Massive fraud on 18650s in the Littokala Aliexpress stores!

Barkuti · 2020-05-31T23:53:49.000Z

I personally have an EBD-M05, in fact I bought it from that seller months ago (my review is there and says “Great! A user of this device told me its stock fan… ”). It's a nice small battery tester which supports testing up to 5A/30W. You can find some related information here: ZKE Tech EBD-M05 help. For the software download page for EB devices, tap/click here.

No testing device will tell you the discharge rate of a cell, they're just testing devices. The discharge rate of a cell is mainly determined bearing in mind a maximum allowable cell temperature during discharge, but also relative capacity loss and probably maximum allowable cell voltage drop. Most important is the maximum allowable cell temperature during discharge, being 80°C the usual maximum allowed in datasheets. Lower figures may also be used, tester Henrik now limits his tests to 75°C for example (since his battery holder melted from testing Samsung 30T cells at 40+A, if I'm not mistaken).

In my experience, the few discharge curves I've attained with my EBD-M05 look worse than the ones attained by Henrik. Device calibration and testing conditions matter, of course. Now that the climate is warmer around here, I may give testing to a Murata VTC5A cell I picked from a bag in storage just today for comparison purposes.

Barkuti · 2020-06-01T00:03:57.000Z

BlueSwordM:

It can’t tell you the current rating of a cell, but you can easily derive rating by the internal resistance measured by the meter.

While the EBD-M05 makes such measurement, I'm not sure that the given figures are more or less in accordance with Mooch's ones, or the figure you can get by dividing the voltage delta between two plotted discharge curves at different rates (a little while after the start of the discharge) by the current delta.

Style · 2020-06-16T11:07:55.000Z

So, I just received two packages of Samsung 30Q cells - one from Lucky store, and the other one from a UK eBay seller. I’ll investigate both of the cells with my BT-C3100 to verify what mAh cacpity they have, however, I noticed something suspicious.
I came across the following post on Facebook, that basically says that if the second letter on a Samsung 30Q isn’t 0 - that’s a fake cell.

I checked my cells and got the following results -
Lucky’s cells - all of them have the lettering “L30Q” - there is no 0 on the second letter, might be fake (?).
UK eBay’s cells - all of them have the lettering “G0HZ” - there is 0 on the second letter so they are genuine.
I found that there is a difference in the lettering size as well, the UK eBay seller ones are bigger compared to Lucky’s store.

I also noticed that the insulator White rings are different between both of them.
The UK eBay seller rings seems to be more White compared to Lucky’s store cells.

So what do you think guys?

Style · 2020-06-16T11:09:46.000Z

I just checked with a Samsung 30Q cell that I purchased from nkon.nl in the past, it has the lettering “L0GB” - second letter has 0, it’s legit. I’m starting to have my doubts on Lucky store, thinking about dispute.

Barkuti · 2020-06-16T12:51:10.000Z

Style:

…

I checked my cells and got the following results -

Lucky's cells - all of them have the lettering "L30Q" - +there is no+ 0 on the second letter, might be fake (?).
UK eBay's cells - all of them have the lettering "G0HZ" - +there is+ 0 on the second letter so they are genuine.

…

Style:

I just checked with a Samsung 30Q cell that I purchased from nkon.nl in the past, it has the lettering “L0GB” - second letter has 0, it’s legit. I’m starting to have my doubts on Lucky store, thinking about dispute.

For the love of God Style, don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

That information you dug up from Mooch is quite dated already and, in any case, Mooch is not a Samsung employee, his words aren't gospel.

Layman people really doesn't knows what all these number and letter codes mean. If you want to really know, go ask some engineer at the corresponding Samsung battery cell plant or whatever.

Did you checked where these cells come from? Samsung also has plants in Malaysia, and the cells coming from these plants come marked as SDIEM (the last cell I received from NKON more than a year ago was from Malaysia) in the wrap. Cells from Malaysia plants may have different underwrap codes, and Samsung may be using new codes too!

Obtaining a couple discharge curves and some properly done, accurate internal resistance measurements will certainly reveal a lot more meaningful information than all of that “assumption mumbo-jumbo”.

Take care.

vapcell_Dennis · 2020-06-20T04:40:15.000Z

Style:

Hi, new user here :+1:

Does anyone know if Vapcell store is legit?
I would like to purchase Samsung 30Q from them, however, in their listing I can’t see any reference that they sell Samsung cells. The product page description says “no fake”, but they also write “Vapcell original 18650 3000mAh 20A 30Q”, which makes me wonder if it’s a branded cell of Vapcell or a genuine Samsung cell. Screenshot:

Another thing to be suspicious of, the 30Q cells are 15A and they rate them as 20A.

Ali-express is not allowed to directly sell famous brands such as Samsung LG, because none of our traders has a power of attorney, so we need to mark vapcell in the brand

These five international brands, including molicel, guarantee the original

Don’t sell a fake battery

30q, Hg2 and vtc6 have similar performance, and we generally think they can discharge at 20A

30Q 20A discharge ，Performance over Hg2

Style · 2020-06-21T07:49:33.000Z

Barkuti:

Obtaining a couple discharge curves and some properly done, accurate internal resistance measurements will certainly reveal a lot more meaningful information than all of that “assumption mumbo-jumbo”.

I did few discharge and charging tests to the Lucky’s store cells, I got results of around 3,050 mAh, so it’s look promising here.
As for the internal resistance test, I only have the Opus BT-C3100 (v2.2) for doing these tests. I got results going from 37 to 62. Are these considered as good results?
What is the “best” and most budget friendly device that will provide more accurate and reliable internal resistance measurements?

Lightbringer · 2020-06-21T17:22:24.000Z

For an Opus, yeah. For me, <100 and >100 are what separate “good” from “bad”. As much as I like my Ope, it’s all over the place as far as resistance measurements. Same cell, untouched, multiple tests in quick succession but trying to not even breathe in its direction and disturb anything, and readings will be jumping around all over the place.

Style · 2021-01-29T22:10:08.000Z

Hello guys, are any of you facing some issues with ordering 18650 from the trusted Aliexpress sellers?

Seems like Lucky store is not able to ship to my country any more (I purchased from him on June 2020,) Aliya store is
not selling products anymore, QueenBattery shipping is very high, and Vapcell cells prices are on the raise.

Would love to hear how is the situation on your side guys.
Thanks.

Barkuti · 2021-01-30T00:43:23.000Z

Style:

Hello guys, are any of you facing some issues with ordering 18650 from the trusted Aliexpress sellers?

…

The issue is about batteries in general, cylindrical cells namely (prismatic cells are a lot less affected). I've noticed many sellers adding shipping surcharges to their battery sales. I can still find good offers from other sellers, though, I just have to dig a little deeper.

Style · 2021-01-30T16:10:27.000Z

Barkuti:

I can still find good offers from other sellers, though, I just have to dig a little deeper.

Can you please share their store names/links? Thanks!

Barkuti · 2021-01-30T16:50:31.000Z

I do not have “usual stores” for batteries Style, I always look for best deals.

This ad from Shop5040275, for example, shows a good combined product + shipping cost for high capacity 18650 cells; If you compare it with this other ad from GlobalPower, the price for just a few pieces is quite a bit lower. Needless to say they aren't NCR18650B cells, they are some high capacity cell from one of the big chinese li-ion manufacturers.

Style · 2021-01-30T17:21:17.000Z

Barkuti:

Needless to say they aren’t NCR18650B cells, they are some high capacity cell from one of the big chinese li-ion manufacturers.

Well, yeah, I’m looking for 18650 cells, mainly Samsung authentic cells. Seems like the COVID-19 also impacted the batteries sellers, that’s bummer.

BlueSwordM · 2021-02-05T23:11:55.000Z

Yeah, that seems like it sadly.

Rusty_Joe · 2021-02-06T00:30:14.000Z

I am getting all sorts of low-capacity cells lately, from Sofirn to Eagtac!

Sick of it! Going back to Orbtronic!!!

Sijaro · 2021-06-06T08:55:57.000Z

Hey lightlovers,

I am more than halfway through a hitherto unsuccesful dispute in Aliexpress for a full refund. Can anyone advise on what arguments to make?

The situation is the following:
LiitoKala Official Flagship Store on Aliexpress sends out four lobed batteries instead of the hopefully genuine three lobed 35E batteries which were shown in their photo's.
The product description says "1-10PCS Liitokala 35E original power 18650 lithium battery 3500mAh 3.7v 25A high power INR18650 for electrical tools".
(I had also selected free postage but they surreptitiously changed it in a postage with the same cost as the batteries without my noticing at checkout: my bad but their foul play).

The argument I have made is simply that the product is not as described in the photo's (4 versus 3 vents) and that this is not a matter of mere looks but means that I get a product with different specs and performance than I could expect
(I mentioned also that these three lobed were thought to be the types Samsung uses fort its 35E).

Any tips? Because I only have a few days and things are not looking good.

Style · 2021-06-10T08:13:28.000Z

Does anyone know on any trusted sellers with authentic cells on Aliexpress?
Lucky’s store won’t ship to my country anymore, Aliya’s store seems to be out of business, QueenBattery will only sell battery packs. Vapecell are still working but their prices a bit on the high side.

Scimmy · 2021-09-02T18:01:01.000Z

I’m a bit confused by all of these Ali stores… Is this one the official one https://liitokala.aliexpress.com/store/133859 as it’s the one that’s linked from http://www.liito-kala.com/

BlueSwordM · 2021-09-06T00:29:24.000Z

@scimmy, they are both official, but many of their cells are not legitimate still looking at their newest sales stuff.

move · 2021-10-16T11:38:55.000Z

Follow up