Just a little warning on Efest.

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
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Hi people, hope you are doing OK.

I am writing this post as Efest batteries have been recommended to me a few times, but they are not what they seem. They don’t actually make their own batteries, they just re-wrap sony,samsung, LG and panasonics.

The Efest 3100 MAH 20AMP for example is actually around 9-10 amp continuous discharge( depending on the rewrap, some have been as low as 4 )! This might be OK in a torch, but I also vape, and regularly draw 17+amps, so they could go into thermal runaway due to this, and we know that is a very, very bad thing.

The efest 3100 MAH is actually B and C grade panasonic NCR18650BE and NCR18650BD batteries re wrapped by efest, BE’s are rated at 4AMPS continuous discharge, while the BD’s are rated at 10AMPS continuous.

The NCR18650BE 4 AMP batteries are no longer made, so are old B and C grade stock, which you can buy for around $4.

The NCR18650BD is in production and can be purchased for around $7 each, and they are A grade batteries, not rejects.

Hope this helps someone in someway, even if its just to let you know Efest are not very good to go for as they are B and C grade cells probably are not rated at what they was meant to, thats why they was rejected(Most likely with the NCR18650BE as they was meant to be 3200MAH, they would of been B grades at 3100MAH) or if your lucky a C grade 18650BD with 10 AMP discharge, and help you save some money.

You are much better sticking with Samsung, sony, LG, sanyo, panasonic, than re-wrappers of B and C grade batteries (Not all re wrappers use B and C grade, some rewrap with their own logo and just charge more money for the battery).

http://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/forums/ecig-discussion/general-chat/45625-efest-are-at-it-again-3100-mah-20-amp-actually-4amp-rated-6-5-pulse-panasonic.html one example.

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Maybe Im off base here, but instead of a systemic issue—could we be talking about fakes? Here is just one article on how to spot them…

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Maybe you bought from a supplier that put a Efest wrapper on the cells?

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No, Efest are well known in the vaping community as a brand to stay away from, as they only rewrap and don’t manufacture their own batteries. They may be OK in torches, but people can save money (and safety) by buying from the actual manufacturers.

Here is the info on the 3100 MAH batteries http://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/forums/ecig-discussion/general-chat/45625-efest-are-at-it-again-3100-mah-20-amp-actually-4amp-rated-6-5-pulse-panasonic.html and just some more info on the re wrapping Any experience with the 3100 mAh purple Efests? | E-Cigarette Forum

It is generally cheaper to find what battery Efest re wraps for that particular battery, and then buy that actual battery usually at a saving from the original manufacturer.

I know because I am new here it probably wont be believed, but I have vaped for quite a long time so know my 18650’s. Information about Efest being re-wraps is available all over the internet, with people running tests on them and determined they was the Panasonics(3100 MAH, others capacities are LG, Samsung or old sony VTC’s.)

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Thanks for the information CTW, following your links I ended up at this nice battery database, has tons of batteries with discharge curves on each one, would be a crime not to share with this community…

Anyone seen this? Is it reliable and accurate? Thanks!

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I have heard of them before. I would think they are legit.

I realize that just One[1] example does not cut it!! I can tell based On HKJ’s “Comparator” I chose the Efest IMR 14500 700mAh FT “V1” over the Button Top version. I was surprised how much better the voltage curve was for V1.

The link you provided substantiates HKJ’s findings in regards to run time. HKJ’s shows this[slighly better run time] along with a surprisingly better voltage curve for V1.
_

Dampfakkus link:

EFest IMR 14500-700 ButtonTop V2 14500 700mAh 556mAh

EFest IMR 14500-700 FlatTop V1 14500 700mAh 650mAh

Like anything else I believe this can give us a general example.

On the other hand[skeptics side] there are so many variables. How many samples were used? Every battery can be different and we can never know what get until we get it!!!

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I think avoiding a certain battery brand because they rewrap is beyond extreme, should I say absurd. Even the name brands from some big Asian cell maker, when sold as "protected", are generally what I would call third-party rewraps. Even worse as the third party might remain unknown, which is at least not the case with reputable rebranding.

The significant issue with rewrapped batteries, as you have stated, is identifying the cell inside(and possibly the protection circuit inside, and inspecting the wrapper quality which is another short circuit risk).

Both types might be fakes, and unsuspecting buyers could fall for these. I'm mostly paranoid about my new batteries no matter where I bought them.

I have a few different purple and red efests, and they are known to be overrated (purples re: discharge spec and reds capacity-wise typically). It seems quite obvious - given the relative affordability and huge 3.1 Ah nominal capacity - that they won't manage proper discharge at anywhere close to 20A continuous.

My pre-purchase evaluation is mostly based on third-party tests such as HJK. I'm aware that this might result in unknowingly overdriving the batteries beyond mfg specs when the cell type remains unknown. Oh well, I do that on purpose, too.

Having said that, I don't generally use Efests for vaping purposes.

Why would someone doubt any of this? Even the details you give here seem to be in line with battery basics. Most li-ion battery brands are "rewrapped". After all, there are a few dozen known battery brands, probably hundreds in total, and only a handful of significant cell manufacturers. You just pretty much named them except Sanyo.

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Why is avoiding a rewrap and paying more to have a different name on exactly the same battery absurd may I ask? Especially when some of the models lie of Amp draw and are dangerous?

