New UltraFire 14500's are 1mm longer!

[Ralph T]

Just noticed that the latest round of UltraFire 14500 Protected (from madvapes) batteries are longer than the ones I got from Madvapes before. The old ones were a pretty tight fit to begin with. The new ones are 53.5 mm long! The old ones were about 52.25.

Comparing side by side it would appear that the difference is on the positive end of the battery.

If you make mods for friends or to sell, make sure these new batts will fit before shipping. Looks like I have a lot of extra work to do now.

ETA: Actually this is going to require a complete rework of my 4xAA box mod. Before, these batteries fit in a Rat Shack 4xAA box by simply cutting the spring back half way. The new ones will require flattening the positive contact and perhaps even grinding the plastic guides off. Darnit! Darn manufacturers!

 

[TheLizinator]

I got a pair of these for my 5 volt box mod and it seemed there would be no way to force them in after using the blue Trustfires. I clipped down the springs on each end and now they go in (very tightly). When I swapped out to the shorter Trustfires, of course, the connection wasn't being made so I searched my hardware stash and stole a positive-end battery connector out of an old cheapie flashlight I had. I use it as a spacer now under one of the Trustfires and it works fine. Not the most convenient solution, but it works. I'll just get more Ultrafires so I don't have to mess with a spacer later.

 

[Ralph T]

I got a pair of these for my 5 volt box mod and it seemed there would be no way to force them in after using the blue Trustfires. I clipped down the springs on each end and now they go in (very tightly). When I swapped out to the shorter Trustfires, of course, the connection wasn't being made so I searched my hardware stash and stole a positive-end battery connector out of an old cheapie flashlight I had. I use it as a spacer now under one of the Trustfires and it works fine. Not the most convenient solution, but it works. I'll just get more Ultrafires so I don't have to mess with a spacer later.

Oh, its still possible to tweak things. Problem is I have made quite a few for friends and now there will could be an immediate problem for them if they order replacement batteries.

[BESTGUESS]
I think that for most people, running two of these batts in parallel, with a spare set in the charger, alternating days, they will probably last 4 to 6 months before requiring replacement.
[/BESTGUESS]

 

[rfun6]

Yeah I have the same problem, but not with batteries gotten at madvapes. I only have two that fit my AA box. All the rest are too long. I wish I could find somewhere that has the shorter length in the 14500. The two I have are older and going to give out soon. I sure need to find replacements for them. It has nothing to do with what color you get. I have some gray that are longer, some blue that are longer, and the two that fit just right are blue. And all of mine say trustfire on them. I think it is a manufacturing not making sure all are alike.

 

[Ralph T]

Yeah I have the same problem, but not with batteries gotten at madvapes. I only have two that fit my AA box. All the rest are too long. I wish I could find somewhere that has the shorter length in the 14500. The two I have are older and going to give out soon. I sure need to find replacements for them. It has nothing to do with what color you get. I have some gray that are longer, some blue that are longer, and the two that fit just right are blue. And all of mine say trustfire on them. I think it is a manufacturing not making sure all are alike.

Yes, and to further complicate things it looks like not ALL of the latest batch are longer. The long ones in this batch have the old label, complete with the mis-spelling of voltage (voltgae). The regular size ones (in this new batch) have smaller writing, better spelling and a more complete, profesional looking warning label. WTF?

 

[hoogie76]

I'll chat with the manufacturer and let them know about the difference and see what the response is..

hoog.

 

[Ralph T]

I'll chat with the manufacturer and let them know about the difference and see what the response is..

hoog.

Thanks. I have 8 of the longer ones, (and perhaps some slipped out the door). I usually charge a set and stick it in the mod before handing them out to friends. The other set and charger I give out is still in original packing.

The easy way to tell the difference (without actual measurement) is that the longer ones have a positive terminal that is more pronounced... protrudes more. There are two vent holes in the positive terminal. Looking at the battery from the side, you can see the entire vent hole on the longer ones. Whereas the hole is partially obscured on the shorter ones.

Also, the long ones seem to have the old comical label. The ones with the better label seem to be OK. Actually, the better label is pretty comical also. More complete warnings, but even more spelling errors. The new label has the Caution Triangle and a recycle symbol on it.

Added Picture:

Left, original battery I got a month or so ago. Middle, the longer battery received about a week ago. Right, normal size, new label also received about a week ago.

 

[rfun6]

If anyone finds the shorter ones at a good price let me know. I need some!!

 

[TheLizinator]

Well, I figure if I'm going to get all lengths of the same battery, I'd better rig up ways to compensate for the length (or lack thereof). I love my 5v AA boxmod enough to deal with these irritating little issues that seem to be the Story of Vaping. I'm just starting to create them myself so maybe I'll make some for shorties and some for longies. Maybe invent an insert that will slip in and out easily to accommodate the differences. Wish these Chinese manufacturers would: A. learn to check their spelling and B. learn to be consistent with their product specs.

 

[Ralph T]

Well, I figure if I'm going to get all lengths of the same battery, I'd better rig up ways to compensate for the length (or lack thereof). I love my 5v AA boxmod enough to deal with these irritating little issues that seem to be the Story of Vaping. I'm just starting to create them myself so maybe I'll make some for shorties and some for longies. Maybe invent an insert that will slip in and out easily to accommodate the differences. Wish these Chinese manufacturers would: A. learn to check their spelling and B. learn to be consistent with their product specs.

I think that the "Protected" 14500 is a relatively new product. It could be that they are using a "new" protection circuit on the positive side. Or, perhaps they are trying to make it so it WONT fit in a AA slot to avoid damaging AA type equipment and cant be mistakenly placed in a NiMH/NiCd charger.

Maybe Mark can get some insight from the mfg. This certainly isn't Marks fault.

 

[Dkrom68]

Ive also had the same problem with the Trustfire 14500 bats as well. There a little longer and a hair wider in diameter on the positive end Makes for a no fit in a Protege.

 

[Ralph T]

Ive also had the same problem with the Trustfire 14500 bats as well. There a little longer and a hair wider in diameter on the positive end Makes for a no fit in a Protege.

That sucks! I have often wondered if UltraFire and TrustFire are just two different brand names of the same product. That would explain why we have the same issue with both batts. Or it could be that they are acquiring the "protection" pcb's from the same source. I guess I need to go over to the candlepower forums (flashlight fanatics) and see if there is any news on this over there.

 

[Dkrom68]

Yeah it really does but atleast the word voltage is spelled proper on these ones. It could just be clones for all we know anything coming out of china these days is skeptical in my opinion.

 

[wolflrv]

Glad to know I'm not just nuts...I've been following several mod tutorials and they all show the batteries just going in fine...but luckily I checked my new 14500's in the boxes before building them up and there's no way they'll fit. So far I've been able to strip out all the "tab"s in the boxes that don't have switches and just epoxy the contacts to the back walls of the box and it will fit in there...still have to trim the spring some..but it will fit. Haven't been able to make them work at all in the boxes that have the on/off switches...which is of course the one I really wanted to use.

 

[Ralph T]

These 14430's are starting to look better and better. They are about 1/4" shorter, AA diameter. Only a little over 2/3rds the capacity of the 14500 though.

 

[Dkrom68]

Hey Ralph what is the actual Mah it says 650 in the heading and 800 in the body of the description Guessing game I guess but they would be nice if 800 thats only 100Mah less than the 14500's

 

[Ralph T]

Hey Ralph what is the actual Mah it says 650 in the heading and 800 in the body of the description Guessing game I guess but they would be nice if 800 thats only 100Mah less than the 14500's

I would think the lower 650 number would be more accurate.

 

[Dkrom68]

Have to do a little research if there 800mah it would be ideal

 

[Dkrom68]

I think there the 650 or could be 600 depending

 

[Ralph T]

As Mark states, they are not button top. Look at the third picture. So you would have to rework the + side no matter what. Still, it is an intriguing idea to squeeze 2 batteries, a switch, and batt connector into a 2xAA box.