18650 Diameter issues

[Burncycle]

I ordered 4x Protected panasonic 18650B 3,400 mah for my Blackshadow Terminator (they came with white protection boards). I've used them off and on, maybe 3 partial charge cycles over the last few weeks, all together. So pretty fresh batteries still, and so far I love the light.

When I pulled the trigger on a Zebralight SC600 Mk II I ordered 2 more from the same Ebay seller so that I can have one in the light and a spare.

The 2 new ones have black protection boards but other than that the markings are identical. Unfortunately they are slightly too big in diameter to fit into my Zebralight (not too long but too wide). If I try to push them in they would get stuck. The ones with the white protection boards work fine without any extra effort.

These are my first 18650 batteries and lights, and I have been using the Nitecore Intellicharger I4.

Is it safe to take the two black PCB batteries that I just got and use them with two of the slightly older white PCB batteries in my Terminator, and take 2 of the white PCB batteries that I have been using for the terminator for use with my Zebralight since they fit fine? Or should I not separate the ones I have been using together thusfar?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

What cells are you talking about? The details might matter.

Generally, when using a four multi-cell light, especially one holding 4x18650s, you'd want to start from scratch with batteries that are the same brand/model and the same age/condition.

Whether your cells meet that standard, I can't say.

You could always buy two more of the blacks and run those four in your Terminator and save the four white ones, for you Zebralight.

Discharge two of those four white ones down to 3.7v, place them in a zip lock baggie and stick them in the fridge, since you won't be using all four of them regularly.

Chris

 

[yellow]

often there is a sticker outside on the shrink wrap,
if so, get it off and that should be enough ...


(of no sticker, then carefully try a very fine sandpaper on the shrink wrap. Seems it is jut a tiny bit that has to be removed)

 

[Burncycle]

What cells are you talking about? The details might matter.

Not sure what else I left out. Stated above they were Panasonic protected NCR18650B 3,400 mah. Light green in color.

Generally, when using a four multi-cell light, especially one holding 4x18650s, you'd want to start from scratch with batteries that are the same brand/model and the same age/condition.

Whether your cells meet that standard, I can't say.

You could always buy two more of the blacks and run those four in your Terminator and save the four white ones, for you Zebralight.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if it mattered since the light runs all 4 in parallel, but prob better safe than sorry

(of no sticker, then carefully try a very fine sandpaper on the shrink wrap. Seems it is jut a tiny bit that has to be removed)

Yeah it's very close, that might work. Thanks!

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Not sure what else I left out. Stated above they were Panasonic protected NCR18650B 3,400 mah. Light green in color.

Panasonic doesn't make protected 3400mAh 18650s, so somebody else did. That's what I was getting at.

What brand were they, or who did you buy them from?

Sounds like they're from FASTTECH.

Oh well...I'm sure that you'll figure it out.

Chris

 

[TEEJ]

The Fastech ones ARE fat suckers.

They are the least expensive protected 3400 mah 18650 I have, and I have lots of them...for the lights with ROOM for them.

I use other 3400 mah cells that are smaller, for lights with less room...and eat the added cost to have them FIT.

I tend to use a lot of Eagletacs, and wait for a sale at goinggear/use the discount codes, etc, to get the price down, and stock up when it all works.

:D

 

[Burncycle]

Panasonic doesn't make protected 3400mAh 18650s, so somebody else did. That's what I was getting at.

What brand were they, or who did you buy them from?

Sounds like they're from FASTTECH.

Oh well...I'm sure that you'll figure it out.

Chris

Ah gotcha. I got them from here

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370925377492

 

[TEEJ]

Ah gotcha. I got them from here

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370925377492

There is now way to know what's actually in the cells. A lot (A LOT) of ebay cells are counterfeit for example.

 

[Burncycle]

There is now way to know what's actually in the cells. A lot (A LOT) of ebay cells are counterfeit for example.

I gotcha. Well, I tried to do my homework WRT which brands to stick with but I guess I have more to do!

 

[ChrisGarrett]

I gotcha. Well, I tried to do my homework WRT which brands to stick with but I guess I have more to do!

I've dealt with r-lsales more than a few times. My last batch of cells was for two Sanyo 2600s and they were legit. I bought my WP2 II charger from him, as well as some Pannie CR123As. I would expect those to be real Panasonic NCR18650Bs, that had PCBs added by somebody by FastTech.

Due to the boom in E-Cigs, he's become somebody who caters to them and he's moving a lot of interesting cells.

Chris