Buying batteries from China: how safe is it?

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com64
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Buying batteries from China: how safe is it?

Post by com64 » Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:27 am

I'm trying to find some 18500 batteries (four of them, to be exact) for a Nomad mod. The only problem is, I want to save some money to be able to afford other parts for the project.

I have found a few of sources: eBay, DealExtreme or Taobao, all ultimately coming from China or Hong Kong. I've ordered from DealExtreme before, although I don't really know who to trust in this situation. I'm worried I'll end up with less-than-reliable or lower capacity cells and pay way too much for them. Of course, I'll be more protected through eBay or DX. I don't know what brands to trust, and I'm worried about knock-offs.

I also do have someone I know who can help me read the Chinese Taobao site and I'm ordering something from there anyway. I'll try to go through the customer comments on Taobao with her.

Ultimately, I have a few of choices of brands:
The cheap ones from eBay.
The more expensive Ultrafire ones from DX.
The in-between Ultrafire ones (mostly because of the shipping costs and batteries are heavy) from Taobao.
The dirt-cheap nondescript ones from Taobao.
The more expensive nondescript ones from Taobao. (I may be able to strike a deal with them.)
Spoiler:
eBay:
Ultrafire (3.7V 1.6Ah) (~$23 for 4)
unbranded (3.7V 1.4Ah) (~$10 for 4)

DX:
Ultrafire (3.7V 1.6Ah) (~$20 for 4) (looks the same as the eBay ones)


Taobao:
differently-coloured "industrial" Ultrafire (3.6V 1.6Ah) (~$15-$20 for 4)
unbranded blue (3.7V 1.8Ah) (~$10-$15 for 4)
Sanyo nondescript red with a striking resemblance to the ones in Jeroi's thread on Sega-16 (3.7V 1.62Ah) (~$13-$18 for 4)
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hailrazer
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Re: Buying batteries from China: how safe is it?

Post by hailrazer » Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:40 pm

Almost all 18650's from China will be less than 1800mAh no matter what they claim.

t'sa crapshoot. None of the ones you mentioned will probably be worth anything.
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com64
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Re: Buying batteries from China: how safe is it?

Post by com64 » Mon Apr 01, 2013 10:09 pm

You're right; I might be better off getting a Sony camera battery and charger.
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