Ultrafire Protected 18650 : Reliability, Quality
- Thread starter Grun
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
TOOCOOL
Enlightened
I have a pair that seem good so far ..............you better remove the hotlink
Wassernaut
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2007
- Messages
- 195
SilverFox has a recent thread here about these, pointing out some concerns. You might want to search for it and read his findings - he is one of the local (true) experts on batteries.
Aside from that I have used them for low power drain lights and have had no problems with them. They won't even get a glimmer out of my WF-500 incandescent, but work ok in my LED lights. - Larry
Aside from that I have used them for low power drain lights and have had no problems with them. They won't even get a glimmer out of my WF-500 incandescent, but work ok in my LED lights. - Larry
Last edited:
DM51
Flashaholic
Here is SilverFox's thread about these cells. They are extremely inconsistent and unreliable cells. Avoid them.
VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
inconsistant=ultrafire i have found that to be true also, dang cheapskate that i am. poorest way to try and get some Matched cells for packmaking.
sometimes its a marvel, sometimes a dud, roll of the dice, i wish i had bought them in Vegas
sometimes its a marvel, sometimes a dud, roll of the dice, i wish i had bought them in Vegas
Last edited:
j3bnl
Enlightened
The Ultrafires are quite simply crap.
Dont waste your money go for a decent battery (AW's) and you will never look back.
Dont waste your money go for a decent battery (AW's) and you will never look back.
Wassernaut
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2007
- Messages
- 195
Grun - I said all the above, but the fact is I have quit buying them. I use what I have (two of the 18650's) as long as they work, but I've learned that good cells are more cost effective over the long haul. I now buy AW batteries, which are among the most expensive, but they work extremely well, last forever, and never let you down or ruin equipment. I think they are also far less dangerous for fire, etc. while charging. In the long run they cost no more than buying the cheapos and having to replace them much sooner (sometimes almost immediately). And the AW's will fire up the most power hungry incans out there. Of course I use only protected cells in any size or brand. Good luck with your lights.
- Larry
effulgentOne
Enlightened
I bought two blue Ultrafire 18650's from DX about 6 months ago. They both fire up a 2+ amp incan. nice and white, and a .75 amp LED, and charge fine on my WF-139.
I've only taken one of them to the cutoff voltage (accidentally, on the assumption that frequent charges are better), and it went out safely, then charged fine again to 4.2V. I've also tried shorting them (in a controlled environment), and the protection circuit immediately kicked in.
I haven't done an official runtime test, but they seem to last awhile, and 1700-1900mah sounds believable.
So at half the price of AW's, and probably around 80% of the capacity, I have found they are a cost effective alternative for single cell lights.
I've only taken one of them to the cutoff voltage (accidentally, on the assumption that frequent charges are better), and it went out safely, then charged fine again to 4.2V. I've also tried shorting them (in a controlled environment), and the protection circuit immediately kicked in.
I haven't done an official runtime test, but they seem to last awhile, and 1700-1900mah sounds believable.
So at half the price of AW's, and probably around 80% of the capacity, I have found they are a cost effective alternative for single cell lights.
Grun - I said all the above, but the fact is I have quit buying them. I use what I have (two of the 18650's) as long as they work, but I've learned that good cells are more cost effective over the long haul. I now buy AW batteries, which are among the most expensive, but they work extremely well, last forever, and never let you down or ruin equipment. I think they are also far less dangerous for fire, etc. while charging. In the long run they cost no more than buying the cheapos and having to replace them much sooner (sometimes almost immediately). And the AW's will fire up the most power hungry incans out there. Of course I use only protected cells in any size or brand. Good luck with your lights.
That is great, Larry. I used them, but have since ordered some AW's actually, and was wondering whether to throw out the Ultrafires in proper disposals, or keep them. but after what you wrote, i will get rid of them. and replace with All AW's. Thanks.
scott.cr
Flashlight Enthusiast
If you decide not to go with AW's cells for some reason, the 2000 mAh LG 18650s are a bangin' deal compared to the Ultrafires.
VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
are those LG cells? beeeccaaauuse it looks like Batteryspace went all cheap on us, cause they SEEM to be GL cells instead Genxiao Li
Peng kun Gao dun took over there,i am not sure but a swear i used to get my LGs from battery space, but the spec sheet isnt a lg spec sheet for them anymore, they are all off brand things now?
i am so confused :mecry:
Last edited:
scott.cr
Flashlight Enthusiast
Dagnab it, I didn't notice that until you pointed it out. And I just ordered a batch yesterday. I'll update once I receive the items...
horizonseeker
Enlightened
haven't had any problem with mine.
scott.cr
Flashlight Enthusiast
Genxiao Li
Confirmed: I received LG cells in the salmon-colored wrapper.
