Where to find quality button top 18650s?

Good news, bad news. Good news, I have a nice big flashlight on the way, but the bad news is I’m having some problems finding 4 new, quality, button top18650 batteries (preferably protected).

Can anyone recommend a source for batteries?

Amazon: Doesn’t have a lot of choice for button top and what they do have is expensive.

Ebay: Seems to be too sketchy, unless someone has a good dealer they can recommend.

Banggood/Gearbest: This could be an option if recommended but shipping is slow.

  • I know I can modify a flat top battery, I prefer not to for this project.

Any help would be appreciated.

Since you are in the US you have lots of good options. I’ve collated the inventories of the best US retailers into a battery database. Here are button top 18650s.

Avoid amazon. There are too many low quality clones.

Seller genuinecells on Ebay has always treated me good. Have always gotten good authentic cells from him.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/genuinecells?\_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754

I’ve had good luck with Battery Junction. I’ve gotten lights, chargers, and batteries from them. Their prices seem good, and they have some decent sale events.

Zen

I only buy from Mountain Electronics
https://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php

Richard (the owner) is a very active member of this forum and only carries quality batteries. His shop is in Utah I believe. Great selection of parts, lights and batteries.

I use Sony vtc6 protected. Illumn is out of stock…

Don’t forget LIION Wholesale! He joined a while back and gave us a deal on 30Q’s when RobertB started a GB so we could get them for our Q8’s.

This right here.

Liion has provided a lot of forum users with a metric ton of cells at some of the best prices.

+1

If you want good protected button-top batteries. They were very recently in stock so you might was to check with then as to when they expect them in.

Any seller in all of the post above has been good for me. Some have faster shipping some have cheaper shipping, but that’s gonna depend on where you live. :stuck_out_tongue:
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Oh by the way, Parametrek that is some awesome work you have done there. Very useful database. :+1:

Thanks toddcshoe I saved that seller, hard to find authentic batteries on Ebay. Been using https://www.imrbatteries.com but they are higher for the Samsung 30Q 18650 3000mAh 15A Battery at 6.00 ea. Roll Tide :beer:

MrBrown, what kind of flashlight did you purchase?

A pleasant discovery for me was Orbtronic out of St. Petersburg, FL. They have provided me excellent batteries at competitive prices with very fast shipping. In particular, check out the deal of the day - which hasn't changed in weeks BTW!

I just got a bunch of good stuff, including 30Q button tops, from Liion.

Agree. I will order 30q button top from him…

This is an awesome database. Thank you for sharing.

I have a BLF Q8 on the way. Just want to get some quality batteries for it. Thank you for the recommendation.

Yes. you will need 4 button top… samsung 30q button top works very well… they are almost equal to sony vtc5a or vtc6.

So just buy a samsung 30q…

Bought lots from them too. Shipping to Canada was fast and prices were good