18650 rechargeable batteries
- Thread starter bow
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trickie
Well-Known Member
If you've never used 18650 batteries before, here are a few tips:
1. Never buy 18650 batteries from E Bay or Amazon, they will almost certainly be fake
2. Never buy any 18650 branded GTL or with the word "fire" in its name - e.g. Ultrafire
3. Never buy any 18650 battery that claims to have a capacity of more than 3600mah - that is physically impossible with current lithium ion chemistry
4. Buy only from genuine retailers such as Torchy the Battery Boy and Fogstar
For a charger, get a genuine Nitecore i4 or D4
You can run the PARD off any 5 volt powerbank but you have to deal with the cable from the powerbank to the scope getting in your way.
Buying a few good quality 18650s, and going out with a freshly charged battery in the scope and 2 or 3 freshly charged spares in a plastic box in your pocket is less hassle
Cheers
Bruce
1. Never buy 18650 batteries from E Bay or Amazon, they will almost certainly be fake
2. Never buy any 18650 branded GTL or with the word "fire" in its name - e.g. Ultrafire
3. Never buy any 18650 battery that claims to have a capacity of more than 3600mah - that is physically impossible with current lithium ion chemistry
4. Buy only from genuine retailers such as Torchy the Battery Boy and Fogstar
For a charger, get a genuine Nitecore i4 or D4
You can run the PARD off any 5 volt powerbank but you have to deal with the cable from the powerbank to the scope getting in your way.
Buying a few good quality 18650s, and going out with a freshly charged battery in the scope and 2 or 3 freshly charged spares in a plastic box in your pocket is less hassle
Cheers
Bruce
trickie
Well-Known Member
If you're happy with them - fine
However there's no benefit in buying a battery rated for 35 amp discharge when a thermal or NV device using 18650 batteries never draws more than 2 or 3 amps
You're paying for something you'll never need (unless you also use them for vaping)
Cheers
Bruce
Morkai
Well-Known Member
hybridfiat
Well-Known Member
1. ALWAYS get 'protected'
2. Buy from reputable dealers (never, ever buy off Ebay, or from China)
3. Buy Sanyo or Panasonic whenever and wherever possible.
4. Check if you require a 'button' head battery or a flat top. (sometimes you can get away with either, but if you NEED a button top and flat top you are stuffed).
The charger doesn't matter as much as you think as the protection circuitry in the battery will stop overcharging and overheating.
I've been using 18650s since they became available many years ago.
Some of the very first batteries I bought were 'Ultrafire' and amazingly some are still going.
They never carried a charge like the Japanese made batteries however, but they did work safely and were cheap.
2. Buy from reputable dealers (never, ever buy off Ebay, or from China)
3. Buy Sanyo or Panasonic whenever and wherever possible.
4. Check if you require a 'button' head battery or a flat top. (sometimes you can get away with either, but if you NEED a button top and flat top you are stuffed).
The charger doesn't matter as much as you think as the protection circuitry in the battery will stop overcharging and overheating.
I've been using 18650s since they became available many years ago.
Some of the very first batteries I bought were 'Ultrafire' and amazingly some are still going.
They never carried a charge like the Japanese made batteries however, but they did work safely and were cheap.
"ALWAYS get protected" does not apply when used with any PARD NV or thermal kit that uses 18650 batteries because protected batteries are too long to fit in the battery holder
For PARDs it has to be flat top unprotected batteries
Here are 2 photos of 4 18650 batteries with, firstly, their claimed capacities and secondly, their actual measured capacities
The Ultrafires don't do so well
Cheers
Bruce
Torchy boy is the place to get them. Soshine. To be honest I have some v old Ultrafire batteries which I think came from Fenix. They are good and still in use. Also I never charge overnight and charger is either on top of a radiator or on an inverted metal roasting dish. Better be safe than sorry.
D
D
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