Batteries - A tale of sorrow averted:

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

Today I received my battery tester, a ZTS MBT-1. This is the upscale model of a tester that one forum member recommended (can't remember who or where the thread is, but thank you!). The reason I went upscale was because this model can test 18650's as well as many other common batteries.

Background: 5 years ago I purchased 50 Toshiba CR123 batteries from Botachtactical. I've been very happy with them and I still have 35 of them left. Since I just started a new job that requires daily flashlight use, I decided to order more batteries, to have them on hand. I know that they have a very long useful shelf life. In fact, I tested my Toshiba batteries today and 23 of them measured at 80% capacity or better. Eight of them measured at 60%. This is using my shiny new battery tester.


(edit: the Ultralast cells were packaged in a white box with a huge Rayovac sticker on it, I spent the day thinking they were Rayovac ultralast cells....)
I decided to test some of the new Ultralast cells since I was already testing my Toshiba cells and wanted to see what brand spanking new cells looked like on the tester. I was stunned to find that the first few batteries I tested (Ultralast CR123) measured at 20% capacity. I immediately tested a Toshiba battery again and it read 80%.

I then tested the entire order of Ultralast batteries. Here are the results:
=================================================
Ultralast, brand new cells:

Capacity Number of batteries
---- ------
80% 2
60% 5
40% 19
20% 16
0 - 10% 8
--------------------
Total batteries 50

=================================================
The five year old Toshiba statistics:

Capacity Number of batteries
---- ------
80% 23 (about a third of them actually test at 100%)
60% 8
40% 4 (used in my T700 for several days)
20% 0
0 - 10% 0
--------------------
Total batteries 35

Just as a sanity check, I popped some of those new Ultralast cells into my T700. Those cells that measured at 20%, yup, they sure do deliver on that promise.

I am in the process of requesting some corrective action from the vendor. I really did not expect the tester to nearly pay for itself the first day of use!

Best Regards,
DGM

 

[Sgt. LED]

#1 I NEED a friggin tester!

#2 Something could of exploded pretty easily with that much mismatched voltage!

 

[dano]

Why post this in LEDFlashlights? There's a whole forum, here, dedicated to batteries/electronics...

 

[FlashCrazy]

Wow, good catch. As Sgt. LED mentioned, you probably really saved a disastrous event.

 

[lumenal]

What is the expiration date on the Rayovacs?

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

#1 I NEED a friggin tester!

#2 Something could of exploded pretty easily with that much mismatched voltage!

It turns out that we ALL need a tester! My main worry was actually centered around the new (to me) 18650 batteries with their substantial energy storage. My history with the Toshiba CR123 cells had been totally trouble free. (talk about lucky)

I suppose it is no longer just "buyer beware" it is now also "user beware".

This is a link to the upscale tester that I got, $69 ($77 with shipping, ground shipping got it to me within two days. NY to MA I think.) The $30 version does not test 18650 cells, but does do CR123 and alkaline cells of various types.

If you use NIMH, I don't think the cheaper tester does those.

Best regards,
DGM

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

Why post this in LEDFlashlights? There's a whole forum, here, dedicated to batteries/electronics...

I actually did take a quick scan and did not see "Batteries" in any of the titles, but frankly, there are many folks who might never set eyes on this post unless it was here with the flashlights.

I do understand your very valid concern for Forum Organization, but I think it is important enough to wave a flag here, even though it does violate protocols a little.

Best regards,
DGM

 

[MrGman]

I have the smaller model ZTS tester and I have recommended it here at CPF in the past. They are great, and do put a realistic load on the batteries for a 2 second burst.

Before you send all those Rayovac batteries back, get a pencil eraser and try cleaning the contacts on both sides of each and then just because you want to play with that new tester more, take at least 2 sets of readings per battery and tell us what the new results are. I have a sneaky suspicion that..........

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

Wow, good catch. As Sgt. LED mentioned, you probably really saved a disastrous event.

Yes, very scary!

Beyond the potential boom factor, if I did not have a tester, the wacko Ultralast batteries would have driven me nuts. Imagine trying to figure out what is wrong with your flashlights without a proper tester.... Volts will only get you so far. Some of those Ultralast tested momentarily at much higher levels. The instructions with the tester recommends at least two tests to avoid getting fooled with false initial readings. These are pulsed load tests, so it gets past the false high from no-load conditions.

It's a good thing I had the Toshibas handy for a sanity check! I would have thought the tester was bad. Oh, by the way, the new Trustfire 18650's all test at a solid 100%

Best regards,
DGM

 

[Black Rose]

Some batteries need a bit of prodding to wake up.

USA Made Rayovac CR123A batteries are actually very good batteries, made by the same company that makes the Surefire and Streamlight CR123A batteries.

As lumenal asked, what are the expiration dates on the cells?

