Is there a demand for protected 18650's?

I’ve been trying to buy protected NCR18650GA’s for months now. With global shortage leading to increased prices most shops are out of stock. So I’ve been thinking about biting the bullet and making my own small shop. I understand I’m a total stranger on the internet, therefore I’ll be a registered business with a website to protect buyers. I’ll also test and show results of all batteries I sell. Shipping from Canada to lower 48 will be $10(US) and prices will be competitive. What I dont know is how much of a demand there is and what types of batteries people want. So my question is, would you be interested and what type of batteries would you like to see? Ex. MJ1, NCR18650GA, 35E, flat or button top? Thanks in advance for your help!

What do you mean by “protected”? Are you gonna add a BMS board to each cell?

Me? Nah. Unless gifting a light to The Muggle, I wouldn’t bother with protection on a cell.

Usually, they just get in the way (max current, cell length, etc.), so to me at least, they’re generally a pass.

Yes but I wont install the BMS, supplier will. Unprotected button/flat could be a liability if people arent careful. But I would consider them if demand was there.

Thanks for your input! Do you use flat tops or button tops without PCB?

I personally do flat tops, and button tops through the use of an adapter.

I took the protection circuit off a number of 18650’s I had because I considered them to be just another point of failure. All my lights have lvp and all of my chargers save 1 cut off below 4.2. The one that doesn’t cuts off at 4.22 so I never use it other than for NiMh batteries.

I think it depends on where your biggest market might be. Mainstream flashlights, yes, it seems that protected cells are what is mostly being supplied and asked for (many people are still frightened of lithium ion cells and many manufacturers would prefer to cover their legal bases). Vapers…no protection (only rarely). Flashlight enthusiasts, generally straight factory cells with no added protection - buttons sometimes, sometimes not.

I think it’s smart to have protected versions available in at least some popular cell sizes just so that people who are using multiple-cell lights or perhaps modding and upgrading older lights have the option to buy protected cells from you (protection still being a smart idea for series configurations in the absence of sophisticated BMS circuits).

Of all the cells I have, only four are protected (used to be six, but like SIGShooter I removed it from a couple of them). But if I had to guess, I think I’d be willing to put money on protected cells being more numerous and preferred in the general retail product arena. And that’s a shame, really. :slight_smile:

Flattops are my preference if at all possible, ’cause buttontops add resistance.

All my 30Qs are FTs except for those that I have in my Q8s which are BTs because of the circular contact-ring.

Also, a few lights only have a contact patch or barely a nubbin and thus need BTs. Most of my Nitecore lights only have a shallow nubbin.

Rarely, some FTs have a top that protrudes enough to act kindasorta like a BT.

Come-with cells from Sofirn/Wurkkos lights generally are BTs, ’though when looking just a day or so ago, I saw that the FT 21700s were as I described above, actually FTs but raised enough that they can even be connected in series, like in my SF47.

I can’t recall which cells I have that even have any PCBs. Old old old panny-Bs that I used in low-stress lights, usually those with just 7135s but not even a µC on-board.

Yes, I will be a customer for sure. I purchase protected cells in bulks of 48 every few months.
I purchase ncr18650B from AliExpress for the past few years. I sell flashlights to my coworkers and friends as a side hustle.
But for my personal lights, I only use unprotected cells.

Thanks!

I wanted to order protected 18650’s because the cheap lights I’m using dont have lvp. Looks like theres a demand for both. Thanks.

I will probably sell both then, a protected button top and flat top. Vaping community needs high amps so thats another consideration.

I used to only get protected cells.

Now I only get unprotected.

Unprotected feels better.

I go with unprotected for no parasitic drain and becasue i only use 1 cell lights.
The bigger issue is can you get enough cells to satiate demand and can you ensure they are genuine?

When you cater to muggles, you are bound to have contingencies My Sofirn SP35 won’t power on with my 21700 batteries, why?

As for shipping Lithium Ions, check Canada post. There are restrictions (airfreight).

You will also need some legal advice regarding any mishap. Just takes one incident that will jeopardize your endeavours and be a financial burden for life.

I can currently receive lithium batteries from China that are delivered by Canada Post so its curious.

I’m less inclined to buy from a small merchant with a garage gig, be it from China or US or Canada. A merchant’s bread and butter is sales and any manner of such is prioritized. So legal or not, circumnavigating the rules that ensure the safety of the populace over the desires of the individual is against my integrity.
I don’t buy batteries (or chemicals) from China or any uncredited outfit.

I like protected cells for headlamps.

How will you be able to offer “competitive” prices and have a supplier assemble the BMS on cells, maybe add custom wrapping?
Do you really think you can sell cheaper than the big players who buy at larger discount?
And you as a small buyer, will suffer even more from supply shortage and exploding prices, because you are not on any priority list, other than big players who due the high volume flow can deduct a few cents each sale and can offer “incentives” for being on the list.

Even shipping cost are unsustainable for a small company. While big players pay less than 1$ for shipping, because they create a constant “base load”, you pay 10$, set aside packaging material.
The only thing you could make money on is handling and logistics by streamlining the procedures, but do you really want to enslave yourself for a few cents an hour?

@flashburn, he can still create a small business account with Canada Post, which will give him cheaper rates.

If his SMB gets large enough, he gets access to higher discount tiers.

I’ll have to do some more research on shipping. I wrongly assumed for ground mail it wouldn’t be a problem. Thanks for letting me know.

I understand what your saying about buying from merchants, but I wont circumnavigating the rules. I assume you mean shipping them illegally, which is a huge liability (and safety risk to everyone). I wont be doing that.

Its definitely not an easy business. Margins are slim and there isn’t a huge number of customers. With the current inflated prices I’m looking to sell protected Sanyo NCR18650GA’s for $9. From what I’ve seen thats cheaper than any other vendor currently in stock, but let me know if you see cheaper.

Yup, a small discount but you need to spend $7500 on shipping yearly to reach the top tier. That will never happen