Possible fake Samsung 30Q 18650?

Just starting fairly recently, I’ve started to record measurements of batteries (from shipped condition: voltage & IR as tested with YR1030 resistance tester, and weight; I haven’t started doing measuring dimensions though).

So far the genuine 30Qs I get arrive usually from around 3.36v-3.45v. and there seem to be 2 sets of IR readings, I think both are genuine.
1 set of 30Qs (“141”) have YR1030 IR reading of around 11.8-12.0mOhms, while the others (“136” and “138”) usually around 12.6-12.8mOhms.

I have the same resistance tester as you and two cells with L30Q read 12.06 & 12.11. It’s very interesting that these are genuine when Mooch said if it hasn’t got “0” as the 2nd digit it’s fake

My weird marking 30Qs have that same “L30Q” code too.

I messaged Mooch and he said it could be new codes that Samsung is starting to use. The 40T is no longer a 0 for the 2nd digit. It’s now N40T

Mooch is going to try find a L30Q and test it.

I might be too late … but, how about “R30Q” code?

One online shop in my country has a good deal of 30Q (around $4.5 per piece). But the close-up picture shows a faint code R30Q/JCKA6 (I think). It is neither “0” at the 2nd position nor “L30Q”. In addition, some VTC6 pics in this shop show LiitoKala sticker on the cell (I heard a lot of fakes in Liito store).

I’m not sure whether to buy from this shop or not. I also don’t have tools for testing, so buying and testing it is not possible now.

Additional reference, this is the picture of markings on pink wrap.

R30Q is genuine, all mine come from a trusted source and I’ve tested them as authentic. This code alone doesn’t make them genuine though.

The warning note is on all new batches now

$4.50 a pc sounds pretty cheap though but if he’s buying in massive bulk then they’d get a better discount than me. My cost price is $4.40 usd excl shipping.

I’d be cautious on the pricing

Goatlvl, the top or positive pole of cells is a distinctive trait. Battery brands carefully choose the geometry and shape of the top pole for their cells. Its like an emblem, unique. Different brands never (!) use the same top / positive pole. This is the shape of the Samsung one:

Pictures from: 18650 30Q review, 21700 50G review.

There are a couple chinese OEM manufacturers which use a (pretty) close in shape positive pole to Samsung's: FST or Far East Battery and Heter.

The FST top pole looks like:

Picture from: test of FST 21700 4500mAh (Pink).

This one is fairly close. Still, Samsung's legs are proportionally wider.

Concerning Heter, I once bought a bunch of cells from AliExpress which turned out (not bad, but) fake. The following picture says it all:

This one is easy to distinguish.

Goatlvl I say guess is fake. The 3s on pink wrapping don’t look right.

I have an order of 100pcs confirmed genuine with 3s like that

Just my guess I searched hi and low on internet and never found any confirmed legit that had 3s like that. But, that was mebbee 2 years ago so who knows now. Mine with rounded 3s were fake. Genuine ones from Illumn later were slanted 3s.

… Thanks. This might cut out some possibility of fake. But this shop replied me that they source from many places :person_facepalming: .

… Thanks. This sounds good easy check point.

Firstly, I thought it is fake. But I’m not sure now because another bigger good-looking shop authorized by Vapcell (and selling 30Q a bit more expensive) also has same “3” on pink wrapping. Unfortunately this shop refuses to take pictures of actual products for checking. In fact, AliExpress’s Vapcell Store shows this “3” too.

I think I’ll just have to buy one and check top as Barkuti said.
At least other buyers gave good feedback. Even they are fake, they should perform good and are cheaper than the Vapcell branded batteries.

I never thought finding a legit 30Q would be thid difficult :weary: .

This marking is from the newer Samsung 30Q6-T (search for Vapcell’s post here about this newer Samsung 30Q)

I’ve also had a few of these 30Q6-T and the code underneath the wrapper shows R30Q, like what you found out.

Can anyone recommend the 30Q button top batteries from Banggood?

Haven’t touched them since quite a few received fakes awhile back

Can you please tell me how you or others found out they were fakes? Did you/they strip them or pentest them? I have recently ordered some of these but now that they are on backorder...

Pretty certain it was the top line of code which had no “0” for the 2nd digit. This would now only apply to older batches, now they are R30Q or L30Q

I understood that 30Q6-T is Chinese made. Is this marking applied to other 30Qs as well (Korean made and Malasian made)?

In addition, that button top in your pictures, can I just assembly the metal cap and insulation pad (maybe with or without glue) then wrap them up without soldering?

You can, but without spot welding the thing there will be a noticeable contact resistance implied. This will effectively increase cell internal resistance. With clean contacts it may not be “too much” (1/3 or 1/2 of the actual flat top cell internal resistance, considering that the 30Q only has a little above 20 milliohms of internal resistance), but significant and enough to downgrade the discharge rate of the cell. With corrosion and/or dirt things will get much worse.

There are alternatives; I have quite a bit of practice low temperature soldering cells, and I know a blob or two of Rose's Metal does the job of a button top quite well:

Here's an eBay search for “rose's metal alloy” in Business and Industrial category. I've bought from zhuykoff a couple times, always served me well.

You'll have a hard time soldering the stuff without proper flux, steel soldering flux. Click/tap here for a related search in AliExpress, category “tools”. The liquid is quite corrosive, so better clean up everything around when done.

Thank you very much for explanation. The alternative you suggested, though requires some soldering tools, it looks not too difficult. :+1: