Thoughts on Tenergy? Are they 1/2 price AW equivalent batteries?

[Wacki]

Thoughts on Tenergy batteries? The price is certainly compelling. Do AW batteries have any advantage? If so what?

• AW batteries 2600 mAh for $14.75 each
• Tenergy Li-Ion 18650 3.7V 2600mAh for $7.99 each
  

Tenergy Product Features

• Internal PCB protection prevents under-voltage at 2.5V and over-voltage at 4.25V. UNIQUE INTERNAL PCB!
• Dimensionsiameter 18+/-0.2 mm Height 66+/- 0.2mm
• Higher energy density and lower weight than other types rechargeable batteries
• Building portable power device needing high energy density and low weight
• Cycle Performance: 90% of initial capacity at 400 cycles, Cycle life: > 500 cycles

 

[Conan]

They were tested here with pretty decent performance:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=257543

 

[Wacki]

Thanks!

 

[Ragiska]

tenergy are perhaps the worst cells you can buy. absolute crap in the long term. AW are still cheaper when you consider how
much longer they actually last, and how much better they perform over time. AW are also much safer.

 

[Yucca Patrol]

I am in the process of eliminating my Tenergy 18650's. Mine came from 4-Sevens when I bought my zebralight H60, and these are the only products I've every bought from 4-Sevens that were not worthy of his good reputation here.

They are alright, but their capacity decreases quicker than the AW's, but my biggest concern is that the shrink wrap protector is brittle and is subject to cracking and peeling. When this happens, there is a risk of shorting out the battery and the potential to go BOOM!

Some of mine still have decent wrappers, but when I find ones that are peeling or missing bits of shrink wrap, I am tossing them away.

From now on, it will be AW's or nothing.

I haven't had a problem at all with them, but the cheap and brittle wrapper is just waiting to cause a disaster.