18350 Li-ion 3.7V Batteries Where to Go Locally

Status
Not open for further replies.

Skullman

~ Membered ~
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 30, 2013
651
6,421
South Sound Lahar Zone
Hey All: I’m looking to Purchase more 18350 1200mah batteries I purchased some Trustfire’s online but was hoping to find them locally so I didn’t have to wait for them! I hit Fry’s Electronics their Battery selection is Not what it once was I was quite surprised!

They recommended batteries Plus an all Battery store well, No luck there either! In fact they were perplexed about the 18350 battery itself!?? They did some calling around but were Not successful finding them? Are these batteries that Rare?

What’s the difference with the IMR Batteries? Should I be looking at them as an option?

Thanks
Skullman {:{}
 

blackHelix

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 22, 2013
277
259
Ontario, Canada
It's not that LI batteries are rare, more that they're a liability. I would suspect that most large companies don't want the PR nightmare of some soccer mom blowing her kids head off by putting an undercharged 18650 in the kid's toy dinosaur. That's why the "household" rechargeable battery market is primarily NiMH.

Just my 2 cents though....nothing against soccer moms. Or plastic replicas of extinct animals...
 

Skullman

~ Membered ~
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 30, 2013
651
6,421
South Sound Lahar Zone
Thanks Guy’s! Interstate, come on madstabber Really? Well, I’m still a Newb to all this, into my third month Vaping. OK blackhelix, so these batteries can be dangerous? I have a pair of Trustfire’s Li 1200mah I’ve been swapping out in my Gripper with No problems well, so far!

I just received a VeriStack and VV V6 that I need more 18350’s for. I went with the Trustfire’s from a popular Vaping Online Store one from the ECF store listings. I found some Grey TangsFire’s Li 1200mah online for $6.89 a Pair Shipped! But am I setting my self up for trouble with these?

I see on some postings people talking about IMR’s most seem to be 800mah should I be looking at those instead? I just figured going with 1200mah would give me more Vaping time! I did notice some websites call the IMR’s High Drain batteries. Are the TrustFire Li 1200mah High Drain? Is there some listing some where that explains what all these batteries are about?

Ninfreak: Can you elaborate on your post about the TrustFire & UltraFire batteries? Thanks

Skullman {:{}
 

madstabber

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 20, 2013
3,961
7,061
Concoction Creating Cave
Their commercial has people walking in with cell phones, remote control stuff, etc. I've never been to one but I guess they have batteries for everything now. I've only seen their car batteries but I guess they have expanded their reach to all things that need batteries, maybe even P.V's.
 

searcher

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Sep 17, 2009
523
348
Bossier City, La
Can't help with finding them local, but be careful with batteries. If your mod uses a single battery then regular li-ion batteries will usually suffice. Never stack li-ion batteries. There's a really good chance of having really bad results. For multiple battery mods you should use high drain li-mn batteries. When using li-ion always use protected batteries unless your mod and charger have built in protection curcuits (most chargers do).
 

blackHelix

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 22, 2013
277
259
Ontario, Canada
Can't help with finding them local, but be careful with batteries. If your mod uses a single battery then regular li-ion batteries will usually suffice. Never stack li-ion batteries. There's a really good chance of having really bad results. For multiple battery mods you should use high drain li-mn batteries. When using li-ion always use protected batteries unless your mod and charger have built in protection curcuits (most chargers do).

Li-mn are li-ion batteries. The "mn" designates the type of chemistry used within the li-ion battery. There's nothing wrong with stacking regular li-ion batteries, and there's actually a very slim chance of failure if handled properly. It's just that there is A chance. If you ever break apart a laptop battery, you'll find at least 6 unprotected 18650's - all stacked.
 

searcher

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Sep 17, 2009
523
348
Bossier City, La
Li-mn are li-ion batteries. The "mn" designates the type of chemistry used within the li-ion battery. There's nothing wrong with stacking regular li-ion batteries, and there's actually a very slim chance of failure if handled properly. It's just that there is A chance. If you ever break apart a laptop battery, you'll find at least 6 unprotected 18650's - all stacked.

You are correct in that they are both li-ion batteries , but I believe I am correct in referring to li-mn (lithium manganese oxide, or LiMn) as the safer imr type (high drain) batteries. Li-ion is now generally used in referring to the older protected or unprotected lithium batteries. Laptops are also li-ion as you stated, but they are usually polymer based (cobalt). If you have both imr and protected batteries available take a look at the specs on them. You should see what I am referring to. Now for my recommendation to use imr batteries when stacking. Most, if not all VV mods pull 8 volts or more from fully charged stacked batteries. The difference in what you have set on the vv device and the 8 volts is bled off through resistors in the circuitry. This combination can cause a 4 amp draw on the batteries which is enough to explode a lion battery. Imr batteries are designed to handle this amperage and more. I admit it is a rare occurrence but better safe than sorry.
 

Skullman

~ Membered ~
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 30, 2013
651
6,421
South Sound Lahar Zone
Well Madstabber I have Not seen their commercials but then I don’t watch much broadcast TV?? I guess I need to take another look in their stores!

Thanks Cowdog it’s a Name that has stuck with me since I was 12 years old! I have to say kinda fits with the Harley’s and all! You have a very unique handle there too! I will definitely check Battery University out! I have been all over the net but have not found anything yet to answer all my questions?

