Protected AWT 18650 - loose PCB?

Bright Bird

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
64
Hi,

This is my first post (after lurking on here for quite a while), so my question probably sounds a bit noobish.

Today I received two batteries from an ebay seller, AWT 18650s with a black wrapper and 3,400mA capacity. They have got clear shrink wrap above the printed wrapper, which I removed. However, as I peeled of the wrapper from one of the batteries (I've not checked the other one yet), I was shocked to find out that the PCB was loose, and only attached to the battery by the thin metal strip that runs along its side.

At first I thought I had made a mistake, and that the clear wrapper is a part of the battery that needs to stay intact. But that seems unlikely, as it would be the first ever item that I've owned with a clear wrapper that is meant to stay on the product.

Is it common to find batteries with a PCB that isn't glued or otherwise solidly fixed to the battery itself? Or have I made a mistake, and made the battery unsafe? It seems to work fine, but being new to Li-Ion cells I thought I'd rather ask the experts.

The only other 18650s that I own are Olight ones that came with my SR52, which have a printed wrapper that covers both the battery and the circuit board.
 

peter yetman

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
5,100
Location
North Norfolk UK
When I've removed the PCB from AW cells it has the metal strip that you found (this runs up to the +ve end) and it it stuck to the actual cell with sticky. In view of the danger of shorting the metal strip to the -ve body of the cell, I'd make sure the PCB is firmly attached to the cell and not just by the wrapper. Squirt a bit of glue in there if you can. If all else fails take the PCB and the strip off and run it naked, that will of course mean that you have to take all the necessary precautions when using unprotected cells, as LiCo cells are more fragile than IMRs.
P
P
 

Bright Bird

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
64
When I've removed the PCB from AW cells it has the metal strip that you found (this runs up to the +ve end) and it it stuck to the actual cell with sticky. In view of the danger of shorting the metal strip to the -ve body of the cell, I'd make sure the PCB is firmly attached to the cell and not just by the wrapper. Squirt a bit of glue in there if you can. If all else fails take the PCB and the strip off and run it naked, that will of course mean that you have to take all the necessary precautions when using unprotected cells, as LiCo cells are more fragile than IMRs.
P
P

Thanks for your reply, Peter! :)

Obviously, I'd like to keep the protection. But it makes sense to make sure the battery isn't short-circuited. What kind of glue should I use? Does it need to be heat-resistant?

The battery works fine (I've tested it in a cheap laser pointer), so I don't think I've damaged anything. But it does seem that the clear wrapper is meant to be left on the battery - a bit ambiguous IMHO, as it is the same kind of wrapper that you see e.g. wrapped around multi-packs of cheap alkaline AAs - although the fact that there wasn't a perforated pull-off tab should have probably made me more cautious.

I'll be leaving the wrapper on the other battery that I bought, which is intended for the Fenix CL25R lantern that also arrived today ... really looking forward to testing it, but trying to stay patient until it gets dark! :D
 

Bright Bird

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
64

peter yetman

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
5,100
Location
North Norfolk UK
If you're only wrapping a few cells, you can get pre cut shrink wrap of the correct diameter on Ebay and Amazon - I think.
P
 

Bright Bird

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
64
Just spent ages heating the shrink wrap with a household hairdryer. But there are still plenty of bumps.

Am I being too careful? The thought of heating up a Li-Ion battery like that does freak me out a bit, but maybe I should heat the same area for a longer period of time, or hold the hairdryer closer to the battery.

llVUlX3.jpg
 

peter yetman

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
5,100
Location
North Norfolk UK
Well if it's any help, I use a domestic fan heater and hold the cell about an inch from the grille. Too hot for my fingers so have to do half at a time to keep them out of the way. It takes about 3 seconds an end, certainly not enough time to heat up the cell.
P
 

stephenk

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 13, 2015
Messages
761
Location
Brisbane, Australia
Hi,

This is my first post (after lurking on here for quite a while), so my question probably sounds a bit noobish.

Today I received two batteries from an ebay seller, AWT 18650s with a black wrapper and 3,400mA capacity. They have got clear shrink wrap above the printed wrapper, which I removed. However, as I peeled of the wrapper from one of the batteries (I've not checked the other one yet), I was shocked to find out that the PCB was loose, and only attached to the battery by the thin metal strip that runs along its side.

At first I thought I had made a mistake, and that the clear wrapper is a part of the battery that needs to stay intact. But that seems unlikely, as it would be the first ever item that I've owned with a clear wrapper that is meant to stay on the product.

Is it common to find batteries with a PCB that isn't glued or otherwise solidly fixed to the battery itself? Or have I made a mistake, and made the battery unsafe? It seems to work fine, but being new to Li-Ion cells I thought I'd rather ask the experts.

The only other 18650s that I own are Olight ones that came with my SR52, which have a printed wrapper that covers both the battery and the circuit board.
Just be aware that AWT is not exactly a high quality brand, and seems to be a bit hit and miss in reviews.
 

Bright Bird

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
64
Well if it's any help, I use a domestic fan heater and hold the cell about an inch from the grille. Too hot for my fingers so have to do half at a time to keep them out of the way. It takes about 3 seconds an end, certainly not enough time to heat up the cell.
P

That's reassuring - I'll try to be less freaked out when I give it another try tomorrow! It would probably be easier if I hadn't broken the directional nozzle of my hair dryer.

Just be aware that AWT is not exactly a high quality brand, and seems to be a bit hit and miss in reviews.

Thanks for pointing that out. There are sites that give them a 5-star rating, but next time I'll check HKJ's review first before buying any batteries (I just noticed that there is one for the 3000mAh version). Today I ordered two 3400mAh Panasonic batteries, but since then I've realised that they are unprotected! :faint: I'm also hoping that they're genuine, as there are probably plenty of fake ones about (the eBay seller was only charging £9.99 for two, but I've noticed that some sellers are asking up to £15).
 

peter yetman

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
5,100
Location
North Norfolk UK
Don't be scared of Unprotected. A very wise man said once that the protection is there to prtect the cells from you, not the other way round. Don't run them down too low, and if you do, charge them immediately. Don't overcharge, so use a decent charger. Don't abuse them and you will be fine.
There's hundreds of threads on here about them, read and digest.
P
 
Last edited:

Bright Bird

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
64
[...] A very wise man said once that the protection is there to prtect the cells from you, not the other way round. [...]

I'll bear that in mind. One of the cells (together with a Nitecore i1 charger) is for a friend's laser pointer, so I'll be giving her a Li-Ion Health & Safety primer - I'll also be there when the battery is first charged so I can watch it, and test the voltage after it cuts off.

The wrapped battery is looking a lot better now - I pressed the nozzle of the hairdryer directly onto the wrapper, and it only took about a minute to smooth everything out. So unless I ever end up having to wrap loads of batteries, I should be able to avoid having to spend money on a heat gun.

eOlGLYm.jpg
 
Top