Laptop Packs

I was able to find a laptop that the batteries matched.

The only thing I have to add is this...

I just want you to be fully informed about these things, and you're at least headed in the right direction. I have no problem with any of it IF you can get a good understanding of what condition the cells are really in, and use that to make an educated judgement based on actual data if they're fit for purpose, and then fully inform buyers with accurate, truthful information.

To be honest at this point I really could care less what you think. If you want to purchase them then do so if you do not then choose not to buy them. I have been upfront and said they were used and untested.

Seriously;

  1. You DON’T like used pack pulls. Then Don’t buy them. Easy, peasy.
  2. We are mostly stupid.
  3. We need permission or need to take a quiz for “Advanced Topics”

Unreal.

Exactly How many of these dangerous/unverified/death trap used laptop pulls have actually vented or blown up within this community?

Not from this seller mind you, but used undamaged laptop pulls that hundreds of members have done and cells that were used.
I only know of one and the guy over drove the crap out of it for kicks and videotaped it.
Other than that, NADDA, ZIPPO

Whenever I have done laptop pulls, if you find a cell that drains quick or gets hot when charging, well, duh, that one was the weak link. So you recycle it and life goes on. It certainly does not mean all the other batteries in the pack are junk.
Yes, I use a tester on some suspect cells, but not on every cell.

Not everyone here uses cells on flashlights that draw serious amperage and if they do, most will use brand new, brand name cells.
But when you just want to put a cheap cell in a Single Cell P60 502b or similar light and not use up all your Panasonics, who gives a flying if it is not a 100% capacity brand new cell?

Now, If it is going to be used in a multiple cell Series configuration, then by all means you should know what you have on front of you. Using unprotected cells in series is ballsy at best so here I would spend the money on quality protected cells.

Bottom line, this guy is not being a criminal and does not need to interrogated as such.
If the guy is advertising them as untested then that is what they are. BFD
Later,

Keith

For those who want to test battery capacity, but don’t have a hobby charger:

If you have a flashlight with linear regulator, Like Nanjg with 7135 regulator(s).
These will put a constant current load on the battery until they drop out of regulation, or drop for battery protection, giving some idea of approximate cell capacity. Ideally would test best with a 1 or 1.4 Amp driver. (3 or 4X 7135 chips)

(I have several lights set like this as they are my most practical for general use lumen levels, long efficient run time, don’t overheat, loaners, etc.)

Yes, you are in the group I was referring to. Please stay after class today.

LOL

I was hoping we'd spend more time working towards verifying the quality of these batteries than fighting, although I'll admit it's fun to throw on the flame suit occasionally. I certainly don't have to be the person to test them. There were five people that signed up to test Basen batteries. Maybe one of them can do these too, or someone else that doesn't mind tying up their hobby charger for a few days. HKJ is pretty much out of the question though since his backlog is 4 months, and I doubt he'd be interested in testing used batteries when there's so many new batteries he could be testing.

Really though, let’s not get too offended here. We’ve all got different levels of skills / knowledge, but the forum allows people to leapfrog over a lot of the learning. We’ve definitely run across folks who thought they had driver problems when the actual problem was worn-out pulls. Some of the stuff you described in your post as “no duh” type stuff won’t be obvious to everyone. People using the cheapest chargers likely won’t notice heat (the chargers are that slow!), and you’d be surprised how many members do not own a DMM.

And don’t forget: Hag911 exposed himself to this discussion. I doubt that any of this conversation would exist if he’d just started selling boxes of packs. Instead he started a thread where he said (and please forgive me for being candid here Hag911!): “I’ve sourced hundreds of laptop packs and altruistically decided to provide them to BLF members for a low price. Now then, how high a low price can I charge?” He’s been slightly reticent the whole time, that didn’t help anything. There are lots of details he could have provided in order to improve peoples outlook. One critical detail that’s been glossed over is whether there is any consistency for these things: are any of them the same age / model? Testing cells from one pack out of 50+ varieties isn’t going to achieve squat.

I almost choked. Let's be clear, there's no way I'm testing 50+ pairs of batteries. I'd rather stab myself. At least I'd be fully healed before I could finish testing all those batteries. :D

Reticent? I didn’t want to offer them to low nor to high so I asked. My rock bottom price is subject to what people think is fair. So maybe I made a mistake asking.

The majority, about 90%, are the 9cell packs I have pictured. There are a few 6 cell packs that I have just not even offered to sell due to the ones that I did open they were all below the volt limit. So same model but all are used and it would appear that the BatteryInfoview health ranges from 45 to 70%. What else would you like to know?

Ask and I will answer. What else can I provide.

No problem, no hard feelings.
Just hate to see the guy getting piled up on, I really think he is trying to be a good person here, maybe I’m wrong, I was brought up to try to trust people to a certain extent until they give you a reason not to.

You are right, some of our members do not have a DMM and may not know what that means.
Maybe when they sign up there could be a primer, Welcome to the BLF and the wonderful world of high powered LED flashlights, here is what you need to know;

Also agree on the 1 in 50 thing.
Really any cell can be bad, I have received a bad brand new Sanyo in the past. Just drained real quick, but never got hot. Made on a Monday or late Friday afternoon maybe.

As they say, there are repair garages for BMW’s and Mercedes too:)
Later,
Keith

these are still a great opportunty for those with more time than money.
hell i would grab a bunch if i didnt already have access to free packs.
oh and remember to tape up the usps boxes well.
i figured out that anything heavy acts as a battering ram and will beat the box open.
i packed a bunch of 24v dc ballasts in a usps frb.it didnt pass my shake test till i wrapped tape around the box to secure the flaps.

Yeah, the ones I have already sent out were rather abused. Will be taping them in at least two layers of tape.

I’m sure there’s some variation of the “better to ask forgiveness” saying that applies here ;-). FWIW I think asking a community like this how much they’d pay for xxxxxx is generally ill advised

We really could use several hard-hitting & brief FAQs. I definitely feel like part of the problem since I haven’t written any.

"If you are going to tell people the truth, you had better make them laugh or they will kill you." --Oscar Wilde

I obviously screwed up and forgot the laughing part. I'll try to do better next time.

I want to sell untested used batteries. You do not think that is a wise move for either party but there are different opinions out there. I have sold many packs and all of the buyers are happy.

Also when testing these batteries I seem to get better ratings on the second discharge cycle. I am not sure why this is happening. I have noticed that the multiplex does not do a good job at doing a full charge compared to the i4 that I have.

Isn't Oscar Wilde dead ?

folks also need to remember that these packs have to be tested individually since they have been exposed to mixed usage patterns.
some will be worn out and some like new.
some will be new from spot replacements.
so assume they are a mixed bag and fire up your hobby charger.