18650 Samsung unprotected 2600 MAH pulls for $3.99, including postage, U.S. seller

Had this on the end of a thread; decided to start a new thread.

Be kind to me. I’m a newb.

I bought 2 of these for $3.99 each, including postage (from a U.S. seller so they got here in a couple days).

They worked great so I bought 6 more.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-Of-2-x-Li-Ion-Battery-Cell-SAMSUNG-ICR18650-260-3-6V-2-6Ah-2600mAh-TEXAS-/330730414708?pt=Laptop_Batteries&hash=item4d0111a274#ht_2158wt_1396

They seem to do very favorably against my unprotected panasonics —- and pretty much BURY my unprotected Sanyos in usable time (although the sanyos were from china so who knows what they really are). I have NOT done a compare with TF flamers, but I think they will compare favorably in time.

No flickering/strobing. Don’t get warm while charging. They do however seem to take a while for the first charge. After that, they’re fine.

Of course, once I suggest these, the vendor will probably start selling fakes filled with sand.

These are DEFINITELY laptop pulls with associated dings and scratches. The first ones I got had cement on them (chipped right off) and left-behind little metal pieces from the tabs being peeled off on the batt ends. I carefully buzzed these down with a dremel in like 2 secs (careful about thinning that battery base).

So I think this is a good buy, but I’m new so please disagree.

If you notice, he also has samsungs for twice the price He says those are new:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-Of-2-x-Li-Ion-Battery-SAMSUNG-ICR18650-260-3-6V-2-6Ah-2600mAh-Cell-TX-US-/330730142032?pt=Laptop_Batteries&hash=item4d010d7950#ht_2158wt_1396

Let me know what you think? Good buy? Poor? So so?

Hope this helps.

I just buy used laptop batteries on Ebay and strip out the batteries myself.
Works out to about $0.50 per cell!

>>>>>Works out to about $0.50 per cell!

How do you know what’s in the pack?

Can you post a link of a similar deal to yours …. I can’t seem to find anything that cheep, but I’m probably looking right at it and can’t see it.

Do an ebay search like this

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?\_nkw=laptop+battery+6+cell&\_sacat=0&\_odkw=laptop+battery+used&\_osacat=0

Cheapest today is about $6 per laptop battery but I have got them for a lot less before.

You dont know what you will get , sometimes one or two of the cells are shot.
Having said this, if its a genuine OEM laptop battery then the quality of the cells are usually very good Panasonic, Samsung and other main brands.

International shipping of the first seller is ridiculous - $150 for two batteries with FedEx.

Used laptop batteries is a chance, but most have 2000-2400mAh 18650 in it. If I buy new batteries I prefer 2600/2900mAh, which are protected.

I hit the recycle bins in my area and get them for FREE. Walk in like I own the place and help myself. This thread has some good info.

The tips I give about newer than three year old cells or packs that show alot of wear on the outside are not concrete. Good cells can be found in any pack but my luck as been better with newer pack and higher capacity cells. If you have 2 packs by all means check them all. But if you luck into 8 or more you can be selective as it takes time to go through 48-72 cells. My best cells to date have been 2600ma+. Have built 4s3p balanced packs (12 18650s) for HID conversions from some of these cells. Check out a couple of YouTube vids on the proper way to disassemble these laptop packs. Use care not short the cells. If in doubt don’t.

Cant compare fresh cells Vs old or refurbished. Unless your buying new laptop packs and harvesting new cells?
I think the math favors purchasing new cells…

Any confirmation these are legit? They can still work decent but a side to side with a real pink jacket would be helpfull

Nice find

hahaha 150$ shipping to Canada? whatever you could have just not shipped to Canada…

$150 shipping - FedEx to Australia.

This guy…

>>>>>>$150 shipping – FedEx to Australia.

I think many ebay sellers are still struggling with the new USPS prohibition on the international shipping of li-ion batteries. Some sources say it’s okay to ship batteries as long as they’re not in the device. Some sources say that it is against USPS rules to ship ANY li-ion batts internationally period. There are rumors that shippers are even being fined huge amounts for ignoring the rule, or the shipment will be seized and forfeited if the shipper tries to circumvent the new rules.

Sooooo …. Why doesn’t this seller just not ship his batteries internationally. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

I have sold a LOT (did I say a LOT?) on ebay and through Paypal over the last 10 years or so. So unfortunately I have to be somewhat familiar with the magna-carta-sized book of new ebay rules. Flea bay has set it up — in their infinite wisdom — that some shipping rules apply for ALL your items. Paypal/ebay usually will NOT let you decline shipping to individual countries for individual items. Lets say I want to ship glass dog eyes to Japan but not to Korea (this is an example, so don’t start asking why I wouldn’t ship to Korea). No way to block one country and not the whole area, asia for example. The ONLY way to decline shipping to Korea is to charge a huge amount for that country, exactly what this seller did.

Of course, I can’t read the seller’s mind and am NOT defending him, but I have similar setups in my shipping to some countries who have dicey delivery. I mark shipping up to $200 per package, not unlike what this seller has done. What I hope is that potential customers will contact me, and I can explain why I won’t ship to Inner Slobenia or whatever.

Ebay has so many selling rules now, it’s a wonder how a new seller can even get started, without just throwing his hands in the air, and running away, babbling nonsensically to himself. And every one of ebay’s new rules is to make them more money. None of it makes it any better for seller or buyer. In fact, most of their silly rules ONLY benefit the pockets of ebay shareholders.

>>>>>Any confirmation these are legit? They can still work decent but a side to side with a real pink jacket would be helpfull

That is the $64 question. I really hate the constant crap shoot of never knowing what you get from China will be the real deal or garbage. I just got another two fake TFFs today. Holograms on the batts but NO hologram on the package and a crooked batt wrapper. Arggggggghhhh.

In this case though, if these Samsungs are fake, the seller went to extraordinary lengths of trickery for a couple bucks.

The seller seems to be a dismantler/reseller of notebook computers for parts: THOUSANDS of parts, if you look at his other items for sale. So it fits that he is selling 18650 pulls because he is dismantling battery packs.

As I said, I already ordered two cells. They had glue residue on them as well as tab remnants on the batt ends. The markings on the cell seem to match what i have seen on other Samsung batteries. They have nicks and dings consistent with batts being removed from battery packs.

How fresh are the batts? You got me. It’s a chance you take on stuff of this type. He’s a U.S. seller with a 30-day MB guarantee, which ain’t bad. Not great, but not bad.

The first two cells worked great, but like I said in the original intro, after I get mine, he’ll probably start filling old ultrafires with used cat litter and selling those as 2600 Samsungs. :wink:

In a very low-key test, the cells beat sanyos (unknown MAH) and pretty much tied with some unprotected green Panasonic cells I have. The Samsung batts I bought from this guy work very well. Is that a guarantee that your batts will work as well? Nope.

They worked well enough for me to order more. But do NOT get me wrong. I am NOT endorsing this guy. I don’t know him. He could be the FBI’s most-wanted battery scammer. My next package from him may be filled with lawn trimmings with a note that says “hahahahah” in swahili.

It’s ebay. This item was great; who knows what the next item will be.

BTW, batt wrapper says ICR118650-260

Next line: SAMSUNG SDI 952

so why doesn’t USPS allow Li-ion batteries anymore?
I guess i have to get them from china from now on…

Thanks for the info ubehebe!

>>>>>>so why doesn’t USPS allow Li-ion batteries anymore?

Li-ion battery explosions were linked to several plane crashes. The prohibition is ONLY for usps international shipping. It does not apply to shipping in the U.S., which doesn’t make sense to me. U.S. mail is transported by u.s. planes which — I assume — blow up just like non-u.s. planes in non-u.s. countries.

I want my li-ion batteries — but can’t really complain when shipping is halted because people are getting killed by them blowing up planes.

“Lithium batteries, which power many personal electronic devices, can explode or catch fire in certain conditions. In order to get around this, consumer electronic manufacturers such as Apple or Amazon ship their products with a minimal charge—which mitigates the safety risk. Fully charged, improperly stored, or improperly packed lithium batteries do pose a risk of explosion, however. Lithium batteries have been implicated in at least two fatal cargo plane crashes since 2006, including a UPS jet in Dubai.”

———————- Fast Company, 5.10.2002

http://www.fastcompany.com/1836973/postal-service-usps-bans-lithium-batteries-ipad-kindle-iphone-smartphone-laptop

I dont understadn how these can be considered so good if they are not tested before.

I mean, these batts are heavily used while in laptops. God knows how many cycles.

I got some Pannasonics from one laptop battery from laptop found on scrapyard, these were Ok batts but capacity not much more than 1000mAh, maybe 1500mAh.
SO, I wouldt buy them if someone offered them to me…
(correction, I just measured capacity of one of the Panassonic or Sony cells retrieved from laptop - 659mAh until 2,8V and rather big voltage sag)

LI-poly fires more or less pushed the prevalent issue over the top. Li-lion had a few news worthy issues as well not so long ago. Li-poly cells are more susceptible to fires or explosion because of the extreme discharge and high quality cells
that are available. MaxAmps 6S 22.2 volt Li-poly packs , rate of discharge 130C –150C Burst at 400amps/500amps.
Happens quite often…You tube has a bunch of videos of all sorts of Heli’s. large scale RC exploding. Brushless Motors
efficient is up to to 98%, and they will suck a 10,000mah below operating 3.2v in several minutes.
And Yes, 1/8 and 1/5 scale on road travel well beyond 100mph

Best thing since sliced bread……lol

They are now $4.99 each + 2.99 shipping, still cheaper for protected Himax at protactical

recycling used laptop batteries is a roll of the dice. I’ve only done 20 or so packs and I’ve gotten probably 6 or so decent cells out. I’m still waiting on 20 cells for self-discharge data, but out of those I think I’ll get another 4. If you get the old packs for nothing, especially if you’re saving some of the cells from landfill or recycling, then great stuff. I wouldn’t bother buying packs to salvage cells though, based on my experience.

>>>>>They are now $4.99 each + 2.99 shipping, still cheaper for protected Himax at protactical

Actually, they are $4.99 for TWO and $2.99 for shipping; $3.99 shipping for shipping 4.

As discussed, it’s illegal to ship li-ion batts internationally via usps, so this wouldn’t work for the uk or other non-u.s. countries…

>>>>>I wouldn’t bother buying packs to salvage cells though, based on my experience.

Ditto.

Got another two today. Arrived at 3.92 and 3.88 volts. Charging now. No heat. We’ll see.

But like I said before, if I ordered more, the next two could be filled with sand. It’s ebay. Buyer beware.