I was enjoying my stay here, but thought I would let people know they are just B and C grade, DANGEROUS re wraps(Claiming 20 AMP when it gives out 4 is dangerous)

I am a member of another forum who are aware of efest and would not recommend them, they also have a vaping section, so I will probably use that more, as I said I was enjoying this forum. If you like paying more for rewrapped batteries that cost twice the price, that are also unsafe in certain devices, more fool you.

Thermal runaway next to your face is a serious thing, which is why I will never buy from a company that lies to its customers when it comes to safety.

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I don’t know about all of efest’s 18650s but the efest 10440s beat everything else. Hard to be rewraps when there isn’t anything else equal to begin with.

Perhaps some efest models are originals but to keep up with demand they have introduced other particular models that are rewraps?

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Youre going to find there are very experienced folks here re: 18650s, and even people that put huge amounts of effort into testing them too, supplying charts and graphs with serious testing at various outputs and graphs to visualise the results at each current.

You will even find there is at least one member that makes lights that have serious current needs, and he favours his Efests for those. At least he likes them.

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I have no idea If I am honest, but seeing as that is just a AAA size battery it could be anyone producing it behind the scenes.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I would buy a re wrap if it was advertised as such, and actually delivered the Amps it promises. But when a battery says 20 amp and actually is 3.6 something is seriously wrong, and I would no way buy that battery.

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That is exactly how I found out about the efest 3100MAH being panasonics-a member of the vaping community produced graphs that showed they was the same battery. I apologise if my examples were not the best, I have a brain injury and get confused easily. I will try to find some better examples.

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Efest do produce one great battery, (well wrap it) it is an LG High draw battery. Think its 30 or 35 Amps constant? They may be the ones he really likes.

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I never said that. Avoiding a battery just because there's for example "Keeppower" printed on the wrapper instead of "Panasonic" visible through clear wrap would be pointless. Paying extra for the different color wrapper(unless it's better itself) would be pointless. I'm proposing neither.

Members of the budget light forum buy lots of stuff that are marketed with lies. Not just battery capacity or current draw, but exorbitant lumen figures and ridiculous promises of runtime.

These become dangerous when the user is uninformed. Yes, mislabeling batteries is unethical. But the reasoning to avoid a particular brand was rewrapping itself, wasn't it?

Yes, mislabeling batteries is unethical. Efest are known to do that, for example with the "35A" 2500mAh purple that actually is rated for 35A for a minute(or so) and 20A continuous. Or the 18350 red that says 800 and only has 500 mAh(no surprise when competing more expensive brand only claimed 700 and had 600).

However, this particular example seems somewhat exaggerated and perhaps forged. My guess is someone failed to recognize a fake, or had a cause against a particular company.

Straw man, eh? It's kinda irresponsible to buy gasoline as that might be dangerous when refuelled into a diesel truck.

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Conan, obviously you are more upset than others here because inflated amp ratings are a big safety issue for vapers, but not so much with flashlights. If you overdraw a cell while vaping, it could blow up in your face. If you use an overrated cell in a flashlight, usually the worst that can happen is that your flashlight isn’t as bright as you had hoped and you didn’t get your money’s worth.

Also, many people here have had good experience wity efest.

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“I think avoiding a certain battery brand because they rewrap is beyond extreme, should I say absurd.” My issue is not the re wrap, but the lies, and accidents do happen because of these lies.

I get heated quickly due to a brain injury, also affects my short term memory, so I apologise for earlier and getting a bit vexed.

I just can not support a company who tells dangerous lies, say it was the MAH or something I probably would be annoyed, but thats forgiveable. I can not support a company that advertises 20 AMP continuos when in reality it is either 4, or at best 10.

I have seen the charts showing a Efest 3100 MAH is a panasonic, curves as exact as they could be with small differences as to be expected.

Although, the purple efest ‘20’ argument was quite a while back, they may use a better battery now.

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Pilotdog68 your probably right, that was what I really could not understand, I was being recommended batteries that I have heard multiple thermal runaways occuring due to, so it got to me a bit more. I stated earlier my actions are affected and I have memory issues, so I apologise If I offended anyone.

I did go over the top a bit, but I couldn’t understand why they was being recommended when I want something I can use in my vape AND my flashlight to save money as I already have them. I think LG make some good High draw batteries now with a higher MAH, so may go for some of them.

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Is it possibly this one that's believed to be a 20-ampere constant rated LG?

http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Efest%20IMR18650%202500mAh%20(Purple)%202014%20UK.html

http://www.akkula.fi/efest-18650-IMR-2500-mAh-Purple

It's good. It's also mislabeled and overrated by Efest. Interestingly on this one there is quite a small difference between flat and button tops, but it's there.

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It could be, I could be completely wrong, I do know Efest do have one high draw battery that does perform as it states it does, I can not remember who produces the cell though and the current, but I know that is a ‘truthful’ battery.

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There might be several batches. At least the flat top remained above 2 Ah up to 20 A, and remained quite solid up to 10A:

http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Efest%20IMR18650%203100mAh%20(Purple)%202014%20UK.html

This is far from suitable for 20A discharge, but is it really identical to a specific 4-6 A rated cell? I vaguely remember seeing the comparison between purple 3100 flat and button tops and they were different. Can't remember where or find those graphs now.

Edit: I can see how this could be identical to a 10 A Panasonic. But is it really confirmed that mixed cells were used?