Limited battery choice!

[juicynoos]

Hi all. Here in St Martin there is only 1 shop and they have a choice of 2 batteries:
1 year old AW 2000 mAh cells or brand new efest 3000mAh, They are all shipped here from France.

I was hoping they might get a stock the new AW's with the black band on the bottom, since their old stock was AW 18650's 1600 mAh 24 amp rated or 2000 mAh 10amp.

I use the 1600's in my mechs and am happy with the safety of those although they don't last long at 0.5 ohms on an rda.
It is difficult to buy from the USA because of shipping cost's and time considerations but I have managed to get a few Sammy's 25r in the past.

So for a regulated dual 18650 series mod, which would you get..new efest 3000 Li-Mn or old AW 2000 mah?

 

[Baditude]

I'm going to go against my common sense and recommend the Efests.

Even though purple Efest are re-wrap batteries and they exaggerate their battery specifications, and the fact that you don't really know what cell is under the wrap at any given time, they "should" be a superior battery to the old AW 2000mah 10 amp batteries. Just keep in mind that it is not a 35 amp battery as advertised.

Efest Purple 35A 3000mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...only a 20A battery, equal to HG2 though

Purple Efest Batteries Not As Advertised

 

[sonicbomb]

Both are re-wraps, and as such neither the specs nor the quality of the cell inside can be trusted. Seeing as these are your only choices and as much as it pains me to do so (I detest Efest), I think they are your best choice. Be aware that (at least when Mooch tested it) it is a 20 amp CDR battery. New is better than old and 3000mAh is better than 1600/2000 mAh.
Just don't exceed 100 watts


*edit - Bad beat me to it

 

[juicynoos]

Don't worry, @sonicbomb, Bad always beats everyone on battery posts.. Lol
Well, I already made the same decision myself and bought a pair of the 3000mAh efest's against my own preference for the AW's.

They are the 4 post type so I don't know what lies within but will rewrap both and post pics later. I don't plan on pushing them beyond 30 watts anyway and will assume a 10 amp limit.

I'm just not interested in buying 1-2 year old stock at 28 euro's a pair.

Thanks guys for the advice, glad to see we all came to the same conclusion even if it was begrudgingly. Really sucks living in the tropics sometimes-NOT

 

[Jim_ MDP]

It's a bad day when the "lesser of two evils" is an Efest battery.

At least you've still got the beach.

If ordering from the U.S. is restricted, how about the EU?
Plenty of UK vapers passing tips back and forth for getting gear... and yes, batteries.

I usually see Conan's name associated with those threads.

 

[juicynoos]

Usually I'll order from Illumin or such, this is the 1st time I got caught short for batteries for a regulat'd device..c'est la vie (no biggy)
Europe can keep their batteries, you see the price I paid right?

 

[Jim_ MDP]

Usually I'll order from Illumin or such...

Ah, okay that makes sense then.
And yeah, I saw the price you posted... just thought it would be cruel to comment on it at all.

 

[juicynoos]

Ok, this isn't gonna work well, I suspect, for my 'in-series' mod. Excuse my spiel if it is slurred.. but I had a few beverages earlier!

Just got home and copped a look at the efest's just now since picking them up after the beach earlier.
The 2 cells I got are different..1 has 3 legs and the other is a 4 legs on the positive. Not a good alliance for in series situations!

This confirms exactly what @Mooch discovered and reported in another thread describing several different re-wraps of the 3000mAh efest cells.

I read in that thread that a certain french supplier (possibly the supplier in this case) stated that the efest's Mooch was testing MUST be fake since France has only the 4 leg variety on the positive and further stated that he dealt in 1000's of batteries from them-hahahaha Well, here is the evidence that he is talking absolute BS.

and the fact that you don't really know what cell is under the wrap at any given time

You're not wrong there Bad.

Both are re-wraps, and as such neither the specs nor the quality of the cell inside can be trusted

Apparently, you are also spot on when it comes to efest; however, I have always thought of AW as a quality product and that the owner chooses the 'top of the bin' cells..hence is able to offer extremely long lasting and reliable products...correct me if I am wrong.

