I have an order of 100pcs confirmed genuine with 3s like that
Just my guess I searched hi and low on internet and never found any confirmed legit that had 3s like that. But, that was mebbee 2 years ago so who knows now. Mine with rounded 3s were fake. Genuine ones from Illumn later were slanted 3s.
… Thanks. This might cut out some possibility of fake. But this shop replied me that they source from many places :person_facepalming: .
… Thanks. This sounds good easy check point.
Firstly, I thought it is fake. But I’m not sure now because another bigger good-looking shop authorized by Vapcell (and selling 30Q a bit more expensive) also has same “3” on pink wrapping. Unfortunately this shop refuses to take pictures of actual products for checking. In fact, AliExpress’s Vapcell Store shows this “3” too.
I think I’ll just have to buy one and check top as Barkuti said.
At least other buyers gave good feedback. Even they are fake, they should perform good and are cheaper than the Vapcell branded batteries.
I never thought finding a legit 30Q would be thid difficult :weary: .
This marking is from the newer Samsung 30Q6-T (search for Vapcell’s post here about this newer Samsung 30Q)
I’ve also had a few of these 30Q6-T and the code underneath the wrapper shows R30Q, like what you found out.
Can anyone recommend the 30Q button top batteries from Banggood?
Haven’t touched them since quite a few received fakes awhile back
Can you please tell me how you or others found out they were fakes? Did you/they strip them or pentest them? I have recently ordered some of these but now that they are on backorder...
Pretty certain it was the top line of code which had no “0” for the 2nd digit. This would now only apply to older batches, now they are R30Q or L30Q
I understood that 30Q6-T is Chinese made. Is this marking applied to other 30Qs as well (Korean made and Malasian made)?
In addition, that button top in your pictures, can I just assembly the metal cap and insulation pad (maybe with or without glue) then wrap them up without soldering?
You can, but without spot welding the thing there will be a noticeable contact resistance implied. This will effectively increase cell internal resistance. With clean contacts it may not be “too much” (1/3 or 1/2 of the actual flat top cell internal resistance, considering that the 30Q only has a little above 20 milliohms of internal resistance), but significant and enough to downgrade the discharge rate of the cell. With corrosion and/or dirt things will get much worse.
There are alternatives; I have quite a bit of practice low temperature soldering cells, and I know a blob or two of Rose's Metal does the job of a button top quite well:
Here's an eBay search for “rose's metal alloy” in Business and Industrial category. I've bought from zhuykoff a couple times, always served me well.
You'll have a hard time soldering the stuff without proper flux, steel soldering flux. Click/tap here for a related search in AliExpress, category “tools”. The liquid is quite corrosive, so better clean up everything around when done. 
Thank you very much for explanation. The alternative you suggested, though requires some soldering tools, it looks not too difficult. :+1: