ultrafire and their damned batteries

[DOUGHBOY_II]

so i ordered some ultrafire cr123a batteries dealextreme because the generic cr123a's i got from them just crapped out on me. actually, they never really worked right in the first place. today they arrived and it didn't take very long for me to realize they were slightly larger than the average cr123a's and won't fit into my flashlights. these are the batteries i got: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3273


anyone know where i went wrong? or does ultrafire make batteries that don't fit in their own flashlights?

 

[65535]

Probably the protection circuit. I'm sure they pad it a bit more than others. Get AW cells; I don't know why anyone gets anything else.

 

[EngrPaul]

Yes, AW is good. Also, did you try battery junction yet? They are also battery experts and can probably get you what you need quickly. Send them a message regarding your issue, they can hook you up with properly sized cells for your application.

 

[Burgess]

Get AW cells; I don't know why anyone gets anything else.

+1

:twothumbs

_

 

[DOUGHBOY_II]

i'm actually having issues finding 3.6v cr123a batteries in general

edit: i just have to rant a bit. what the hell kind of company makes batteries that won't fit in their own products? is this like a sick joke or something?

 

[Black Rose]

i'm actually having issues finding 3.6v cr123a batteries in general

That's because they don't exist. CR123A cells are 3.0v primary cells.

On the other hand, properly sized 3.6V RCR123/16340 cells are available from numerous sources.

AW cells are the proper size, and I believe that Battery Station RCR123 cells are as well.

As you've discovered, the low cost alternatives aren't really low cost when you have to go and buy new cells because the ones you bought can't do the job you bought them for.

 

[Ziemas]

Probably the protection circuit. I'm sure they pad it a bit more than others. Get AW cells; I don't know why anyone gets anything else.

For higher capacity, at least in 18650 cells.

 

[65535]

I can understand that, my point being for most tasks the gain of 600mAh isn't much to go on. If you buy good 2600mAh or 2800mAh you will be spending more money. The name brand cells are also normal not protected. Although these are the cells I use AW's service is second to none in the battery business. IIRC he has a pretty no hassle it breaks we'll talk warranty policy.

 

[greenLED]

Since we're ranting... why do people keep buying these cells when again and again there are reports of how crappy they are? :thinking:

 

[65535]

greeny you got me there, AW provides cells at an excellent price. Considering the quality and very little price addition I see no reason not to get his. Obviously there are a few other places where you can get LG, Samsung and others. But this ****fire cells are pure crap.

 

[Ziemas]

I can understand that, my point being for most tasks the gain of 600mAh isn't much to go on. If you buy good 2600mAh or 2800mAh you will be spending more money. The name brand cells are also normal not protected. Although these are the cells I use AW's service is second to none in the battery business. IIRC he has a pretty no hassle it breaks we'll talk warranty policy.

Huh? AW protected 18650 2200mAh cells regularly test as being quite lower than 2200mAh. There are several makers of protected 18650 cells that offer a higher real life capacity than AW cells.

I get much better runtimes with my Trustfire cells over AW cells, and for single cell applications I'm not paranoid about cells suddenly bursting into flame.

 

[DOUGHBOY_II]

these ultrafire cells are really misleading. they're advertised as cr123a sized and it actually says 16340 on the battery but they're clearly not. thanks for the advice. i'll look up those rcr123's.

 

[evenchaos]

Because UF/TF are much cheaper than AW cells, especially when you add in shipping & tracking. For the price of 2x18650 AW cells with shipping, you can get 6 decent or plenty more crappy generic cells. Sure its a gamble, for many people its "good enough".

 

[Cuso]

Get AW cells; I don't know why anyone gets anything else.

+2 .. IN a hurry?? Get them from Lighthound or 7777.

 

[Frankiarmz]

I purchased four Ultrafire RCR123A's from Dealextreme and they work fine in my Ultrafire A1, but they are too long to properly fit my Olight T-20's which require two cells. Since I can't find Tenergy RCR123A 3.7volt I was thinking their 3.0 volt might work? Maybe I'll go with the AW cells when time comes, too bad no one makes a higher MAH RCR123A.

 

[EngrPaul]

I'm sure ultrafire/trustfire/rapidfire/spitfire/housefire slaps their name on the battery without testing it in all thier flashlights.

It's generic!

 

[greenLED]

Because UF/TF are much cheaper than AW cells, especially when you add in shipping & tracking. For the price of 2x18650 AW cells with shipping, you can get 6 decent or plenty more crappy generic cells. Sure its a gamble, for many people its "good enough".

Unfortunately, they:
1. Get stuck with cell that don't work.
2. End up paying more because now they need to buy replacement cells.

I don't think being short-changed is ever "good enough", but that's just me after going through that many times.


65- just to be clear, I was not referring to AW cells, those are cool in my book.

 

[Ziemas]

Unfortunately, they:
1. Get stuck with cell that don't work.
2. End up paying more because now they need to buy replacement cells.

I don't think being short-changed is ever "good enough", but that's just me after going through that many times.


65- just to be clear, I was not referring to AW cells, those are cool in my book.

This is fully of hyperbole.

It seems to me that AW cells are so popular here due to paranoia about exploding cells as they have a super-duper protection circuit as compared to other cells. In every capacity test I've seen AW 18650 cells come in dead last when compared to other protected 18650 cells. There is nothing special in that.....

 

[Kestrel]

Get AW cells; I don't know why anyone gets anything else.

+3. I'd say more but the discussion is a little heated at the moment.:tinfoil:

 

[Black Rose]

This is fully of hyperbole.

It seems to me that AW cells are so popular here due to paranoia about exploding cells as they have a super-duper protection circuit as compared to other cells. In every capacity test I've seen AW 18650 cells come in dead last when compared to other protected 18650 cells. There is nothing special in that.....

Maybe so, but at least AW cells conform to industry standard cell dimensions, which is what this thread is really about.