New is better than old and 3000mAh is better than 1600/2000 mAh.
Just don't exceed 100 watts

100 watts, well with 2 entirely different cells I won't be using these efests. I may have no choice but to exchange them for the AW's. Isn't it risky to use odd cells even if they are married?
The problem with choosing the lesser of 2 evils here..is knowing which is the most EVIL

just thought it would be cruel to comment on it at all.

You are most kind but say what you think, I have very thick skin. Actually, I am really thrilled to be able to prove Mooch right and the french supplier wrong by being in a position to buy the French (over-priced) product...although it may be a one time deal!! And of course, as you say, I have the beach life..i.e. life in 'Paradox'

Think I'll be getting in touch with efest myself to ask about this anomaly and to ask if these are safe to use in-series as is their claim hehe.

There is even a phone number.

So i wonder which 2 cells I have here???????????????

 

[sonicbomb]

Anti-counterfeit service to verify the authenticity of your fakes. Always gave me a laugh

 

[Etude Cheng]

I prefer to Evva technology. they could offer authentic li-ion cells with high quality and other power solution.

 

[Mooch]

I prefer to Evva technology. they could offer authentic li-ion cells with high quality and other power solution.

Have you worked at Evva for a long time?

 

[Baditude]

I have always thought of AW as a quality product and that the owner chooses the 'top of the bin' cells..hence is able to offer extremely long lasting and reliable products...correct me if I am wrong.

I've always had a strong preference for AW brand batteries myself. I still have 4 year old AW 18650 2000mAh 10 amp batteries that still work in my Provari's. Not as well as when new of course, but they still hold a charge for a few hours with use in a Provari.

I have heard all the rumors that AW's are rewraps. And indeed they probably were a few years ago when all they sold were the black & silver protected ICR batteries. The wrapper said, "Manufactured in China, Cell and IC made in Japan."

It's just a personal hunch, but I believe AW made enough of a small fortune to be able to make his own factory in China. I base this hunch on a few things which I have observed:

• AW was, to the best of my memory, the first brand to offer an IMR battery on the common market...even before Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, or LG.
• AW batteries now say only, "Made in China".
  
• The lone exception is the AW 18650 3000mAh 20 amp battery which says, "Cell made in Korea". This could very well be a re-wrapped LG HG2 (LG is in Korea).
  
• AW makes great batteries in 14500, 18350, and 18490 sizes. LG, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic do not. If AW is not making their own batteries in these sizes, who is?

As I said, I have no evidence to support my hunch other than the above observations. I think it is perfectly plausible that AW is making the vast majority of their own batteries and are not rewraps.

 

[juicynoos]

Or at the very least has a 'crony' relationship with a good battery manufacturer in China and gets to choose and take the cream from the top, is what I read somewhere.

Whatever the case may be, they have tested well consistently (as I'm sure Mooch will attest-no pun intended) and I feel confident using them in my mechs even as they are used quite heavily.

Thanks for the input Bad.

 

[sonicbomb]

I recommended Efest batteries, I feel dirty..

 

[zandersig]

I know who has VTC5's "green" batteries. They rock, seriously! They last way longer than those newest "Red" LG batteries that's been out about 5 months now?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[williamclarkonet]

I would just use the AWs at below 10amps before I use the efest

 

[juicynoos]

I would just use the AWs at below 10amps before I use the efest

The AW's on offer in this case are 1, maybe 2 yr old stock. The 2 efest I'm using in a series mod which I use in temp control. I need the added mAh and 10 amps is all those old AW battery's can offer at best. Even with rewrapped efests that would be the lower amp rating but hopefully they are HG2's with 20 amp and some headroom. But really, who knows what I got

 

[Etude Cheng]

Actully,No matter AW's or Efest, they r quite good.
However, i would like to share EVVA VAPPOWER IMR 18650 3500mAh.

 

[Mooch]

Actully,No matter AW's or Efest, they r quite good.
However, i would like to share EVVA VAPPOWER IMR 18650 3500mAh.

View attachment 555951

Which cells do you rewrap for that, the Panasonic NCR18650B or LG MJ1?

 

[Etude Cheng]

u r so professional. would u like a try?