With quite a few good options for purchasing li-ion cells in the USA, buying AWT cells (which don’t have the best reputation) from a random eBay seller seems like a bit of an odd choice.
With quite a few good options for purchasing li-ion cells in the USA, buying AWT cells (which don’t have the best reputation) from a random eBay seller seems like a bit of an odd choice.
As the cells are not as advertised I would seek a refund.
Just a suggestion for future 26650 batteries. The link below tests numerous 26650 and list the top ones. One that he did not test was the Liitokala which is also known to be a top rated battery.
Your cell is also listed in this test and got a LOW grade just as HKJ graded it!
Thanks everyone. Lessons learned.
First discharge test showed ~4200mAh for both batteries with only a small difference.
After a 2nd cycle, the batteries improved by ~200mAh and are now showing approx ~4400mAh capacity….better….but still 800mAh short of the advertised 5200mAh capacity.
Running 3rd discharge-test cycle now. I’m expecting less improvement on this 3rd cycle than was seen on the 2nd cycle.
Results are in….
3rd Cycle….
4420mAh (I think it’s maxed out now so that’s it)
Minimum voltage BTW was 2.81v
Dang sorry to read this man!
I feel lucky tobhave bought some of the first batch of Liitokala 26650 cells.
It is just tricky, but on the plus side 4400+ is more then any 18650 can give you!
Or you could get these 12000mah 26650 cells 
And only $22 for 4, bargain 
Ordered some of these…….
Not quite 12000mAh but they’ll do.
My AccuPower IQ338LX stopped the discharge test at 2.8v also.
I really need some advice. I’m not expert enough yet to be sure of his reply.
The seller sent me a reply to my return request and I’m not sure what to make of it.
Other batteries I test with my same battery testers/chargers show that they are good batteries and they meet the advertised capacity.
The ebay seller is telling me my chargers are inadequate and that I need an oscilloscope to properly measure the capacity….
I have an AccuPower IQ338LX and an Turnigy Accucell 6
If he is correct then I will probably just keep them.
Here is his reply……
“You need an oscilloscope to test these. Not the cheap battery chargers. There are no decent battery chargers to test these. I have several chargers and you just can not rely on a battery tester/charger. You need an oscillascope which costs you around $1000.00 and a battery tester cost from $20 to $60 bucks. You cant use those cheap testers for a mah reading. You need to google more info. Mah testing takes hours and battery testers give you cheap results in seconds. You need to return these at your own expense and stop abusing the return system.”
opinions?
Could just keep them. Or…
File PayPal dispute product not as described. Battery capacity is not as described. Take pictures of the capacity even. You could show hjks test link. EBay usually sides with the buyer. I wouldn’t have anymore communication outside the dispute if you are going to go that route.
But they arnt horrible batteries. You’ll still get a good runtime from them. You could just leave negative feedback on the seller and go on with life lessoned learned.
It sounds like you arnt the first person the seller has had issues with. Almost seems standoffish. In the end its up to you. Negative feedback with fake capacity batteries review hurts sellers.
If you want to reply I’d say I’m not using a cheap battery tester, or a cheap charger. I didn’t get a mah reading in seconds. I ran 3 test and takes several hours each and they are below capacity. Here is even a more in depth test of these batteries. And send him some of hjks graphs. I have the equipment to check batteries. And 100mah would have been OK but not 1000mah difference. You can refund me or I’ll open a dispute and let eBay deal with it. Since they are here to protect me against sellers like you
I made an error stating that I discharge at 1 amp with the Litokala Lii-500. It charges at 1 amp, but only discharges at 500 milliamps. My hobby charger on the other hand can discharge up to 7 amps. Sorry for the confusion.
The seller is talking out of his backside & either doesn”t know what he is on about or is being immediately aggressive & negative because he has had other complaints about these cells capacity.
You do not need a $1000 oscilliscope to get a capacity reading of within a hundred or 200ma of accurate & you are 1000 ma different.
A Lii-500, Opus etc will give a close enough reading to show if the capacity claim is fake or not.
According to his statement then a SkyRC MC3000 is also a cheap non decent charger that cannot be used to test capacity :person_facepalming:
From the sellers aggressive reply it does sound as if you are not the first person to pull him up on his capacity claims.
If you do decide to keep the cells though what feedback are you going to give as if you give honest feedback then his communication is poor aggressive & arrogant & the product is not as advertised.
Up to you which way you go.
They are reasonably good cells but 1000mah less than claimed.
You could just put it down to experience & keep them or involve paypal as from his reply he is not willing to do anything to put the matter right unless you pay the return shipping.
EDIT: Just re-read your post, I am not familiar with the accuracy of the 2 chargers you mention.
Are they normally reasonably accurate for capacity testing ?
Yes, they seem to be. They always agree with he results others post here and they agree with each other.
Want to hear something funny? I actually do have an $1200.00 oscilloscope in the garage that I picked up in an estate sale years ago. I just haven’t really taken the time to learn how to use it :person_facepalming:
Well it is really up to you then.
The seller is being an arse IMO.
I personally would not be happy buying 5200mah rated cells & finding they are actually 1000mah less.
However other than some really really poor “fire” cells I bought years ago before I knew any better & some “fire” cells that have come supplied with lights I have always bought cells that have matched claims.
In the case of 26650”s I have bought cells that actually exceed capacity claims (Liitokala & Thorfire 26650”s :+1: ).
I always read cell reviews on here & on HKJ”s site before buying :+1:
So the ball is in your court so to speak
BTW HJK only got 4205ma capacity out of them at just 200ma discharge rate, according to the seller he obviously doesn”t know what he is on about either Test of AWT IMR26650 5200mAh (Red) 2015
Just looked up the sellers feedback & he has already received negative feedback regarding cells & also buyers saying he is arrogant & rude 
Yeah, I messed up. If I end up taking the hit here it’s my fault to the degree that I was not as educated on where good batteries come from.
I’m a bit wiser now.
IMR and GearBest are where most of my batts come from now. But I’m reading HKJ’s and others reviews first from now on also.
I strongly advise everyone from using this seller. In additional messages he called me a jerk and refuses to take the batteries back without me paying the return shipping. All I wanted is what I paid for….5200mAh batteries. He told me I should be happy since “4200mAh is plenty”…. lmao.
I’ll ask ebay to step in. If they won’t help it’s probably $5.00 to send them back….may as well keep them.
ebay seller….
Rude, Arrogant AND just plain wrong.
lol! So that is who it is?!!
Here is my experience with him over the last 5 years! When everything is going great, your happy and he is happy, no problems. As soon as you bring up a valid issue he becomes arrogant and uncooperative.
What an ASS* to tell you that you should be satisfied w/ 4200mAh!!
He probably does NOT get too many customers like us that will test the products and know what were talking about. The average Joe would not know the difference.
I would fight for my money back just based on PRINCIPLE.
I have bought one thing off of him since my incident w/ him ~ 3 years ago. The only reason I bought these Vappower 26650 was because they were highly recommended and I was in a pinch!
Good luck to you.
EDIT: I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND MY HOMETOWN DEALER LIIONWHOLESALE.COM AND ILLUMN FOR BATTERIES IN THE FUTURE. MY HOMETOWN DEALER CARRIES ALL THE TOP BRANDS AT A VERY REASONABLE PRICE.ILLUMN HAS A BIGGER SELECTION.