Suggestions on setup

[Baditude]

So legit question.. everyone is touting no go on the rewraps but why do I see people rewraping their own? Isn’t that the same thing as companies selling them? Is it a problem because they are unreliable or problematic or is it a problem because the company doesn’t specify they are rewraps?

Are You Using a Rewrap (Rebranded or Aftermarket) Battery?

• Learn what a rewrap cell is. If you are using rebranded cells, does that mean it is inferior, poor quality, or even dangerous? Which batteries are suspected to be rebranded batteries?

If you use any brand brand other than Lg, Samsung, Sony, or Sanyo ... you're likely using a "rewrap brand". That's not necessarily a "bad" thing, except you have no idea what cell the company is using. A few rewrap brands (Orbtronic, Nite Core) admit to rewrapping batteries, but they generally are honest about the batteries specifications (mAh and Amp rating). MOST rewrap brands exaggerate their batteries specifications to make them appear to be superior to their competition. They usually cost more than batteries made by Lg, Samsung, Sony, or Sanyo. Rewrap companies can change the cell they use at any point, so that mystery battery can become even more mysterious. As a consumer, you have no idea if the company is using old harvested batteries from power tools or laptops.

• AWT 40A 2600mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...only 20A/2500mAh, might be a 25R2
• AWT Yellow 40A 2600mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...only a 20A battery
• AWT Red/Black 50A 2600mAn 18650 Bench Retest Results...preposterously overrated, now lower grade
• AWT Red 35A 3000mAh 18650...ridiculously overrated, not IMR
• AWT Red 40A 3000mAh 18650...enough is enough, just don’t buy it.
• AWT Black 50A 3000mAh 18650...obscenely overrated, do not buy
  
• AWT 35A 3500mAh 18650...laughably overrated, only an 8A battery, do not buy

• Efest Purple 30A 2100mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...only a 20A battery
• Efest 35A 2900mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...only a 15A+ battery
• Efest 38A 2100mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...an ok 20A cell, no higher
• Efest Purple 40A 2600mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...only a 20A battery

Imren Leopard 50A 2600mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...just a 20A rewrap

Imren 40A 3000mAh 18650 Bench Retest Results...only a 17A battery, damaged at 30A

Imren Gold 30A 3000mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...a ridiculously overrated battery

Imren Green 40A 3200mAh 18650 Bench Retest Results...just 17A, the purple Imren 3000mAh rewrapped!

Imren Green 40A 3200mAh 18650 Bench Retest Results...now 10A, shame on you Imren!

Imren Yellow 25A 3400mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...just a 12A battery

MXJO Yellow 30A 2900mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...a preposterously overrated 10A/2700mAh battery

MXJO Yellow/Silver 35A 3000mAh 18650 Bench Retest Results...a dangerously overrated 20A battery!


Above are only a dozen or more examples of rewrap batteries.

Point being, why pay more for a mystery cell when you can purchase a legitimate authentic cell from the original manufacturer.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

"AW"s are re-wraps are they not ?.

And are the only trusted re-wraps.

True and true. "AW" is Anthony Wang, and his facility suffered flood damage a while back. Not one of the authorized retailers have any more AW batteries in stock and there's no timetable for their return.

AW Batteries

He would buy "A" bin batteries from the top manufacturers, test them, and put his wrap/label only on those that met full factory specifications. AW was the only rewrapper I know of with batteries that consistently tested well vs wrap specs.

 

[go_player]

So legit question.. everyone is touting no go on the rewraps but why do I see people rewraping their own? Isn’t that the same thing as companies selling them? Is it a problem because they are unreliable or problematic or is it a problem because the company doesn’t specify they are rewraps?

Just to expand a bit on what Coastal Cowboy said, no not the same thing.

The issue with commercial rewraps is that you don’t know the provenance of the batteries. Re-wraps from the better re-wrappers are generally seconds from the actual manufacturers. But you don’t know what batteries they actually are, and you don’t know why they were rejected by the actual manufacturer and put on the secondary market. And re-wrappers are pretty notorious for exaggerating the specs of their batteries. The problem isn’t about the wraps- irks about lacking information about the battery.

On the other had, re-wrapping your own batteries is a normal part of battery maintenance. Wraps aren’t primarily cosmetic- they serve an important purpose. If your wraps are damaged you should either replace them or discard the battery. How important this is depends on your mod, etc., but it’s just generally a good idea to have intact wraps.

For much the same reasons you should always carry and store batteries in a case, and should avoid ever carrying them loose in pockets, etc., especially with other objects like keys or change.