Being careful is what I’m trying to do Searcher these 18650 Batt’s kind of remind me of Half Sticks of Dynamite and what I have read can be near close taking ones face off or maiming you! All the Batt’s I have now are Protected Li-ion but I need Flat tops to fit the VV V6 and to stack in the Vamo! So I think to be real safe I will follow your advice and go with the Li-mn like Cowdog says Vape Safe! I have a Trustfire Battery Charger with all the circuits. And Yes its working just fine! For those Trustfire dis-approvers!

So BlackHelix the mn is just a different chemistry but still a version of Li-ion, Hmmm good to know! I have stacked in the past with no problems so I’m confident doing so. But the 18650’s I’m not used to and must admit I’m a little leery of them! But like I said I need Flat tops to fit these Mods so it looks like for stacking I’m going to have to try these High Drain 18350 Li-mn 800mah Batt’s to work with em. I think I will try the 18650 Li-mn too! I’m going to order some tonight.

Thanks All for Your Help

Skullman {:{}
 

xbassman

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 1, 2012
627
342
63
Tulsa, OK. USA
Hey Skullman!

You'd probably save a little time finding a vapor shop in your area.
Not sure where you are in Silicon Valley but here's what I got:

E-cigarettes San Jose

I would definitely go with IMR (limn) batteries in your VV mods and you don't need flat tops either.
I have both AW and Efest 18350 button tops that work fine stacked in my Vamos.
That said.... I don't stack them. It is unnecessary unless you are an extreme vapor. (really high wattage)
And don't be afraid of 18650's. Using 1 18650 is inherently safer than stacking 2 18350's.

Look for high drain Panasonic, AW or Efest.
I can find them a couple of miles from my house, so I'm sure you can too.
 

Skullman

~ Membered ~
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 30, 2013
651
6,421
South Sound Lahar Zone
Hey XBassman Thanks! I have hit a few of those on the list that are close but honestly they leave a lot to be desired Vape wise! I need to venture further out to check out other stores! I really need the Flat Tops for the VV V6! The Button Tops I have wont fit.

As for the VAMO 2 I want to be able to experiment with it so I would like the option of stacking! I ordered some Flat Top Great Power 18350 900mah from Vapor Break at less then $4 bucks a piece in my second order from them and a couple Flat Top GTL 3300mah 18650’s on eBay for less then $6 bucks a piece and 2 Efest 800mah 18350’s at $6.25 each. I figured since the New VAMO with the Gold Spring should be able to handle either. I also have a 1st version VAMO that wont take Button Tops Stacked??

Have you been to Platinum Vapes? I contacted them a couple months ago they weren’t really up and running but offered to meet me at their store for what I needed but I was recovering from surgery so wasn’t mobile yet. But it was real nice of them! I have not checked back. I’m in the South West Side of San Jo near Los Gatos and have yet to find a decent place for Vaping Supplies near me.

Skullman {:{}
 

xbassman

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 1, 2012
627
342
63
Tulsa, OK. USA
Sorry Skullman, I'm not in your area. (One of my brothers is though...)

I have noticed a lot of folks buying the cheapest batteries and charger they can find. That is not a good idea in my book.
The last e-cig explosion I saw in the news near me was a Joye battery left in it's cheapie charger. The charger failed and the battery exploded.
Then right before Christmas, some kind of cheap device that had a Li-on from Big Lots. Same thing happened.

Bullette gave good advice earlier in this thread......

As to the batteries you've mentioned...

In the Vamo forum, users have reported that the Trustfire protected 1200 mAh batteries wouldn't fire in their device. (probably the protection circuit)
Users have reported that the cheapo batteries from Vapor Break did work. (again not ideal because of protection circuit and not a high drain battery)
I did a Google search on GTL 18650's and found a bunch of fleabay listings. Some of them claiming to be 5000 mAh. (No such thing as a 5000 mAh 18650!)

Here's a link to the best deal on batteries compatible with your devices courtesy of Vapor Joe: (2 Panasonic CGR18650CH $9.53 free shipping)
http://.........blogspot.com/2013/03/2x-panasonic-cgr18650ch-18650-953.html

I ordered a pair from there and it took 14 days to get to me.
The same vendor also has a couple of decent Nitecore chargers as well.
 

Skullman

~ Membered ~
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 30, 2013
651
6,421
South Sound Lahar Zone
Well Hot Damn XBassman! Thanks! I never heard of either of those sites! At VaporJoes they had the code for the discount. Picked up 4 of the Panasonic CGR18650ch’s for less then $20 bucks Now that’s a Deal! Picked up some battery boxes too since I didn’t have any for the C or sub C size batts. FastTech has Great Deals! So it looks like I’m set now! I have the 2 18350’s coming from Vapor Break and the 2 flat Top High Drain Efest 18350imr’s I got on eBay so I’m lookin good for now! I really appreciate your help! The website VaporJoes has some great links for deals I’ll be checking them out! Thanks again for that!

Skullman {:{}
 

geoVoeg

Full Member
Mar 5, 2013
19
2
United States
They claim to have every battery for every need, but I've never been to one. Why the come on really? Do they not have much there or something?

Indeed. I just picked up an icr18650 from my local Interstate storefront. Non-protected model was out of stock, so I got the one with PCB. It is working great so far on my Vamo.

Also, Interstate will recycle dead lion batteries. They send them somewhere to be disposed of responsibly. This is a great free service, and I hope the vaping community recognizes that! :2c:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread