In a thread I started on 26650 batteries the Trustfire was recommended to me. I purchased a couple and so far they seem to be working well.
I have several 14500 lights such as the Sipik and clones and would like to purchase some quality 14500 batteries for the ones I EDC. So far I’ve been using various Ebay Chinese batteries in this size and I’ve been fortunate that they’ve worked well with one exception. But just like the 26650’s and 18650’s that I bought quality (but economical) batteries for, I figure I should do the same in the 14500 size.
Thoughts on the TF in this size welcome, in addition to other suggestions. Thank you
The “original” Trustfire Flames are good. (the ones wrapped in a two-pack with a TF holographic decal on them)
just never buy any “Ultrafire” cells of any kind, ever, and never buy the plain-label TF 14500s. All the TF Flames i have tested great, the few plain label ones were bad, along with every Ultrafire cell regardless of wrapper color.
The ones I got from Fasttech have been working just fine with my SC52w. I also bought a pair of Sanyo unprotected 14500s as well and both types of cells seem to last as long as each other, along with allowing the SC52w to run its maximum just fine.
I noticed HKEquipment is selling TF Flames and they are a very reputable shop. But I’ve been just buying my 14500s from Illumination Supply lately. Last batch I bought was Olight 14500s and I’m happy with them.
Genuine trustfires are mostly ok. But it is a matter of whether they are authentic or not. There are plenty of fake TF flame batteries out there. I ordered TF flame 26650’s and both died within a matter of days. Simply wouldn’t hold a charge.
Personally I would go with DLG 14500 cells. They are the same cells used in the Keeppower protected 800mah 14500 and they are almost identical to Sanyo UR14500P cells but without the price tag. Although you’ll have to stomach the inevitable wait for surface mail shipping from FT.
Those DLG flat tops from Fasttech are great batteries if they work in your flashlight. I think the only flashlight they worked with in my collection is the V11R with the AA extender on it. They don’t work with my EagleTac D25A, Spark SF5 or Olight S15 which is the whole reason I bought mine for.
Same problem with the Sanyo 14500s from Fasttech. Again, great batteries if they work with your model.
I heard good stories about Trustfire Flame, so I bought a 2-pack TF 900mah 3 days ago locally, and I got burnt because they are fakes.
I know it would be safer to buy online from reputable seller likes FT, but the surface mail troubles & the Chinese customs issues when using airmail is too much for me to handle.
I blame myself for not doing enough research about the fakes. I only compared the details of the wrapping, and they look the same as the original one I found on the net , so I bought it.
It arrived with 1 cell not working (dead), so I peeled the wrapper, threw the protection circuit, and it started to work.
The one with protection circuit is too long for my AA flashlight. Compared to the original specs, it is 2-3 mm longer.
Still not enough insults, I tested both in Opus 2.1 charger, and they are only 372 mah. Internal resistance is beyond 500 milliOhm. It worked only 12 min in my flashlight.
Further research brought me to Amazon with similar complaint. My TF fits the characteristics of a fake: being too long to fit in many devices, extra low capacity, high internal resistance and the missing of 2 small ventilation holes on the top button. Perfect fake syndromes !
I have some Trustfire Flames, bought from DX and I think Manafont (when they were still ok to buy from). Both claimed to be “real” ones.
And they are both ok, although one stopped working. Just completely dead, assume it’s the protection circuit, but it wouldn’t reset.
I have a couple of “EagleTac” 14500’s. These seem to review ok, although are unknown cores I think as EagleTac doesn’t say who makes them.
In the lights I use them in, the EagleTacs do seem superior in runtime and performance vs the Flames. But at the end of the day, none of them are really high capacity, so they all run flat quickly.
Personally I’ve found I prefer Efest IMR 14500’s. Better performance and no protection circuit to trip.
Naked Sanyo 840mAh cells have shallow flat tops and may not make contact with a ‘flat’ positive contact point found on many lights. If you have a spring for a positive contact, then you’re golden and they’re the best 14500s made right now, IMO.
I have an Icon Rogue 1 with a recessed wire ‘Z’ for a positive contact point and my Sanyos don’t work. Same with my ShiningBeam I-Mini. I bought some EVVA protected button tops which use the Sanyo cells from Mountain Electronics, but they’re way too long to fit in anything but my Xeno E03.
I think it depends on who uses these batteries. I also prefer unprotected 14500s but I need protected 14500’s for my mother-in-law’s SK-68. She doesn’t know anything about batteries and only asks me to recharge her Sanyo 14500s when she perceives her light is not bright anymore - and usually the Sanyos are drained to 2 volts.
I’d rather have lower capacity protected 14500s for her which trips at a safer voltage that’s why I’m also ordering this.
