This is kind of courtesy via Gj’s other thread (Toshiba battery yields 18500 cells), but that same Ebay seller has some 12-cell HP packs for $12.99 w/free shipping:
No harm done. I would rather 2 members post on the same deal then no member post. Thanks for sharing Ohaya. The Panasonics you alerted me to way back when you started are working great for me.
The pack from Amazon isn’t Genuine HP, it’s from an aftermarket supplier. So the quote on Panasonic cells, and literally everything else, may or may not be what is used in the Genuine pack.
Being Genuine HP, it’s also probably going to be much more of a hassle to get the cells out. I don’t know that, but my experience with HP dictates that they have Engineers that specialize in making things difficult for the consumer.
Thanks. I just feel a little bad because I didn’t realize there was the link in the other thread, but I’m glad if it helps others.
FYI, I don’t know why, but I also bought one of these plus the other 18500 ones from the original Gj thread :)… I already have more 18650s now than I really need, including one of the 12-cell packs from the Toshiba, that’s still unopened :(… I’ll need to figure out what to tell my wife when she sees all of these packs coming in :(!!
Yes, it is the one from the eBay link. It was almost impossible until I heated up the seams with a hair dryer, which made it pretty easy. As with all of these packs caution should be taken not to short circuit or puncture the cells. Work slow, use eye protection, etc.
when i remove the pack, i accidentally tear some of the cell cover showing the bear metal, is it a serious problem? i’ve placed an order on ft for some heat shrink tubing. i just hope it’s not a big deal as of now.
As long as you don’t short the positive terminal to the bare metal negative you’re in good shape. You can always cover that segment with a piece of electrical tape when in doubt. Or like RMM said, hold off using that cell until you can re-wrap it.
Couldn’t resist, one of these is on it’s way. Are the cells glued into the pack or stuck with the tape stuff? Can you say what level of charge they had when you opened em up? Just curious.
I hear it’s much easier to open these packs up with some retaining ring pliers. They work opposite of regular pliers and have small posts at the end to fit into the holes on retaining rings. When you squeeze them they open, instead of close. Makes prying a pack open fairly easy, so I hear.
I may cut the seam with a plastic cut-off wheel on the dremel first, weaken it, but carefully so as not to penetrate and hit a cell. I’ve also done this with a sharp knife, but will have to give it a look.
Thanks for the heads up, found a replacement for my mom’s laptop while there so got it coming as well for $18.
The cells are easy to get out once you get the case open. As far as opening the case goes… use a little heat and it opens easy; if you don’t, you’re going to hate life. Trust me on this.
I have been charging and using some of these cells today…so far so good.
What’s the lowest level of voltage you’ve seen in any of them? I got a Toshiba pack with 6 18500’s and 2 of them were down to 2.01V, the highest 2 were 2.35V. My charger brought them all up to 4.21V, no problem, and after more than a day of rest they’re sitting at 4.18V. Look to be just fine.
The very 1st “new” pack I ever did (not this one) was all 1.9xV for every battery in the pack. I had to put them in a cheap charger for a minute or so to bump the voltage up, and then my i4 and TF 4-bay chargers would charge them.
Yep, mine were all at 3.81 out of the 12-cell HP pack. I was a bit surprised by this, but double checked the pack and am 99% sure that it is an unused pack.
Cool! Thanks Guys! That’s good to hear, makes me think they can’t be all that old, in new condition or otherwise. Also helps that I don’t have to worry about them taking a charge from my charger.
Are the cells glued into the pack or stuck with the tape stuff? Can you say what level of charge they had when you opened em up? Just curious.