course one day I'll be looking at the Provari with safe batteries.
 
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