Are these authentic LG HE2 batts? (charging info provided)

Saw these for a good price. 8.32usd for 5 pcs. Highly suspect they are fakes.

The below are from actual user reviews. The charging performance and IR seems ok, even though at 700mA only. If it managed to charge at 3A on a C4-12A with minimal temperature rise then at least we know it’s good.
Also no discharge test + battery temps during discharge though, so that part is still unknown.

What do you battery experts think? Comments from various angles are much appreciated.

Hobby charger, still charging. Seems to be able to accept at least 1.9A (not sure if it’s auto current or manually selected). Lower internal resistance, not sure about accuracy.

HE2??? :star:

Don’t really suspect that these HE2s are fake. HE2s have gotten quite cheap over the years, so 8,52$USD seems doable with 5pcs.

Do you have a constant current battery tester? Like this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/9-99A-60W-30V-Constant-Current-Electronic-Load-Discharge-Battery-Capacity-Tester/32749298179.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.79.60725208D1TfyD&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10065_10068_204_10130_318_10547_319_10059_10884_10548_10887_10696_100031_320_10084_10083_10103_10618_452_10139_10307_532,searchweb201603_60,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=6a75564c-f6ec-4d13-8c8e-1a9e9c447cfd-11&algo_pvid=6a75564c-f6ec-4d13-8c8e-1a9e9c447cfd&priceBeautifyAB=0

I have it, and it’s so nice to be able to test cells at higher currents, and check their real DC resistance. That last one is extremely important, as you could end up with 2500mAh cells that can only handle 5A of output current.

I might get those testers if i get serious again in the hobby (though 14 usd isn’t a lot of money, i’d rather spend more on the cells unless i go on a cell buying spree, again lol!)
Currently i am just merely at user status, and relying on charging status/performance info on the chargers, which isn’t going to be terribly accurate, but good enough to sniff out pure fakes.

I’m actually quite ok with battery pulls, as long as they are auth stuff and not very old cells, at good prices of course. Need actual user picture confirmation of internal resistance and stuff of coz……we can never trust the sellers’ descriptions and pics.

Thx for the info, seems pretty decent eh?
I might be buying 10pcs so i’m gonna bring it down to 15 usd for 10pcs. 8.32usd 5pcs is inclusive of china domestic shipping, so 10 pieces they should be able to shave a bit off for the second set.

When I look at the last photos you posted, the cell where we see its positive pole, the one behind, on its positive pole we clearly see that there are 5 legs, the cells produced by LG are mostly equipped only 4 legs (and in rare cases 3 legs, it depends on the factory and model, for example the MH1 and M36 often have 3 legs). Personally, I own almost all the existing models made by LG, and I have never seen any of their cells equipped with 5 legs, so IMHO and what I can see, these are fakes, and secondarily if your cells “supposed to be HE2” are new their capacities is not good, you should at least get 2500mAh minimum if you discharge up to 2.5v. but hey what shocks me the most it is these poles positive 5-legged, it’s not normal. For me it’s fakes, could you take pictures close to the positive poles, that I can better see these positive poles better?

I see, 5 legs that’s a good tell tale sign, not easily spotted by even regular flashaholics. They are not my batteries, user reviews with pics.

If they are not good, then i shall not get them (even as battery pulls, coz they are not authentic)

Here’s another pic for the battery experts….

Here’s a good picture…… I think the colour shift to orange is just of the cam sensor/saturation/setting + some window tint or something.

So is that 3 or 4 or 5 legs? I can’t really tell. Too recessed. :person_facepalming:

I just checked the pretty old (some 7 years old) red Sanyo UR18650 (FM) or something, 2600mAh. Not high drain, manages to do 4.8 amps @ 4.2V in my direct drive XM-L light and have a 2600+mAh @ 1A discharge test. That one has 6 legs and 6 vent holes for the positive. heh……

Darn it, i shall just ask the seller (on Taobao).

I got the answer. It’s a battery pull from an unknown source. But supposedly the source batt is ok. At usd 8 for 5 pcs, well……. shrugs
I shall see if i can find auth/new deals for a little bit higher prices.

I suppose they are ok for single cell up to 1200 lumen lights, where matching is not a big concern and load is not really high.

这是套皮的
货源不是LG正规渠道出来的

Translated
> This is re-wrapped.
> Goods source is not LG regular channel come out.

At least they are honest (when asked). :student:

on the last I see three legs, but not that of the LG type (that of LG are very thin 1.5-2mm max, there it is really too wide) here can not be LGs, they are fakes sorry for you, oh worse returns because it is not honest on the part of the seller especially if he writes LG authentic on his site, f * ing chinese swindler, it’s a shame to do such things, he does not respect their customers, they earn their lives by ripping us off …

in addition HE2 they are red really red, not orange really bad imitated the wrap and more.

Actually, it’s more fun to do capacity tests of batteries taken from laptop pulls for at least you don’t know what you’re getting!

When I was new into this hobby 6 years ago, I immediately bought a hobby charger just for checking the condition of laptop batteries and it was more fun…then the suspense diminished and virtually disappeared when I started to buy genuine, brand-new ones!

Haha, thx HudrAxx…….it’s on Taobao, so no worries, it’s not exactly meant for “us” but their own domestic market.
I’m in Singapore, and have been buying many items from there for over 5 years, so i don’t blame them. It is what it is……their “culture”.

Those batteries are not mine, i was just checking the user reviews. For li-ion, you can never be too careful unless your source is totally legit, and even then it’s not 100% guanteed (read, the recent 2000 x LG HG2 fake chocolate case). It’s imperative to check on the user reviews, and maybe even ask the seller. Then you form your own picture and see if it’s worthy to buy at the price……plus kinda backup plan like “what if it’s not authentic, would it still be usable?”.

Or one could just pay up to get the real legit guaranteed cells from trusted channels. Locally, i think each high-drain cell costs 15 bucks retail or so. :student:

I could get a BLF Q8 including shipping, for a set of 4 retail bought high-drain VTC5 batteries, and still have enough change for 2 x Big mac meals. :student:

Quite difficult to get laptop packs here…… heh. Or maybe it’s just that i don’t know a good recycling shop/source. But nowadays, not much time for those deeper DIY stuff.