Massive fraud on 18650s in the Littokala Aliexpress stores!

BlueSwordM · 2019-05-07T21:07:57.000Z

Yes, but people wouldn’t buy them if they were advertised as generic cells.

leftdisconnected · 2019-05-09T07:14:48.000Z

eikido:

I understand they are fake NCR18650B. I was more thinking that they are generic cells that are performing well.

But they aren’t just generic cells. They’re counterfeit cells. Generic cells are fine, but counterfeit cells are fraud and the company owners should be fined and/or jailed for it.

Let’s put it this way. If you find an “iPhone X” that’s not made by Apple, but seems to be a decent phone for the price, do you buy it? How about a “Ferrari” made by Ximari that looks and sounds like the real thing? Perhaps a counterfeit replacement knee that’s a quarter the price of the one your doctor ordered? Purchasing some of these counterfeits may work out okay for you, but each purchase rewarded counterfeiters and harmed the legitimate brands.

These items may be good values, perhaps, but they aren’t what they claim to be, so buying them encourages the marketplace to sell more fakes. I’m not claiming that you can fix the world’s ills by avoiding counterfeit products and I can’t condemn anyone for buying decent batteries at fair prices, especially if they need hundreds of cells for packs or something. I’m just hoping to make a point.

Barkuti · 2019-05-09T09:38:42.000Z

BlueSwordM:

Yes, but people wouldn’t buy them if they were advertised as generic cells.

I still consider myself alluded by the term “people” and I would buy the cells in their original wraps. I find this a lot more enticing than buying cells in non-original wraps. It is my will to exactly know what I am buying.

These are part of the reasons I asked Henrik to review some of the EAIEP wrapped cells found in AliExpress (he did 33Gs and 25Rs, the last ones are LG B4 cells at ultra-low unit price). The deception is acceptably lighter this way, and the price is also lower. I would like to see the EAIEP 26F one reviewed, by the way, I think it is a pretty good Heter Battery cell.

Cheers ^:)

ecotack · 2019-05-21T12:27:14.000Z

I bought some LiitoKala 100% Original 3.7V INR 18650 30Q from the liitokala Official Store. From my tests and what I have read on here, they are not 100% Samsung (as written on the product page). However, they appear to be a reasonable high current cell. How safe do you think these would be in a 5P13S e-bike battery pack, with a maximum drain of 26 amp?

BlueSwordM · 2019-05-21T12:43:12.000Z

No!

The fake Liitokala 30Qs are based off of the LG F1L, a cheap 3200mAh 4,8A cell, and gets very hot compared to a real Samsung 30Q at 5A.

Barkuti · 2019-05-21T14:55:13.000Z

BlueSwordM:

…

The fake Liitokala 30Qs are based off of the LG F1L …

Presuming maybe? The capacity of the F1L is above 3100mAh at 0.5A typical analyzing charger discharge rates. It does not really match that well, and is a foreign cell anyway.

Maybe it is this:

Source: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Widely-used-DLG-3-7v-rechargeable_60778057357.html

This one matches better and is easily available in china. Sold under different wraps, Sofirn included:

Check here for related discussion.

Cheers :-)

LerkyBoy · 2019-06-28T09:24:12.000Z

Uhmm just wondering, are these batteries trustworthy?
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32793701336.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail&spider=y&productId=32793701336&productSubject=6pcs-lot-LiitoKala-LG-HG2-18650-18650-3000mah-electronic-cigarette-Rechargeable-batteries-power-high-discharge-30A

My friend said they are pretty legit cause he has used these type of batteries before for his e-cig so im wondering if i should keep them or refund them

Barkuti · 2019-06-28T14:10:01.000Z

LerkyBoy:

Uhmm just wondering, are these batteries trustworthy?

Link edited for de-crapping: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32793701336.html

My friend said they are pretty legit cause he has used these type of batteries before for his e-cig so im wondering if i should keep them or refund them

I'll try to avoid being judgmental but, unfortunately, your friend knows jack shit. LiitoKala is known to be making business selling fake batteries, and those cells are 100% fake guaranteed. Check the reviews, but check them well: select “Sort by latest” and look for additional feedback (AliExpress' feedback system encourages quick, badly done reviews with inflated ratings).

I see complaints by recent customers. You can also see this:

Genuine LG HG2 cells will hardly deliver ≈2.9Ah down to 2.8V at 0.5A discharge rate, you can check reviews like this one.

Those cells being sold by LiitoKala as LG HG2s are some kind high capacity, lesser discharge performance cells (maybe own brand LG D2 or F1L cells).

There are trustworthy places to get batteries from if that is what you aim for. Like Aliya's, Lucky's or NKON.

Cheers :-)

teacher · 2019-06-28T14:52:00.000Z

You have a way with words Barkuti, I love it!! . .

mrheosuper · 2019-06-28T15:19:26.000Z

Barkuti:

BlueSwordM:

…
The fake Liitokala 30Qs are based off of the LG F1L …

Presuming maybe? The capacity of the F1L is above 3100mAh at 0.5A typical analyzing charger discharge rates. It does not really match that well, and is a foreign cell anyway.

