Illumn has VTC5s in stock
- Thread starter Verb
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
Because they're VTC5s from a reputable vendor. Considering how much hype VTC5s have gotten, some people would want to try them. I got no way of testing them so I wouldn't bother, but the VTC5s I had while they were would were nice batteries.
I did have doubts about the batteries being authentic, then again I'm skeptical about a lot of vape related things I buy. Seeing the batteries for sale from a reputable vendor with the combination of other respected batteries marked down for sale I figured I'd give it a shot. At least I know the other batteries I purchased are good.
It does concern me that the VTC5 was off the market and suddenly up for sale. Illumn states on the listing that they "sourced them through testing" and that could be true or false. So far they look as they should.
Not sure how to use this info. Maybe someone can explain where the code is. Here is what's printed on one of mine:
K C5A1XXDO5T
I won't say how many I ordered, but I ordered the number I did because I trust Illumn to either be selling legit VTC5s or be a class act if they aren't. I'm primarily a mech user so I like the extra room I get from them over the 25Rs. Appearance-wise, there's nothing suspicious about them when compared to a 100%legit one. I expect them to be NOS so I won't be disappointed if that's the case.
That's why I'm sticking with built in battery devices for now, less to worry about(unless you have a istick50 maybe 
)
)
I will say this...
I won't say precisely who until I buy my own first (Don't want everyone to rush out and buy them before I get mine), but I do know of another EXTREMELY reputable battery seller that just got in a shipment of VTC5 batteries directly from Sony. Sony is making them again, and is apparently shipping them out. I know for a fact that this battery seller does not buy any batteries from 3rd party suppliers, they all come directly from the manufacturer.
I won't say precisely who until I buy my own first (Don't want everyone to rush out and buy them before I get mine), but I do know of another EXTREMELY reputable battery seller that just got in a shipment of VTC5 batteries directly from Sony. Sony is making them again, and is apparently shipping them out. I know for a fact that this battery seller does not buy any batteries from 3rd party suppliers, they all come directly from the manufacturer.
So this is a lie or what?
Sony's official response to the availability of VTC4 and VTC5
18650s
Sony's official response to the availability of VTC4 and VTC5
18650s
I'm going by memory here but that reads just like the message that was released a while back that couldn't be verified.
If the decoder is correct, the last five characters XD05T mean the battery was produced April 5th, 2015.
Both of the batteries that I received yesterday had the code K C5A1XXDO5T as well.
Depends on how you look at it. Is that Sony's official response when confronted by users who they never intended to have their product and who are using it for purposes they consider to be a liability? Yup. You betcha. --> Was it an entirely truthful response? Nope. VTC5s have been in steady supply and constantly manufactured for the companies who use them in their cordless tool battery packs this whole time.
A lie. They do not want to face liability if a vaper blows himself up. These batteries were never intended to be sent directly to consumers. They are meant to be OEM's sent to manufacturers of power tools, computers, etc.
If Sony really does have battery plants still in operation, I find it hard to believe they would just stop making VTC5's for the hell of it.
So we basically have no idea where they are coming from, or who is actually manufacturing them?
Yes. We actually do have an idea about where they are manufactured. Search for plumes of hazard episode 31 on youtube. When you find the video, pull the slider to about an hour five (1:05) and watch from there.
I have no idea, but what Big Ego said seems reasonable to me.
Sony is still providing VTC batteries for the OEM market. We know this.
Sony never intended for VTC batteries to be available on the open market. So when vapers ask if they are making them, their stock answer is going to be a firm, "NO". Sony doesn't want the multi-million dollar liability risks of a 0.01 ohm cloud chaser suing them for blowing his face off.
Our problem is complicated because disreputable vendors are also selling fakes (re-wrapped batteries of unknown origin and quality). It then falls upon us to find reputable vendors who have a reasonable idea of where their VTC batteries originated. Hence, RTD Vapor, Orbtronics, and Illumn. These companies work hard to keep their good reputation and will not knowingly sell fakes.
Last edited:
that doesn't clear anything up for me, it is just another bunch of people saying something I could either trust or be skeptical of
I'm not, but still would like to know where they are coming from. If sony is not distributing them to any vaping companies, who is?
We may never know who, exactly.
Maybe the factories who are making the batteries for Sony? That's typically how the ecig product business works. Name brand company in China commissions a factory to make product. Factory leaks some of that product to their own customer base. That's been happening in China for years. Sony probably doesn't like it, but what can they do?
Last edited:
Well. Maybe you could figure out who those people are... specifically the fellow talking about the meeting with the Sony rep... and then maybe you'll have a reason to trust or distrust them. I don't know what to tell you, but I personally make it a point not to waste my time telling you lies and gossip.
Here's how it is - believe me or not: Sony is still distributing VTC5s and never stopped doing so. They are currently made in South Korea and the Philippines. They are 100% intended for cordless tool battery packs and similar devices produced by about 6 or perhaps 7 manufacturers of such things. There is ample evidence provided by those who follow the cordless tool industry and by those who use VTC5s for electric bicycles (E-Bikes) that the flow of VTC5s never stopped, never paused, and never even hesitated. What we (and the E-bike guys, for that matter) do with these batteries is far outside the intended purpose of these batteries. Sony views our use as a liability and would prefer we don't have access to these batteries. So, when asked about availability of these batteries by anyone they don't intend to make them available to, they say NO. When asked about production, they say NO. When asked about future production and availability, they say NO. When asked about supply, they say NO. Sony is fully aware of the counterfeits and they are fully aware that some of the supply leaks out and ends up in end users hands. Sony views this as nothing but liability and does everything in their power to refrain from giving anyone any ideas about how to get VTC5s so they just say NO - We don't have any - We don't make any - They don't exist. That's so they don't have to say anything meaner and accuse those who inquire of trying to do something shady.
- Status
Similar threads
