FastTech TrustFire 26650 - are they fakes?

[JohnnyMac]

I can't verify their authenticity but I can see the hologram in the labels. It does look like they sent you one flat top and one button top. Other than that I can see nothing wrong with them.

[Dimlux]

Thanks for the answers.

I had ordered these specifically for my TR-J18 (my only 26650 light at the moment) so I wasn't too keen on using them in series in case that they were fakes. I had expected a more visible hologram like on my TrustFire 3000 flames. (PS. I am aware of some TR-J18 getting problems after using 26650 batteries).

[Werner]

I wasn’t sure after reading different things in the fattech thread, so I ordered the soshine 26650, after I send price match they are 8.99$ which is a good price.

[DanielMar2010]

For what it’s worth they look identical to mine.

[ILIKEFLASHLIGHTS]

I know I plan on buying more Panasonic protected 2900 and 3100mah batteries from them. No one yet has proven them to not be the real deal when it comes to batteries.

[DanielMar2010]

@Pulsar13

@Streamer

Those anode types are normal from looking at other manufacturers styles. Panasonic and Samsung both produce batteries with flat top and raised flat top styles. That’s what you have there….one of each type. Guess they were sourced from different stocks and not graded.

Can’t be from the battery producers, since this is supposed to be protected, and pretty much all manufactured protected cells has another layer of button to connect anode to voltage sensor on the PCB. That’s not the button from the original cells we’re seeing.

Seems TF uses different stock button top and freely mixes them up.

Pulsar13 you are correct about differing tops. I bought 12 18650 trustfires and 12 26650’s. The 18650’s have varied tops and some BARELY fit the trustfire charger!!! Have not measured or used the 26650’s (awaiting charger) yet.

[garrybunk]

Here are the two TF 26650 flames I received from FastTech. Both the shorter plus top:

-Garry

[ryansoh3]

Dimlux, do you have any way of measuring the cells’ capacities?

Something like a hobby charger would be able to verify the capacities and you could see if they match up with HKJ’s tests.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the +/- 0.01V deviation though.

Good luck with those cells!

[fasttech]

@Dimlux

FastTech should improve on their packaging

We hear you. We began getting some reports about packaging in e-mail since a few days ago and we have immediately begun properly packing these batteries, individually.

We have also been told of broken battery cases. We’re wrapping them with bubbles now as well. Let us know if you notice other things like this, we are eager to hear them.

[chrisc]

Here is a close up of three of mine.

My TJ18 has had problems with the 26650’s in too - what problems have others reported?
I went back to using 18650’s

[garrybunk]

chrisc, where did you buy yours from?

-Garry

[DayLighter]

@fasttech

@Dimlux

FastTech should improve on their packaging

We hear you. We began getting some reports about packaging in e-mail since a few days ago and we have immediately begun properly packing these batteries, individually.

We have also been told of broken battery cases. We’re wrapping them with bubbles now as well. Let us know if you notice other things like this, we are eager to hear them.

now THIS is customer service at it’s best… i hope all the other company can learn a thing or two from fasttech

[Xiotis]

I have bought some different kinds of Panasonic 18650 and all Nitecore rerchargeable lithium at the BEST price of the market from FastTech.

I am glad to find a fast and honest battery supplier at the best market prices with an excellent delivery time from China.

Regarding the issue of fakes/original, i must say that i trust FastTech because so far i have never run in such issues and because i think that this new supplier wants to keep its name high.

I was very positively surprised that in some cases, FastTech comments on the actual mAh on some chinese batteries which claim and state high numbers on the capacity.
This is honest and i highly appreciate this from FastTech which has already been my favorite site for purchases. Hope they keep expanding their product range so i totally replace DD,DX and maybe Manafont.

FastTech has earned my respect not only for the fast delivery but for their great customer service and very competitive pricing.

[chrisc]

@garrybunk

chrisc, where did you buy yours from?

-Garry

My batts were from FastTech as was my TJ18.

I have tried the TJ18 with just two batts and it works like a charm. I think I’ve got a single junk battery but last night I couldn’t be bothered to test it. It shows as charged but when I put it in in 2cell mode it doesn’t work, take it out, swap it with another and it does. Tells me its a duff cell.

Shame really but I only needed three cells so when I ordered 4 one of those was always going to be spare. Its a shame it is seemingly junk though,

[Dimlux]

@ryansoh3

Dimlux, do you have any way of measuring the cells’ capacities? Something like a hobby charger would be able to verify the capacities and you could see if they match up with HKJ’s tests. I wouldn’t be too worried about the +/- 0.01V deviation though. Good luck with those cells!

I don't have a hobby charger, so there is no way to measure the capacity. I had planned on getting the Imax B6 but found some mixed reviews of it so I didn't buy it.

[Dimlux]

Updated the first post also.

I submitted a ticket and received an answer that they had gotten the wrong item from their supplier and I was told that I would get a replacement for the "wrong" battery they sent me. Based on the answers in this thread and the fact that I have no tools for measuring capacity I will assume they are real TrustFires.

[Dale]

I received these last week… Winder why the different wrappings?

[relic38]

I noticed they have two TF 26650 listings. Both appear to be protected; the black ones are slightly cheaper. I ordered the regular flame wrapper ones, as those are the ones people have been talking positively about.

[leaftye]

How about these? Are they fake? ;)

http://www.fasttech.com/products/1/10002917/1218500-ultrafire-26650-42v-5000mah-protected-rechargeable

[garrybunk]

Oh no! Not an UltraFire look-a-like! I wouldn't touch them!

-Garry