Maybe it is this:

Source: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Widely-used-DLG-3-7v-rechargeable_60778057357.html

This one matches better and is easily available in china. Sold under different wraps, Sofirn included:

Check here for related discussion.

Cheers

hey, i have this battery(exactly in the picture), the IR is about 35mOhm(measured with 4 wires probe), and the most important thing, it’s dirt cheap, less than $2 per cell, great for <1500 lumen flashlight

WalkIntoTheLight · 2019-06-28T15:25:05.000Z

Barkuti:

LerkyBoy:

Uhmm just wondering, are these batteries trustworthy?
Link edited for de-crapping: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32793701336.html

My friend said they are pretty legit cause he has used these type of batteries before for his e-cig so im wondering if i should keep them or refund them

I’ll try to avoid being judgmental but, unfortunately, your friend knows jack shit. LiitoKala is known to be making business selling fake batteries, and those cells are 100% fake guaranteed.

They’re not fake. They’re “LiitoKala Lii-HG2” cells, not LG HG2 cells. It’s perfectly clear!

Barkuti · 2019-06-28T15:49:48.000Z

Wow! :facepalm:
Didn't pay attention to my own latest messages here. :-)

Yes, that DLG battery. With a 4-lobe top, very much like LG HG2 cells. Ticket to ride LoL!

:-)

Lexel · 2019-06-28T16:00:46.000Z

There are still shops like Vapcell that sell genuine cells

aliexpress.com

Brand battery - Shop Cheap Brand battery from China Brand battery ...

Shopping for Cheap Brand battery at Vapcell Factory Store and more from on Aliexpress.com ,the Leading Trading Marketplace from China

not sure but I think HaikeLite can be also trusted
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32988353697.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000016.1.69e22f63lQUPrw&isOrigTitle=true

HenrysCat · 2019-10-27T20:43:45.000Z

Just had 5 cells delivered from here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32796443183.html

I'm thinking they are genuine,

Opinions?

Barkuti · 2019-10-26T17:59:29.000Z

HenrysCat:

…

I'm thinking they are genuine,

Opinions?

No way!

Check my signature, by the way. Thanks.

Lightbringer · 2019-10-26T18:10:09.000Z

I just got an 8pak from FT, all with 3 lobes on the top cap. Didn’t put ’em through the wringer yet, but they’re looking good so far.

HenrysCat · 2019-10-26T18:12:29.000Z

Barkuti:

HenrysCat:

…

No way!

Check my signature, by the way. Thanks.

How to properly insert images into your posts without breaking the forum page layout

I am going to be brutally honest here, this is a terrible forum script.

leftdisconnected · 2019-10-26T22:34:28.000Z

HenrysCat:

I am going to be brutally honest here, this is a terrible forum script.

Fair enough, but this is a fairly old forum platform and merely requires some user interaction when posting images and such. There are fancier and more modern forums available, but they tend to cost money. This is a free forum, after all, and doesn’t even have advertising :+1: .

Nothing wrong with being honest, but we’re getting our money’s worth here :partying_face: .

Your 30Q’s are fake, though, as the terminal has too many legs. I seriously doubt that anyone has received genuine 30Q’s (or any other name brand) from any Liitokala seller (yes, there are many). Your measured capacity does seem quite close to the genuine cells and the voltage curve and figures even appear close to the real thing (bump at first 500mAh, drop-off at 2300mAh). However, testing them with a 5-10A load would likely differentiate them.

The ones in the pictures on the item page appear to be genuine Samsungs, so you can tell these are fakes by comparing them to LiitoKala’s own photos :person_facepalming: . Regardless, they seem like good 3000mAh cells for low-drain applications and I’d like to know how these cells perform at 5A or more. Has anyone tested them at high currents?

I personally won’t buy these, though, as I don’t want to support LiitoKalas’ (plural) fakery. If people know what they’re getting (3000mAh cells that happen to be pink), then it’s understandable that they buy these, but the stores should somehow be punished for their fraud . It’s fine to sell 3000mAh Chinese cells and even claim that they are similar to Samsung 30Q’s if they wish, but they should be labelled honestly.

Looking at the item page, I find it odd that they don’t mention Samsung in the tag line, images, or most of the text, yet they eventually state “100% Samsung Brand New and High quality” in the bullet points under “Features”. It almost appears that they’ve purposefully avoided including “Samsung” in the images and item name, perhaps so that it would be fast and easy to simply remove the single line stating “100% Samsung…” if it became necessary to do so for some reason. Hmmm…

leftdisconnected · 2019-10-26T22:36:38.000Z

…or perhaps “100% Samsung Brand New” simply means that they are just as brand new as Samsung cells .

Barkuti · 2019-10-26T23:55:20.000Z

Lightbringer:

I just got an 8pak from FT, all with 3 lobes on the top cap. …

Unlike Bangbad with their button tops and such, FastTech takes care; something quite understandable when you see the money you end up paying there what with one thing and another.

HenrysCat:

…

I am going to be brutally honest here, this is a terrible forum script.

Wellp, conversely I can say that, despite a few hiccups, I find it terrific. :-D