Just received a "Fake" AW 18650 Battery !!

[Bahiaboy]

I already have 2 Genuine AW 18650 Batterys for my Lavatube,ordered a spare 18650 (No name specified)with an order of Carts & Liquid from a UK Vendor ........
The Battery is Marked AW and to all intents and purposes looks like an AW but it has a flat top ?? no nipple ??
Athough this is branded as AW it is not the same as the Genuine ones ,its the same one as the pics posted on this Forum as a Fake AW !!
Question is though is it safe to use ????

 

[Creniker]

If its the same fake one as what Volcano had, then its a unprotected lithium cell and is not safe whatsoever.

 

[Nomoreash]

Contact the vendor, let them know it's been verified as fake and AW doesn't make a flat top 18650 IMR. They can easily check this out for themselves if they don't know. They should make it right.

I doubt you'd have any safety issues using it as the mod has protection built in but it's a generic battery, may be unporoteted, who knows and was represented to be a Genuine AW. Why settle for lower quality or take the risk.

 

[Bahiaboy]

Yes thats the one Creniker exactly the same !!! I have been looking at the Volcano Forum looks like people are happy to use them saying the L/T has its own in built safety circuit !! The battery was not purchased from Volcano though and was not advertised as an AW who knows ???

 

[Ande]

Probably the same battery as the ones that were coming from Volcano.

Would I use it- no. Not sure what it is, after all. I think, without being sure, that it's probably an unprotected lithium ion battery. This might (is often considered to) be safe to use in a mod with a protection circuit, like the LT, Buzz pro, etc.

But the way I figure it, I wear my seat belt even when the car I'm driving has an air bag. Two levels of protection are better that one.

Protection circuits (in the mod, or in the battery) can fail. If you have two, and one fails, you may not even notice.

If you have only one layer of protection, and it fails, you may notice in a big way.

One question I'd ask is what was this battery advertised as? If it was called IMR, I think you have a case to ask for a replacement. If you just bought an "18650 battery" without details, well, that's what you got.

But I would absolutely NOT use it in any mod without protection circuits. PLEASE do not use it in any mechanical mod.

Many people still might use it in a lavatube, though I personally wouldn't and don't recommend it.


Best,
Justin

 

[donnah]

I've been using the one I got from volcano with no problems.

 

[conan]

If its the same fake one as what Volcano had, then its a unprotected lithium cell and is not safe whatsoever.

Thank you for the information, I did not know that.

 

[Ande]

I've been using the one I got from volcano with no problems.

And will probably continue to.

Probably, nothing will happen.

Still seems like skipping the seatbelt because you have an airbag to me though.

Best,
Ande

 

[L7D4N]

And will probably continue to.

Probably, nothing will happen.

Still seems like skipping the seatbelt because you have an airbag to me though.

Best,
Ande

That's the best analogy I've encountered yet, and I completely agree. That was the primary reason I was adamant about the battery issue when this happened. My issue was with the LavaTube coupled with these batteries, as the LavaTube having their first run issues, it's completely in the realm of possibility that the "Protection" of the LavaTube could fail in the event of a dead short, and you wouldn't know until it was too late if it did indeed work.

 

[Ande]

The way I figure it, a new IMR battery is going to cost you less than $15. My face is worth at least $20.

So why mess around with possibilities of blowing my face off?

Ande

 

[D4rk50ul]

There are many debates about protected vs IMR batteries, but one fact is never debatable. Do NOT use an unprotected cobalt based battery ever. If you think this MIGHT be what you have, don't risk it spend the extra cash.

Sent from my Hyperdroid HD2.

 

[jackbox]

The flat top top batteries are made to have a solder tab welded to them for building battery packs for RC, notebook computers, etc. As part of the battery pack build a protection circuit board is added for the entire pack. Using a battery like this in a PV would be dangerous as it is unprotected and can easily overheat and/or explode under any number of conditions. Do not use it in a PV. It is not safe.

 

[Bahiaboy]

That,s it, not going to chance this battery will stick to the genuine AW,s its just not worth the risk,however small,pretty frightening to see hundreds of these battery,s being sold though to unsuspecting people as well !!!
I will contact the Vendor where I bought this battery and inform them they are selling "fake AW battery,s" !!!!

 

[jackbox]

That,s it, not going to chance this battery will stick to the genuine AW,s its just not worth the risk,however small,pretty frightening to see hundreds of these battery,s being sold though to unsuspecting people as well !!!
I will contact the Vendor where I bought this battery and inform them they are selling "fake AW battery,s" !!!!

Fake and counterfeit batteries are common among Chinese suppliers. Buyers need to make sure they are buying protected cells and check photos carefully before buying. Many of the counterfeit batteries have bad temperature sensors also. They never tell the protection circuitry the true temp of the battery which can lead to an overheat, runaway, explosion scenario.