Better res picture
Haha,
Okay while i was writing this thread you posted pictures…
Wshyang,
I am not sure about the set of batteries you received but i promise mine are the real Samsung core cells. You did not get the batteries from me which makes it a bit harder to correct the issue. Pingyi just puts the label on the units but Samsung creates the cells for us. I’m working with Pingyi to hopefully find what happen with why you have a Sony cell. This swap of cells error would happen in the Pingyi manufacture and not Samsung. I would like you to get some pictures of the battery once the label is pulled please.
I greatly appreciate your interdependent testing, but after review i feel that you discharge current is beyond Samsungs core preparation rang. I still want to confirm your test so i just bought the West Mountain Radio CBA IV. This way i can replicate your test. It looks like a great tool and i can’t wait to use it!
I import these batteries in bulk and jump through hoops to get them in the country as they are classified as dangerous goods. I have document upon document of lithium Ion battery mambo jumbo… I ended up getting the Actual -SAMSUNG SDI Confidential Proprietary – Document for these batteries. I was asked not to release the entire document, but i wanted to give all the back yard battery Test guys, which i appreciate very much, what test specs. should look like when doing their testing.
This is all copy and paste and i hope this can lay a little ground for some.
This is the normal Spec. of the battery 
3.1 Nominal Capacity 2600mAh (0.2C, 2.75V discharge)
3.2 Minimum Capacity 2550mAh(0.2C, 2.75V discharge)
3.3 Charging Voltage 4.2 ±0.05 V
3.4 Nominal Voltage 3.7V
3.5 Charging Method CC-CV
(constant voltage with limited current)
3.6 Charging Current
Standard charge: 1300mA
Rapid charge : 2600mA
3.7 Charging Time
Standard charge : 3hours
Rapid charge : 2.5hours
3.8 Max. Charge Current 2600mA(ambient temperature 25℃)
3.9 Max. Discharge Current 5200mA(ambient temperature 25℃)
3.10 Discharge Cut-off Voltage 2.75V
3.11 Cell Weight 47.0g max
3.12 Cell Dimension
Height : 65.00mm max
Diameter : 18.40mm max
3.13 Operating Temperature
Charge : 0 to 45℃
Discharge: –20 to 60℃
3.14 Storage Temperature 1 year : –20~25℃(1*)
3 months : –20~45℃(1*)
1 month : –20~60℃(1*)
Note (1): If the cell is kept as ex-factory status (50% of charge),
the capacity recovery rate is more than 80%.
This Should be the standard test conditions 
6.1 Environmental Conditions
Unless otherwise specified, all tests stated in this specification are
conducted at temperature 25±5℃ and humidity 65±20%.
6.2 Measuring Equipment
(1) Ammeter and Voltmeter
The ammeter and voltmeter should have an accuracy of
the grade 0.5 or higher.
(2) Slide caliper
The slide caliper should have 0.01 mm scale.
(3) Impedance meter
The impedance meter with AC 1kHz should be used.
This is how the charge should be set up. :bigsmile:
7.1 Standard Charge
This “Standard Charge” means charging the cell with charge current
1300mA and constant voltage 4.2V at 25℃ for 3hours.
7.2 Standard Discharge Capacity
The standard discharge capacity is the initial discharge capacity of the cell, which is
measured with discharge current of 520mA with 2.75V cut-off at 25℃ within 1hour
after the standard charge.
Standard Discharge Capacity ≥ 2550mAh
7.3 Initial internal impedance
Initial internal impedance measured at AC 1kHz after rated charge.
Initial internal impedance ≤ 100mΩ
7.4 Temperature Dependence of Discharge Capacity
Capacity comparison at each temperature, measured with discharge
constant current 520mA and 2.75V cut-off after the standard charge is
as follows.
Charge Temperature Discharge temperature
25℃ –10℃ 0℃ 25℃ 40℃
Relative Capacity 50% 80% 100% 80%
Note: If charge temperature and discharge temperature is not the same,
the interval for temperature change is 3 hours.
Percentage as an index of the capacity at 25℃(=2550mAh) is 100%.
7.5 Temperature Dependence of Charge Capacity
Capacity comparison at each temperature, measured with discharge constant current
520mA and 2.75V cut-off after the standard charge is as follows.
Note: If charge temperature and discharge temperature is not the same,
the interval for temperature change is 3 hours.
Percentage as an index of the capacity at 25℃(=2550mAh) is 100%.
7.6 Charge Rate Capabilities
Discharge capacity is measured with constant current 520mA and 2.75V cut-off
after the cell is charged with 4.2V as follows.
Note: Percentage as an index of the capacity at 25℃(=2550mAh) is 100%.
7.7 Discharge Rate Capabilities
Discharge capacity is measured with the various currents in under table and 2.75V
cut-off after the standard charge.
Note: Percentage as an index of the capacity at 25℃(=2550mAh) is 100%.
7.8 Cycle Life
Charge temperature Discharge temperature
0℃ 25℃ 45℃
Relative Capacity 80% 100% 80%
25℃
Charge Condition
Current 0.2C
(520mA)
0.5C
(1300mA)
1.0C
(2600mA)
2.0C
(5200mA)
Cut-off 7h or 0.05C 2.5h or 0.05C 2.5h or 0.05C 2.5h or 0.05C
Relative
Capacity 100% 95% 90% 80%
Discharge Condition
Current 0.2C
(520mA)
0.5C
(1300mA)
1.0C
(2600mA)
2.0C
(5200mA)
Relative
Capacity 100% 95% 90% 80%
-SAMSUNG SDI Confidential Proprietary –
Spec. No. ICR18650-26F Version No. 0.0
4
Each cycle is an interval between the charge (charge current 1300mA) with 2.5h or
0.05C cut-off and the discharge (discharge current 1500mA) with 2.75V cut-off.
