Worried about a battery I purchased

[Rokey]

A vape store opened a block from my apartment so I went over to check it out (I live in Florida, so NOTHING is in walking distance so I had to go).

I chatted up the proprietor, tried some of the juices he makes in house, but really had nothing to buy. However, I wanted to support him so I asked for an 18650 battery for my Vamo V5 (can never have enough extra batteries).

He said "this is the battery you want" and handed it to me. He was very well versed in everything vaping based on our conversation, so I considered his advice reliable. I asked how much and without even ringing it up, he said "Five bucks." I went ahead and bought it thinking I got a great deal.

Then I remembered something often said on this forum... don't try to save money on batteries, and I just bought an 18650 for $5 from a brick and mortar. It came in no packaging, and I have recently moved to mods so I'm a newb when it comes to batteries. This is what I can tell you about it:

It is orange. It has a logo with a triangle and says MNKE IMR-18650. It also has some strange characters and says MH46698 RoHS.

I don't know what the Mah on this is or if it is even to be trusted. I hope the pros here can give me some advice or even identify it.

 

[Ryedan]

It's supposedly a MNKE IMR 1500 mAh, 20A continuous discharge battery. If that is what it really is, it's a great battery for high drain use. Here is a picture of one of mine beside a Sony VCT4:

RTD Vapor, a trusted vendor, sells them. As you can see typical prices for these are over $10 each. Check that it looks the same as mine and the one on RTD. There are counterfeits out there and at $5 from a vendor you don't know well, I would worry about that.

 

[Baditude]

If it is a genuine MNKE, it is indeed a good battery. MNKE IMR 18650 - Batteries

It is an IMR (Li-Mn) battery, which means it is a high-drain, safe-chemistry battery. This battery is most often used in mechanical mods using a rebuildable atomizer with sub-ohm builds because it has a high amp rating (20 amps continuous discharge).

It will be safe to use in your Vamo and is the appropriate high drain battery for a regulated PV. However, you don't need all those extra amps in a regulated mod (general purpose high drain batteries have 10 amps), and there are other high drain batteries that have more mAh for more battery time than the MNKE has. The MNKE has 1500 mAh.

Your local vendor likely sold you that battery for cheap because rumors have been circulating that this is a discontinued model.

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected ICR?

Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries

 

[Rokey]

Yep, it is the orange battery in your picture down to the last detail. I trust the vendor... he worked at the first vapor brick and mortar in Orlando before setting up his own place. He definitely knows his stuff. I'm just surprised at the price. Maybe it was a loss leader type deal to get me to come back to his store? Or maybe he is buying counterfeits without realizing it? I would go ask him, but I don't want to insult him by implying he might be selling bad equipment.

 

[Rokey]

However, you don't need all those extra amps in a regulated mod (general purpose high drain batteries have 10 amps), and there are other high drain batteries that have more mAh for more battery time than the MNKE has. The MNKE has 1300 mAh.

How do I determine the amps? My vamo only shows watts and voltage. I understand that a formula derived from volts and ohms will determine watts, but I'm not sure what an amp is. Science was always my worst subject in school (yet I am great at math for some reason).

 

[supertrunker]

it might be that MNKE are no longer making them, but i have about 4 of them and they are good batteries for any money, let alone what you paid. My only complaint is that they wear out fast at brutal discharge rates, but that's more about my vaping than a slur on the batteries.

T

 

[Baditude]

How do I determine the amps?

Amp rating is determined and listed by the manufacturer. It is a specification determined by the C rating of the battery and the mAh rating. A large list of IMR and hybrid batteries with their amp ratings is in the first link I provided.

What does a battery's C Rating mean?

 

[supertrunker]

amps = volts/resistance

4.2 fully charged battery/1Ω coil (for example) = 4.2A

and Watts = Amps x voltage = 4.2 x 4.2 .....http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/asset.php?fid=205923&uid=105847&d=1385819688

T

 

[Rokey]

Ok. I'll keep using it. Thanks guys!

 

[powerband]

Watts / volts is amps
An amp is a measure of electrical current
current is drawn by the load (ohms of your coil

volts x amps = watts
volts/ohms = amps

 

[NerdVap0r]

Just make sure you get the package/box with 1 next time. Sounds like he just took out a used one & just tossed out the $5 price lol.