Fake AW 18650...?

[Broklynite]

Hi folks, I've been meaning to write this for a while, but it kept slipping my mind. I ordered my Provari ~7 months ago (a single day before they came out with V2, of course). Along with the Provari, I also ordered odds and ends, like 18650s, a charger, etc.

I soon also bought my wife a provari, and her own set of batteries. Between the two of us, the crappy charger I had bought just wasn't doing it. I decided to take the plunge and buy a Pila. I did a bit of looking and found RTD Vapor. I bought the charger with another pair of batteries (you can never have too many, right?).

I soon noticed that some batteries had a noticeably shorter lifetime than the other. I also noticed that they both looked different. Before you ask, neither set is a flat top. Something that obvious I would have sent back immediately. But take a look at the pic I took of the two different battery types. The font is different, one lacks all info of where it was manufactured, recycling info, etc. which leads me to suspect that it is fake. But I don't know. I'd really value your responses.

I am not saying where each one came from, because I need to wait until I get home and count the number I have from each to double check.

 

[vsummer1]

Hmmm? I would venture to say that the top ones would be the fake ones as they don't have all the CE stuff on them. Plus those chinese sure do see better than I do, they make all those itsy bitsy parts like attys. They probably didn't think anything about the size of the font and the fact that the one that admits "made in china" is more authentic than the ones that slide in without the country of origin.

Okay, pulled mine out. The ones I got from ProVape clearly state made in china and are the bottom ones. I would be curious to know which ones lasted longer and if they are the top ones, where you got them so I can get one too

 

[Broklynite]

Ah, I should have said- I haven't correlated length of use with skin yet. Give me a week and maybe I can tho

One person in the livechat thinks that it may be a date thing- older AWs look like the top one, newer ones look like the bottom. I don't know if that's the case, but I'm putting it out there.

 

[Kremppie]

I have five AW batteries that were bought in June of this year from Provape, and they look like the bottom battery. I have two different sizes also.

 

[Senoufo]

my order from provape yesterday for a provari came with the bottom batteries as well.

 

[Rymarski]

I bought the batteries from Provape earlier this year and they look like the top one. They work just fine.

 

[Fiamma]

Both the batteries I bought from Provape and RTD look like the top ones. I have not had to buy batteries for 5 months. Maybe the bottom ones are new style?

Depending on how many cyckes you have on the 7 month old ones, I'd assume they will be shorter life by now. Batteries are not forever.

 

[wseternmd]

I will have to say i am jealous. I just wish I had to have the batteries for the provari, that I don't have so I could compare the batteries that I don't need. But one day I will need the batteries for the provari that I don't have. lol, just sayin

 

[WillyB]

The shame is it's kinda hard to actually contact the actual re-wrapper, AW, for confirmation. Seems the only place would be at the CandlePower forums which function as his home office and sales office.

That said from a review from 6-7-2012.

This may be his email.

awwan01@yahoo.com

 

[KTaylor]

I have two 18650 AW IMR 1600mAh batts that I purchased from ProVape over a year ago and they look like the top one, so I wonder if they have changed the labeling on the skins. They are still lasting around 6-8 hrs and have always been cycled on my pila charger. I do want the new 2000 mAh so I may be ordering soon but will be interested to see what comes of this thread so I don't get knockoffs.

 

[WillyB]

... I do want the new 2000 mAh so I may be ordering soon but will be interested to see what comes of this thread so I don't get knockoffs.

What device are you using them in? Have you ever checked the voltage of your cell at the point it stops and needs re-charging?

Having more mAh if it's below the cut-off is useless. The original AW IMR1600s appear to be true IMRs with over 200+% more discharge capability.

SuperTManufacturing has done some fine testing with great explanations. He fully understands the batteries he sells and notes the fallacy of just shooting for mAh.

Note that they are essentially equal till 3.4V.

Although it's probably anecdotal evidence, I've see more that a few posts of folks complaining about sub-par performance with the 2000mAhs bought from various other vendors.

Buying from someone who understands and tests what he sells seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[BlueSnake]

One possibility is if your old charger was overcharging the batteries that could lead to the problem you're having. Overcharging will lead to shorter cycles and shorter battery life. Had you been checking the batteries with a multimeter?

 

[AnsonJames]

The bottom 18650 with all the markings are the newer style AW's whilst the top looks like the old type - they both look genuine.

 

[trademark]

The bottom 18650 with all the markings are the newer style AW's whilst the top looks like the old type - they both look genuine.

Yup they are both authentic AW batteries. on top they are the old one's, newer production AW batts comes with the CE Rohs made in China markings. btw, i am a dealer of AW batts in the Philippines and i get them direct from the maker

 

[classwife]

Moved to Battery Issues from APV Discussion

 

[Torchy]

Bottom one is fake. I have several Aw of all sizes. None have the additional printing and test results are as expected from AW.
If you want to send me one of the fake ones to test, I'll send you a SenyBor IMR 2250mAh to try (button top) or Panasonic CGR18650CH (flat top).

 

[Morandir835]

Torchy (guessing sir?) the bottom ones aren't fake, aw has updated the wrapper. All the new imr batts have the rhos, made in China, etc. markings on them.

 

[Torchy]

Torchy (guessing sir?) the bottom ones aren't fake, aw has updated the wrapper. All the new imr batts have the rhos, made in China, etc. markings on them.

I wouldn't mind testing one to make sure given the reported difference in performance.