Please listen to benckie on this. Only the Trustfire from Manafont has been tested with positive results. Apparently people don't understand how easy it is to shrink a fake wrapper on an old cell and call it whatever you want. Fake TF cells have been found at DX, DD and many eBay sellers. Why take a chance to save a few bucks? TF 2400 might be $3.19 at Easylightbuy, but it also might be 600mAh in real capacity. You don't know until it is tested.
Pfft... hahaha... I have got everyone beat. 4pcs Blue UF 18650 from BuyInCoins, $3.20/pair, tested 51, 2, 3, and 18 mAh! Yes that was no mistake, TWO friggin mAh!
Granted I got most of my money back and 5% discount card, but bottom line is, don't buy these cheap batteries, especially from BIC! Well, I don't mean boycott BIC altogether, their price, shipping and CS is great, just skip their lame batteries.
Well I don't have the equipment to test for true MAH, but what I do know is all the Trustfire Flames I have got off ebay so far have been what I call very good batteries. I have bought some from Manafont as well. I can't say I can see the difference but then again I don't know which ones are actually from Manafont anymore.
I do appreciate benckie taking the time to test though. His test is why I mainly just buy the Trustfire flames now.
Fair enough, Cheap Thrills, but benckie has tested 18-20 TF 3000 flames from Manafontwith consistent performance results. They seem to be the only one that sells a consistent product.
I agree with you on the Xtars - great cells, but they do have a problem fitting in some lights, as do Hi-Max, which is another good testing brand.
Check a couple of posts below. Most astonishing thing was, they could not deliver more than 3 Amps even with a full charge and direct drive light (First pair was over 4A!!).
edit: and yes, the first pair was GREAT replacement for a bit too long Xtars. I was an idiot selling that pair away with STL-V2 :(
Sad that even the tiny blue TF 10440, crappy that they were, beat the pulp out of the 18650 blue UF.
These are ALL from BIC. I honestly give you guy a heads up, skip these, a little extra will give you a LOT more for your money. Try to stay with Manafont for budget batteries, though not perfect, but still at least have a bit of quality control.
But in above post's you have said you have not tested them and you dont know witch ones are witch.... maybe not very good advice. In the past you have suggested cheaper lights then the tested lights, that have turned out to be fake or scam's and batteries that have tested poorly or the DD lottery game.
If people want tyred and tested flames there is one seller i stick to after test flames from many diffrent sellers.
The flame 3000;s are not worth getting as they tested the same for more or gave less then 100 mAh more
Most people will not know if a battery under performs in a light with a few one and off uses, run time test dont realy show the full picture either, there is people on here that do hours and hours of testing to show you the good batteries to spend your money on.
But it seams people will always buy the untested battery to save a few $ and then link them on here for houndereds of people to see and buy. Look at it this way a good battery will save you from a crap torch and a bad charger or worse.
A good cheap battery will cost you $10 to $15 a pair really good batteries will cost you $10 to $30 + each.
You can buy the same cell's cheaper but ive found the protection of the cheaper versions to have less (ic's) mosfets and the protection to be a bit hit and miss.
Make sure you add that to the bic recomedn thread !
I have brought a few sets of batteries from them that performed bad or very average, but was only give part refunds because they told me i still could use them.....
I should have said 10440 batteries, but thanks for the info. It is always to get a user's assessment of such stuff. I have not seen any Trustfire Flames in 10440.
How reliable is hke’s eBay side? I only ask because they have listed a trustfire 4 cell charger (tr-006?) And four 18650 cells for £31, I have not bought or tested these and am not recommending them, but if the seller is reputable they may be a good option?
Personally I trust BIG_F_D_D (torchy the battery boy) I’ve bought some lights from him that have been good, he has a return for full refund if unhappy policy (never had to test this, always been happy) and is based in Scotland. Good for us UK users, maybe not so good for you guys stateside. He tests and posts results of all his products and is a user himself.