18650 fails on dropping flashlight

[stevoman]

I've been running a DX WF-600 Q5 on some Ultrafire protected (gray) cells for awhile now, and it's all been good.

The other day, I dropped my light from about waist height onto some concrete. It got a couple of scrapes on it, and stopped working immediately. I assumed it was hosed, but I replaced the cell, and it works fine.

The cell that was in there won't charge now, so it seems to have been damaged by the drop, despite having no obvious signs of impact or damage.

Now I know the ultrafires are supposed to be a bit rubbish, and I should be using better cells, but is it normal for a cell to fail when in a dropped lamp, with an impact insufficient to seriously damage the lamp?

I'm obviously not bothered about getting some new cells, but am just wondering what might have caused this. Wonder if anyone can shed any light on the matter?

 

[LED_astray]

I assume you caught it at an angle that sheared something off / loose in the protection circuit.

I don't know how to test that theory though, especially with Li-ion and the possibility of "vent with flame." I'd toss it in the recycling and call it experience. (Oh, and resolve to buy better cells. Not impossible to break, just less likely....)

 

[LuxLuthor]

Stevo, as I responded in this other thread...there are protection PCB's and there are quality protection PCB's.

 

[stevoman]

Very interesting, thanks