Capacity after 299cycles and plus 1 day, measured under the same condition
in 7.2
Capacity ≥ 1785mAh(70% of the capacity at 25℃)
7.9 Storage Characteristics
Capacity after storage for 30days at 25℃ from the standard charge,
measured with discharge current 1300mA with 2.75V cut-off at 25℃.
Capacity retention(after the storage) ≥ 2040mAh (80% of the capacity at 25℃)
7.10 Status of the cell as of ex-factory
The cell should be shipped in 50% charged state. In this case, OCV is from 3.65V to
3.85V.
-Shane
Figured I can get adventurous with the two particularly crap cells too:
Can you please send those to me in an email so i can get those over to Pingyi? I would be upset if they sent those to me when i clearly ask for Samsung core batteries.
I will need to ask but, when i put my orders in, i have to wait up to 8 weeks sometimes for the manufacture to finish my order. It could be that i ask for the Samsungs and that is why i wait…???
-Shane
So to clarify the same Himax labelled cells on the outside can be spec-ed differently inside? That’s great, maybe next time I’ll order from you instead, but do you ship internationally?
Yes, I admit that 2.5A discharge is generally high. I tend to test my old cells at only 1.5A discharge, but I just figured that… these are supposedly new, and I don’t have two days to do the testing if they are all supposedly perfect
So pingyi make these or buy these wrapped. I think they got a great deal on some pre wrapped ones and thought we can sell these and make a great profit and who will know the difference. Most user's wouldn't so even if they have to refund a few people they are still in front. Probably why I only buy panasonics now
Not a problem, you can just copy my post and send it over to them, my phone automagically uploads onto Google+, so that’s where all my photos are uploaded.
To be honest I was originally thinking these were some “good quality Chinese made” cells. But they turned out to be “subgrade Japanese made” cells.
Folks - I haven’t read the entire thread but i thought it critical to post first.
You have crap cells? Looks like this is somewhat confirmed at the very least. If
you do? My suggestion is put them aside and stop testing them. Unless your
your qualified to do so as i know some are. I am certainly no expert but
i can tell you i have been in similar situations. Worst case scenario
is some one charges these particular cells in a charger that doesn’t meter the V.
User doesn’t test the battery’s after charging at all and uses them in an
ultra high discharge flashlight that many own nowadays. Please don’t do this.
If your discharging in a hobby charger? Its not even worth it. A few knowledgeable
folks on here have already provided feedback. That should be sufficient.
IMO , this company that re-labels Li_ion cells has done just that. There’s a real market for
2nd hand garbage like this overseas. I know this. And there are only a few manufacturers
that make the Li-ion core. Quality control in a Panasonic or Samsung factory is
extremely high. Li_ion cells are binned according QC and typically sold in huge quantities
to sub manufacturers that have pre-purchased the high quality cells. The lower quality
or inferior (in discharge rate) are sold for specific uses, requiring much less discharge.
There’s very little room for this kind of F—k up. I’ll drop off here but i will say
the variety of cells your finding and the amount of life cycle ( wrapper color) they
have left seems to me they were sitting in another application for a few years…
Someone should sticky this thread.
I sent the pictures over to Pingyi. I am interested in what they will say. The batteries are made in Korea and Pingyi only puts the labels on them.
One last label peel, this one looks like a Sanyo, it has a “B” where typically there is a “C” and “D” on my other Sanyos:
And here is how a Sanyo looks like, notice the positioning of the text:
It's a pleasure to have you onboard, Shaneatproshop!
There’s difference between “budget” and “crap”.
Sanyo UR18650FM’s for $3.80/each or Panasonic’s for <$5/each off Bestvaping - that’s budget.
Crap cells for same price - that’s, well, not budget.
I’ve removed shrinkwrap/PCB from 16 of my HiMax-es, and this is what I saw:
http://haax.in/12080149.jpg
No Sony cells, but… this doesn’t looks good. 
Especially considering how some cells (especially noticeable on 4th one in top row) are physically damaged.
The ones with a “D” look like Sanyos.
I am still waiting on some documentation from Pingyi but they insist mine are brand new Samsungs.
I’m still have not received a clear answer on the pictures i sent them about the Sony cell you have. I brought it up for the 3rd time and this was the reply along with a picture of the different Samsung batteries.
Pingyi,
“For he defines a brand. Need to see the battery anode, head
I am for you to do a simple description of images.
The better I have confirmed that, we battery is not recycled product, and then processing
Purchasing, and goods are samsung original skin,
Then we will it take off, and put on hi - Max”
I have about 400 HI-Max in stock and they seem to be consistently numbered under the white label. I didn’t check them all but sorted through enough to put me at ease.
-Shane
Shadowww, All of my units look like yours with out the dents.
Thanks raccoon city! Thats an awesome light you have! :bigsmile:
-Shane
It is a very nice flashlight.
Unfortunately it belongs to BLF member rikr, and not me. :(
(Don't worry, I'll live.) :)