Provari Mini 18500 Battery

[Heartsdelight]

Which nipple top battery is better for a Provari Mini with the extension cap?

18500 KeepPower 2000mAh Panasonic NCR18500 Protected Button Top

Or

18500 Efest Purple IMR18500 V2 1000mAh High Discharge Button Top

Thanks guys!

 

[Heartsdelight]

Uhm... in reading the specs I think the Efest are better because of the max discharge current?

 

[Topwater Elvis]

You shouldn't use any protected cell in modern regulated vaping devices.

The Efest is an erroneously labeled re wrap cell of unknown quality, most likely around 10a CDR or less.
The Provari 2.5 mini has a fairly low amp limit 3a - 5a and very good built in protection features.

The selection of 18490 - 18500 button top cells is quite limited, I'd look around at all the recommended / known reputable battery suppliers to see what all is being offered.

As much as I dislike saying it, for an 18490 -18500 cell your best bet probably is the Efest.

 

[Heartsdelight]

You shouldn't use any protected cell in modern regulated vaping devices.

The Efest is an erroneously labeled re wrap cell of unknown quality, most likely around 10a CDR or less.
The Provari 2.5 mini has a fairly low amp limit 3a - 5a and very good built in protection features.

The selection of 18490 - 18500 button top cells is quite limited, I'd look around at all the recommended / known reputable battery suppliers to see what all is being offered.

As much as I dislike saying it, for an 18490 -18500 cell your best bet probably is the Efest.

Thank you! I think unfortunately Efest is the the best one. I’ve looked at all the reputable battery suppliers & not many carry button top 18490/500 batteries anymore.

 

[Shawn Hoefer]

MXJO 18500 1000mAh Battery

 

[Heartsdelight]

MXJO 18500 1000mAh Battery

Thank you but I believe the Provari Mini uses button tops.

 

[Baditude]

Thank you but I believe the Provari Mini uses button tops.

You are absolutely correct, those flat top MXJO's wouldn't work in a Provari. "Protected" batteries also would not work. Not only would they possibly be too long to fit because of the protection circuit, the protection circuit might interfere with the Provari's circuit board.

I agree the Efests are unfortunately the better choice since AW button top batteries are no longer available. The early Provari's were actually designed to use AW button top batteries. Ironic that both Provape and AW are no longer with us.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

Yep, button top only in P2.5 & earlier.

Do not resort to spacers, battery magnets or flat top to button top adapters in a Provari.
The increased pressure caused by the extended length will sooner or later push the board & + battery contact up and out of position rendering your device inoperable, permanently.

 

[somdcomputerguy]

Liionwholesale.com will weld or solder button tops onto a flat top battery. It's an extra 2 bucks or so I believe. I haven't had them do this for any of the batts I have gotten from them, so I can't honestly say whether it's good or bad.

 

[Baditude]

Yep, button top only in P2.5 & earlier.

Do not resort to spacers, battery magnets or flat top to button top adapters in a Provari.
The increased pressure caused by the extended length will sooner or later push the board & + battery contact up and out of position rendering your device inoperable, permanently.

Yep. In fact Provape specifically said on their website to not use magnets or spacers to allow the use of flat top batteries; doing so would void the warranty should a customer do so and short out the circuit board.

 

[Heartsdelight]

Liionwholesale.com will weld or solder button tops onto a flat top battery. It's an extra 2 bucks or so I believe.

really? That’s really nice. Thanks!

 

[Baditude]

Liionwholesale.com will weld or solder button tops onto a flat top battery. It's an extra 2 bucks or so I believe.

So the question still remains, what 18500 to choose? None of the big four battery manufacturers make an 18500 battery. All the other brands are re-wrap China companies with questionable and probably inflated specifications. Mooch hasn't really tested 18500 batteries because they are hardly ever used. The one 18500 battery brand that you could trust its specifications...AW...are no longer available.

 

[somdcomputerguy]

really? That’s really nice. Thanks!

You bet. Note that you quoted my post before I added more text to it, and you should wait for more input from somebody that have actually had this done.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

Liionwholesale.com will weld or solder button tops onto a flat top battery. It's an extra 2 bucks or so I believe.

You're still left with the craptastic selection of 18490 - 18500 cells.

The Provari mini with extension cap only fits 18490- 18500 cells.
Actually the mini was designed for the use of 18350's and with the extension cap 18490's.

Adding a button top to an 18500 certainly can cause too much pressure against the board & + connection due to base cap spring tension.

Yes, I've bought and attempted to use the aftermarket / post manufacturing added on button top, within a few weeks the pressure proved too great. Both had to be sent in to repair.

Because Bill is no longer doing Provari repairs (possibly temporary closed possibly permanent) I'd be hesitant to take the chance.
But, that's just me.

 

[Heartsdelight]

You bet. Note that you quoted my post before I added more text to it, and you should wait for more input from somebody that have actually had this done.

It’s kinda a mute point as liion doesn’t have any 18500 batteries anymore.

 

[Heartsdelight]

You're still left with the craptastic selection of 18490 - 18500 cells.

The Provari mini with extension cap only fits 18490- 18500 cells.
Actually the mini was designed for the use of 18350's and with the extension cap 18490's.

Adding a button top to an 18500 certainly can cause too much pressure against the board & + connection due to base cap spring tension.

Yes, I've bought and attempted to use the aftermarket / post manufacturing added on button top, within a few weeks the pressure proved too great. Both had to be sent in to repair.

Because Bill is no longer doing Provari repairs (possibly temporary closed possibly permanent) I'd be hesitant to take the chance.
But, that's just me.

So do you think it’s ok to use the Efest 18500 button tops? I can’t find any 18490 button tops anywhere.

 

[Baditude]

It's kinda sad that both Provape and AW are no longer with us. To this day, I think my Mini Provari was my favorite mod all time.

As I said before, the Efest buttom top is probably your best option.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

Like I said in my first response, as much as I dislike saying it the Efest is probably your best bet.

The device won't draw more than 3a - 5a and has very good protection circuitry, the Efest is likely a 10a CDR cell.

I still occasionally find authentic AW 18490's in obscure places online and leftovers in vape shops from the days they were more popular.
Even though they are old stock, the few I've found have performed as expected.

But, if you are not very confident in your abilities to detect counterfeit cells and or have a way to 'test' them accurately you'll end up with a buncha junk cells.

 

[Heartsdelight]

Like I said in my first response, as much as I dislike saying it the Efest is probably your best bet.

The device won't draw more than 3a - 5a and has very good protection circuitry, the Efest is likely a 10a CDR cell.

Thank you!

 

[Horselady154]

You're still left with the craptastic selection of 18490 - 18500 cells.

The Provari mini with extension cap only fits 18490- 18500 cells.
Actually the mini was designed for the use of 18350's and with the extension cap 18490's.

Adding a button top to an 18500 certainly can cause too much pressure against the board & + connection due to base cap spring tension.

Yes, I've bought and attempted to use the aftermarket / post manufacturing added on button top, within a few weeks the pressure proved too great. Both had to be sent in to repair.

Because Bill is no longer doing Provari repairs (possibly temporary closed possibly permanent) I'd be hesitant to take the chance.
But, that's just me.

There were also 3rd party extension caps made by a Greek modder that allowed you to use 18650s. I have two of them; one for each of my provari minis. They were available before Provape started selling their own extension caps. The ones I am talking about are stainless steel and pure quality. Not cheap, either. haha