 

[Secur1]

I received my ZTS tester as well yesterday and it's an excellent tool for testing rechargable cells.
I have a set of 4 Energizer AA 2500mAh which was under performing lately, sure enough after a full charge i put them on the tester and they measured at 40%, i did 3 charge/discharge cycles on my Vanson speedy box and now they charge up to 80%
It's a great tool and a definite MUST have for ppl that are running multiple rcr lights.

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

Some batteries need a bit of prodding to wake up.

USA Made Rayovac CR123A batteries are actually very good batteries, made by the same company that makes the Surefire and Streamlight CR123A batteries.

As lumenal asked, what are the expiration dates on the cells?

I can not find any codes or markings on the cells and the box has no expiration date. Are these dates printed or embossed in some fashion? Where should I look?

I prodded them pretty heavily, I put four of the 20% Ultralast in my T700, it would not ramp up to more than 50% brightness. (compared to the 5 year old Toshibas) All batteries of both brands were cleaned with Deoxit. I will try scrubbing harder with an eraser and hit it with Deoxit again. Just to be absolutely certain.

Best regards,
DGM

 

[Black Rose]

I think it has been mentioned previously that the Battery Station date code also applies to Rayovac cells, so there may be a 4 character manufacturing date code on them.

The translation table is at the bottom of this page.

 

[Burgess]

Thank you for sharing this info with us.

And, of course, glad to hear that you've "dodged a bullet".

:twothumbs



As for the Ray-O-Vac cells . . . .

Here is just an off-the-wall, wild-a$$ blind Guess:


Is there any chance that they might be Counterfeits ?


Just asking, 'cuz this sorta' performance
certainly does NOT sound like normal Ray-O-Vacs.

:candle:


Regardless, good luck with your batteries in the future.
_

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

I have the smaller model ZTS tester and I have recommended it here at CPF in the past. They are great, and do put a realistic load on the batteries for a 2 second burst.

Before you send all those Rayovac batteries back, get a pencil eraser and try cleaning the contacts on both sides of each and then just because you want to play with that new tester more, take at least 2 sets of readings per battery and tell us what the new results are. I have a sneaky suspicion that..........

You are a wise man to suspect contacts, they are usually the culprit. Little did you know that I am actually more suspicious than you regarding these things. I can't tell you how many camera flash units and other devices I have repaired by simply putting a new pencil into a drill chuck. It makes a dandy contact buffer for reaching deep into those nasty places where corrosion lurks. The erasers are even soft enough that it works on those pesky coiled springs without damaging them. You do sacrifice a #2 pencil eraser, but you get your device working again. Those springs chew the devil out of the eraser.

At any rate, I dug into the box, grabbed a random cell. It measured 10%, three tests in a row. I found an eraser, primed it on a clean piece of paper first, to make sure no finger oils or graphite remained. I buffed as best I could, not willing to put a mechanical pencil in my drill and not having a real live wood pencil in the house. I then cleaned with Deoxit again. Tested again three more times. Still 10%.

I am gullible enough to think that I have a bad batch.

Best regards,
DGM

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

Thank you for sharing this info with us.

And, of course, glad to hear that you've "dodged a bullet".

:twothumbs



As for the Ray-O-Vac cells . . . .

Here is just an off-the-wall, wild-a$$ blind Guess:


Is there any chance that they might be Counterfeits ?


Just asking, 'cuz this sorta' performance
certainly does NOT sound like normal Ray-O-Vacs.

:candle:


Regardless, good luck with your batteries in the future.
_

Absolutely a possibility, but I would not know how to tell. There is fine print that says "North American Battery Company" and below it "www.nabcorp.com"

I think I found the date code, buried amongst the fancy dot pattern graphics on the label I did locate the following:

"0407" I assume this is month/year.

None of this proves whether it is a counterfeit or not....

Best regards,
DGM

 

[lumenal]

As for the Ray-O-Vac cells . . . .

Here is just an off-the-wall, wild-a$$ blind Guess:


Is there any chance that they might be Counterfeits ?

Same thought crossed my mind, but wouldn't Duracells, Energizers, and SureFires be counterfeited before Rayovacs?

DGM - where did you get these Rayovac cells? Locally? Online vendor? Dropped out of the sky?

EDIT: Could someone have possibly sold you used cells?

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

Same thought crossed my mind, but wouldn't Duracells, Energizers, and SureFires be counterfeited before Rayovacs?

DGM - where did you get these Ultralast cells? Locally? Online vendor? Dropped out of the sky?

http://www.botachtactical.com/

Same place I bought my Toshiba CR123 and the Inova X5 many years ago. About 5 years if I recall correctly.

Not trying to bash Ultralast, just relating my experience with this box of 50. Hey, every manufacturer has a bad batch once in a while.

EDIT: (Another good reason to get a tester????)

Best regards,
DGM

 

[DigitalGreaseMonkey]

EDIT: Could someone have possibly sold you used cells?

They certainly behave that way. However, the end caps have no signs of having been used. No telltale indentations or scratches at either end.

Good thought though.

Best regards,
DGM

 

[MrGman]

Send them back and tell us about the refund or replacement.

Great Work. :thumbsup: