A flashlight can only be as good as it's batteries. Where to find GOOD ones?

Q-ship · 2019-01-08T23:48:48.000Z

Can anyone tell us where to buy genuine (quality) 18650 batteries? I post this here instead of the battery section because I don’t care about price, test results, or comparisons, just where to get “real” units.

Having “lurked” on this site for years, I have found it to be invaluable for it’s research into different flashlight options, but I now find that the quality of flashlights offered is being overtaken due to junk counterfeit batteries!

This has probably been a problem for some time, but the power of current flashlight offerings is really starting to show how bad the counterfeit battery problem has become!

As a side example of what I’m referring to, a couple of years ago, SanDisk memory did an extensive test and discovered that 92% ——- YES 92%! of internet sales of SanDisk micro SD cards were forgeries! I’m guessing that forged name brand/quality batteries is at least as high (probably higher).

SanDisk then required their authorized/legitimate dealers to clearly state “Authorized SanDisk dealer”. This was done so that buyers could have a reasonable expectation of getting a legit item, and so that counterfeiters could be prosecuted under international law if they claimed to be legit! —- And so that those that don’t claim it are basically admitting they are counterfeiters! —- As a side note, China very seldom prosecutes forgers, To this day Microsoft sells MS Office for about $30.00 in China (as opposed to about $500.00 in the U.S./Europe), because they have to compete with the forgeries/copies, or sell ZERO units!

My old Panasonic batteries I bought in Japan 10 years ago, that have been charged COUNTLESS times, outperform the dozens of recent internet battery purchases I have made. I am left to question if a legit 30Q Samsung even exists? Others also. It’s not only frustrating, but will hold back the natural development of more powerful flashlights as LED technology progresses!

My question is…. Can anyone list legitimate battery sellers? In my opinion, this is a far more important question today than what flashlight, reviews, or best deals!

Thank you for reading my rant, and I hope it spurs everyone to hold the manufacturers, and resellers accountable! Else “junk” batteries will certainly eliminate progress in the flashlight world.

will34 · 2019-01-09T00:21:37.000Z

Before I can assist you can you tell us where have you been buying your batteries from, that resulted in such great disappointment?

If you avoid the chinese sites you can reduce the chances of receiving fake cells by 95%

AguassissiM · 2019-01-09T00:09:05.000Z

This is the only place I trust to have original batteries for last few years.

BlueSwordM · 2019-01-09T00:11:49.000Z

Here are some links from my threads with all legitimate sellers in the USA:

Li-Ion Wholesale: https://liionwholesale.com/

Illumn: https://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/batteries.html?\_store=default

18650 battery store: https://www.18650batterystore.com/

IMRBatteries: https://www.imrbatteries.com/

Battery Junction(mostly for protected brand name cells): 18650 Battery | Rechargeable Li-Ion Cells | Battery Junction

Banggood: 18650 - Buy 18650 with free shipping | Banggood Shopping

Fasttech: https://www.fasttech.com/category/1420/batteries

Mountain Electronics: Batteries

Vruzend: Products – VRUZEND DIY Battery Kit This one is a bit special, as you’ll see

Orbotronic: https://www.orbtronic.com/

mAhBattery: https://mahbattery.com/

See my thread for more info:

Massive post on where to get lithium-ion batteries everywhere in the world! Look at Post 2-5 for info, And Canada Post 123 Rechargeable Batteries

So, after the failure that was the Liitokala Aliexpress stores scam by tricking people into buying genuine-looking 18650s. while they were in fact, fake counterparts with the same capacity, but with higher internal resistance, and different physical characteristics: As an example, we first have the Samsung 30Q, or what they like to call, a “Liitokala” 30Q to trick you into buying the cell, and after you discover that it is a fake, they will refuse giving out refunds since it was their branded …

Parametrek · 2019-01-09T00:44:11.000Z

I have put together an index of every decent flashlight li-ion for sale in the US here. It contains most of the retailers that BlueSwordM listed. Everything they sell should be legit. Illumn in particular is good about testing their shipments.

However mAhBattery is new to me! I will add it to the index this week.

justanotherguy · 2019-01-09T00:49:31.000Z

Illumn had a great sale, I bought some (12) 10 amp sanyo GA cells after deciding they met most of my lights needs.
I have some 30q and VTC6 for the high amp lights…
I went back after the sale for 12 more, and they offered me the sale price, so they have great service too!

Cells that run $5 and are legit are 10 times cheaper than cells the are $2.50 and suspect (potentially dangerous…)

Over $50 at Illumn and its free shipping,………!

wolfdog1226 · 2019-01-09T01:32:56.000Z

A lot of good dealers were mentioned. Many of which I used[Illumns/IMR/Orbtronic/mAh].

None better in my opinion than: https://liionwholesale.com/

Great prices. Great customer service. FOR EVERYONE,And for me ONLY 0.9 MILES AWAY! That makes it that much better,NO SHIPPING. and all I have to do is call or show up and get whatever batteries I need,no waiting!

Luneman · 2019-01-09T11:39:38.000Z

wolfdog1226:

A lot of good dealers were mentioned. Many of which I used[Illumns/IMR/Orbtronic/mAh]. None better in my opinion than: https://liionwholesale.com/ Great prices. Great customer service. FOR EVERYONE,And for me ONLY 0.9 MILES AWAY! That makes it that much better,NO SHIPPING. and all I have to do is call or show up and get whatever batteries I need,no waiting! :+1:

I don't live next door to them, but the Li-Ion Wholesale: https://liionwholesale.com/ folks are where I bought a bunch of 18650s a little while ago and they are GTG!

wolfdog1226 · 2019-01-09T11:56:18.000Z

Luneman:

wolfdog1226:

A lot of good dealers were mentioned. Many of which I used[Illumns/IMR/Orbtronic/mAh]. None better in my opinion than: https://liionwholesale.com/ Great prices. Great customer service. FOR EVERYONE,And for me ONLY 0.9 MILES AWAY! That makes it that much better,NO SHIPPING. and all I have to do is call or show up and get whatever batteries I need,no waiting! :+1:

I don’t live next door to them, but the Li-Ion Wholesale: https://liionwholesale.com/ folks are where I bought a bunch of 18650s a little while ago and they are GTG!

Yes,I am fortunate, even if you live 3000 miles away they are still a great place with the same customer service and values,you only have to wait 3 or 4 days,their shipping is expedient!

Q-ship · 2019-01-09T19:20:10.000Z

Thanks everyone for all the input. I have ordered a few from some of the listed sellers.

The problem comes from the fact that even the most honest seller can’t be sure if the units they sell are “real”. Low prices are usually a dead giveaway, but higher prices guarantee nothing. It is nice to see that some of them test the batteries to try to make sure they aren’t passing along junk! (actually “junk” isn’t a fair term because most any of the counterfeit batteries will work fine in a standard flashlight or vape product).

Where the problem becomes evident is in the newest high power flashlights, and I’m assuming vape products also. I find it astonishing just how much light can be produced, with the newest big LED’s and circuitry, from a single 18650! I just fear that these advancements will stop due to difficulty in finding genuine hi amp cells, as well as the danger of trying to pull such high levels of current from mediocre, counterfeit batteries. —- It doesn’t instill much confidence when you see some of the sellers also selling counterfeit battery wraps also.

I do appreciate the input. Thanks to all for the advice.