"Genuine" OEM Energizer Lithium AA Ultimates?
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Robin24k
Flashlight Enthusiast
One thing to keep in mind is that Energizer lithium batteries are made in the US. It makes no sense to ship them there, so they have got to be made in China.
Are they safe? Are they the same spec? Better yet, are they genuine? I am pretty sure there will be at least one no to those questions.
Are they safe? Are they the same spec? Better yet, are they genuine? I am pretty sure there will be at least one no to those questions.
ecrbattery
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2011
- Messages
- 91
These cell are most likely Made in China by Promax Battery Industries Limited
Current pricing is just 10 cents / cell if you order 50000 cells
Promax only rated them for 10 years shelf life.
If you get them, be very sure to test them under load (or with a milliohmeter) to weed out the bad cell. Here are 2 cells from feebay tested with CBAIII @ 1A discharge to 0.08V. The open voltage were 1.82V and 1.81V
OEM L91 Cell 3 205mΩ 1.00:
Starting Voltage: 1.82 V
Ending Voltage: 0.80 V
Total Time (hh:mm:ss): 03:03:39
Tested Capacity: 3.061 Ah
OEM L91 Cell 4 360mΩ 1.00 :
Starting Voltage: 1.81 V
Ending Voltage: 0.80 V
Total Time (hh:mm:ss): 01:59:44
Tested Capacity: 1.996 Ah
The good cell #3 is pretty good with capacity of 3.061 Ah. However, the bad cell #4 capacity is only 1.996 Ah. You can see the voltage sag to 1.20V in the cell #4 while the cell #3 maintain voltage at 1.34V. Imagine what would happen if these two cells were used in a high power 2xAA light. When the bad cell ran out of energy, you got a perfect condition for reverse polarity.
I tried to test another cell with the L91 rated max continuous discharge of 2.0 Amps and battery temperature shoot up to 125*F after just 5 minutes. Because I am not sure if there is a PTC installed on these 10 cents battery, the test was stop. Even with the CBA load removed, the temperature continue to rise to 130*F before dropping. For comparision, the temperature during the 1.0 Amps test was only 80*F at the start and 90*F at the end.
In conclusion, use these cells at your own risk. The high capacity is there but quality control leave a lot to be desired. You have to do your own QC by testing the cell under load. Also, these cell may not be design for max continuous discharge of 2.0 Amps like the real Energizer L91.
Current pricing is just 10 cents / cell if you order 50000 cells
Promax only rated them for 10 years shelf life.
If you get them, be very sure to test them under load (or with a milliohmeter) to weed out the bad cell. Here are 2 cells from feebay tested with CBAIII @ 1A discharge to 0.08V. The open voltage were 1.82V and 1.81V
OEM L91 Cell 3 205mΩ 1.00:
Starting Voltage: 1.82 V
Ending Voltage: 0.80 V
Total Time (hh:mm:ss): 03:03:39
Tested Capacity: 3.061 Ah
OEM L91 Cell 4 360mΩ 1.00 :
Starting Voltage: 1.81 V
Ending Voltage: 0.80 V
Total Time (hh:mm:ss): 01:59:44
Tested Capacity: 1.996 Ah
The good cell #3 is pretty good with capacity of 3.061 Ah. However, the bad cell #4 capacity is only 1.996 Ah. You can see the voltage sag to 1.20V in the cell #4 while the cell #3 maintain voltage at 1.34V. Imagine what would happen if these two cells were used in a high power 2xAA light. When the bad cell ran out of energy, you got a perfect condition for reverse polarity.
I tried to test another cell with the L91 rated max continuous discharge of 2.0 Amps and battery temperature shoot up to 125*F after just 5 minutes. Because I am not sure if there is a PTC installed on these 10 cents battery, the test was stop. Even with the CBA load removed, the temperature continue to rise to 130*F before dropping. For comparision, the temperature during the 1.0 Amps test was only 80*F at the start and 90*F at the end.
In conclusion, use these cells at your own risk. The high capacity is there but quality control leave a lot to be desired. You have to do your own QC by testing the cell under load. Also, these cell may not be design for max continuous discharge of 2.0 Amps like the real Energizer L91.
I have bought branded energizer lithiums through ebay, but only from U.S. sellers.
Where else could I find them at 1/3 the price of retail?
The biggest advantage of branded is that it will have a date code stamped (many on ebay are 3-4 years old given the date listed in the auction)
I did compare the ones I bought to retail and saw no cosmetic differences.
Was able to get AA in quantity for $1/each shipped, but that price now appears only available from Chinese sellers.
Where else could I find them at 1/3 the price of retail?
The biggest advantage of branded is that it will have a date code stamped (many on ebay are 3-4 years old given the date listed in the auction)
I did compare the ones I bought to retail and saw no cosmetic differences.
Was able to get AA in quantity for $1/each shipped, but that price now appears only available from Chinese sellers.
ecrbattery
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2011
- Messages
- 91
There are deals on fleebay for real L91 from US sellers, you just have to find them and willing to pay for large lot.
This recent one for 200 cells end with a $154.50 or just 77 cents / cell.
There are many other USA auctions with 40 to 50 cells lot in retail package that usually end with $1 to $1.25 / cells shipped. If you need small quantity, you can still buy the large lot then sell the unneeded one in the CPFMarketPlace at a good price 🙂
This recent one for 200 cells end with a $154.50 or just 77 cents / cell.
There are many other USA auctions with 40 to 50 cells lot in retail package that usually end with $1 to $1.25 / cells shipped. If you need small quantity, you can still buy the large lot then sell the unneeded one in the CPFMarketPlace at a good price 🙂
themandylion
Banned
I will buy nothing direct from China other than durable goods (apparel, plastic items, similar - stuff that isn't dangerous).
My first instinct about such batteries is STAY AWAY, far away! Made in China shipped from China on eBay is most likely counterfeit, but even if real, it's probably stolen (taken home from the factory). They might work, they might be safe. Unless one is a gambler, why bother?
TSellers
Newly Enlightened
I'm fortunate in that one aspect of my job means I am allowed to keep about 120 lithium AA cells each year that come out of remote sensing cameras with almost a full charge after I have swapped new ones in. About a year ago I bought some OEM AA Energizers from a seller on eBay out of curiosity, I think they were about $1.00. I used to live in Hong Kong and I understand the dynamics of how many of their OEM products make it to market, and why not everything is guaranteed to be fake, the trick being to find a good seller you can trust. When they arrived I weighed them against known real energizers, and they both weighed in at 14.5g. Then I did a crude seat of the pants test of burn time in a headlamp. Again they were both similar, so now that I trusted the seller, I ordered about 100 of them 3 times. As they seemed to be comparable, I recently decided to go order some more, only to find they have completely disappeared from eBay sellers. I tried to email the seller and he no longer sells on eBay either. So now I'm really curious as to why they all just completely and suddenly have disappeared from eBay. One theory could be that maybe there used to be a factory in Shenzen that has relocated to elsewhere? Anyone heard anything in this regard?
Edit: I read the above post after I wrote this and much to my surprise, I also got my cells from 'Shinee' on eBay. Sounds like the original poster also seemed happy with his cells. 'Shinee' was the one I tried to contact to no avail BTW. Maybe energizer has him in a (lithium) cell in Guantonamo Bay? Wonder what he sells now...
Edit: I read the above post after I wrote this and much to my surprise, I also got my cells from 'Shinee' on eBay. Sounds like the original poster also seemed happy with his cells. 'Shinee' was the one I tried to contact to no avail BTW. Maybe energizer has him in a (lithium) cell in Guantonamo Bay? Wonder what he sells now...
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