New TrustFire 14500 - Flaw in shrinkwrap?

[devnull71]

I just received two TrustFire 14500 protected batteries from Deal Extreme. One of the batteries had what appeared to be a bulge on one side of the positive terminal (the white plastic cap raised on one side). Now it looks to be just a flaw in the shrink wrap, as I can push the white cap back to level.

Since this is going in my first 5v battery mod, I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has received batteries with similar flaws. I'm debating on whether to charge it up, or just write it off and order a new one.

 

[juicefreak]

i probably wouldn't chance it. DX has good customer service. maybe take a picture of it and send it to DX to show them. they'd probably send you a replacement battery right away. well "DX delivery" right away lol, but you would get it.

 

[JBTX1]

I just received 3 of the new Trustfire 3.7V , 14500, 900mah batteries back on 3/5/2010. These were purchased along with a new VP2 from vaprlife. I had been rotating them after the initial charge. One of them would not take a charge. After checking it with the multi-meter and inspecting it, I found a small seam tear in the shrink wrapping on the negative side. Voltage checked out to be only 0.5VDC. I e-mailed vaprlife and told them. They said they would send me one out pronto. I think the manufacturer may have a bad batch it sounds like......Hope my other two hold up. Hmmmnn?

 

[devnull71]

i probably wouldn't chance it. DX has good customer service. maybe take a picture of it and send it to DX to show them. they'd probably send you a replacement battery right away. well "DX delivery" right away lol, but you would get it.

Thanks Juicefreak, I've submitted a customer service request with DX.

On a side note, what's the rule of thumb in mixing 14500's? I have one TrustFire and one UltraFire. These would be used in a plastic 5v box mod.

I assume the only concern in "combining" batteries is if you treat them as a single cell and try to charge them together.

 

[Rocketman]

Mixing batteries: DON'T

Don't mix batteries with different capacities, age, state of charge.
Don't DRAW current or PUSH current through a stack (a stack is more than 1) if the cells aren't pretty much exactly the same.
Know what the "weak link" is in any system or it will bite you in the .... when you least expect it.

Rocket

 

[5cardstud]

Sounds like dealxtreme. I wouldn't order nothing from them after my first, last and only time.

 

[stltransporter]

ah crap i just ordered from them last night too

 

[Rocketman]

VaporChristmas. Order from DX, it will come in, you will have forgotten you ordered it, and it will be like Christmas morning all over again.

Don't miss the point about not mixing batteries, please.

R

 

[theknifemaker]

I got 4 Trustfire 3.7V , 14500, 900mah batteries from dealextreme about 10 days ago and they have been great so far. No problems at all and at a good price. It did take a while to get here and I wonder how long they will last.

 

[redeyedancer]

I have got some junkers myself the shrink rap all crooked ect.I had two that would barley fit in my janty.I tossed them

 

[Rocketman]

tossed them? you can make propulsion units for bathtub submarines out of them, man do they go

R

 

[garyd]

I get my batteries here:
Flashlights, Batteries, etc : High Tech DealZ, Simplifying the LASER Hobby!
Free shipping even if you order only 1 battery.