Fake or Real Sony VTC4

[BeginnerOfVaping]

Hello,

So I bought new 2x Sony VTC4's off eBay:
Sony Konion VTC4 - US18650VTC4 18650 Akku - 2100mAh - 30A 3,6V Akkuträger BoxMod | eBay

I bought them off a german eBay seller that has really good ratings on eBay and Amazon.
Reading a lot of threads, it seems there is a high change of getting fake batteries and I wanted to ask for your feedback basing on the pics i took of the batteries.
What do you think?

 

[Pleasant_Bad]

Hi!
i found an old article about how to spot fake sony vtc4 and tries to compare your pics with those signs of fake (How to check authentic of Sony VCT4 18650 battery. Real vs Fake check.)
it seems like you have authentic batteries. but the thing is that the fakers improve their skills and can make more and more similar copies with the time.
mb someone from guys here is more experienced than me and can tell you for sure whether they are good or not

 

[Hawise]

Unfortunately, there's no practical way for us to establish that a battery is authentic. Sometimes we can tell for sure that it's fake, but we can never be certain that it's really what it claims to be. That's why it's so important to buy only from trusted vendors like the ones listed in the blue section of this chart:

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/attachments/7fdf0dbf-4d99-4676-932d-b3259735ef7d-jpeg.735233/

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

Unfortunately, there's no practical way for us to establish that a battery is authentic. Sometimes we can tell for sure that it's fake, but we can never be certain that it's really what it claims to be. That's why it's so important to buy only from trusted vendors like the ones listed in the blue section of this chart:

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/attachments/7fdf0dbf-4d99-4676-932d-b3259735ef7d-jpeg.735233/

I see, thank you very much.

 

[TrollDragon]

I didn't know people still used VTC4's it's only a 23A battery and there are considerably better offerings available.

 

[Baditude]

Don't buy batteries from Ebay or Amazon, or even a vape shop. Purchase from trusted battery suppliers who guarantee that their batteries are authentic brand name cells, like those in the links below:

North America
www.liionwholesale.com
www.imrbatteries.com
www.illumn.com
www.rtdvapor.com
www.batterybro.com
www.orbtronic.com
UK
myepack.co.uk
www.batteriesplus.co.uk
www.fogstar.co.uk
www.nkon.nl
Welcome to Ecolux. The UK's Battery and accessory specialists. Wide range of authentic leading brands in stock ready for immediate dispatch.

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

Hi!
i found an old article about how to spot fake sony vtc4 and tries to compare your pics with those signs of fake (How to check authentic of Sony VCT4 18650 battery. Real vs Fake check.)
it seems like you have authentic batteries. but the thing is that the fakers improve their skills and can make more and more similar copies with the time.
mb someone from guys here is more experienced than me and can tell you for sure whether they are good or not

Thanks for the article! Now I am sure that they are not the faked ones like in the pictures . I checked on aliexpress and I think these are the ones that were on the pictures:
Dolidada 100% original 3.7 V 2100 MAH 18650 battery for us18650 Sony VTC4 30A toys tools flashlight battery-in Replacement Batteries from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

Unfortunately, there's no practical way for us to establish that a battery is authentic. Sometimes we can tell for sure that it's fake, but we can never be certain that it's really what it claims to be. That's why it's so important to buy only from trusted vendors like the ones listed in the blue section of this chart:

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/attachments/7fdf0dbf-4d99-4676-932d-b3259735ef7d-jpeg.735233/

Don't buy batteries from Ebay or Amazon, or even a vape shop. Purchase from trusted battery suppliers who guarantee that their batteries are authentic brand name cells, like those in the links below:

North America
www.liionwholesale.com
www.imrbatteries.com
www.illumn.com
www.rtdvapor.com
www.batterybro.com
www.orbtronic.com
UK
myepack.co.uk
www.batteriesplus.co.uk
www.fogstar.co.uk
www.nkon.nl
Welcome to Ecolux. The UK's Battery and accessory specialists. Wide range of authentic leading brands in stock ready for immediate dispatch.

Well, I live in the Baltic states and that has been the problem
with buying off of most of these suppliers. Either they don't ship here
Or the shipping is 3x more expensive than the batteries themselves, so
I am only left with the vape shops where the batteries are double the price,
Aliexpress where I'm sure I won't buy batteries and eBay where I did some
Research about the sellers and found tradora_gmbh, which is a popular
German eBay, online and Amazon seller, so he/she was the best off the list

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

I didn't know people still used VTC4's it's only a 23A battery and there are considerably better offerings available.

Well I have heard they are safe at 23A, but I thought they were 30A(?).
What batteries would you personally recommend? Atm I have the
Samsung 30Q's and the VTC4's.

 

[TrollDragon]

Well I have heard they are safe at 23A, but I thought they were 30A(?).
What batteries would you personally recommend? Atm I have the
Samsung 30Q's and the VTC4's.

Mooch says they run too hot to be a 30A cell.
Sony VTC4 2000mAh 18650 Retest Results...a great 23A 2100mAh battery

I use VTC5a's for 25A and the VTC6's for less than 20A.
20700's for over 25A and I am waiting on a pair of 21700 Samsung 30T's.

I don't push batteries any where near the edge, I've seen a lot of 0.11Ω builds running on VTC4's where the guy has to put the mod down because it's getting too hot to hold...

 

[Baditude]

Well I have heard they are safe at 23A, but I thought they were 30A(?).
What batteries would you personally recommend? Atm I have the
Samsung 30Q's and the VTC4's.

15 amps cdr:

Samsung 18650 30Q, 3000 mah 15 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC6 3000mAh 15 amp CDR

20 amps cdr:

LG 18650HG2 3000mah 20 amp CDR

LG 18650HE4 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-25R, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sanyo UR18650NSX, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5, 2600 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC4, 2100 mah 23 amp CDR

AW 18650 3000 mah 20 amp CDR

25 amps cdr:

LG 18650 HD4 2100 mah 25 amp CDR

LG 18650 HD2 2000 mah 25 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-24S, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5A, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

30 amps cdr:

LG18650HB6 1500mah 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB2 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB4 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-20S 2000mah 30 amp CDR

​

Complete List of Battery Tests by Mooch

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

Mooch says they run too hot to be a 30A cell.
Sony VTC4 2000mAh 18650 Retest Results...a great 23A 2100mAh battery

I use VTC5a's for 25A and the VTC6's for less than 20A.
20700's for over 25A and I am waiting on a pair of 21700 Samsung 30T's.

I don't push batteries any where near the edge, I've seen a lot of 0.11Ω builds running on VTC4's where the guy has to put the mod down because it's getting too hot to hold...

I thought about getting the VTC5a's, but many people use and recommend the VTC4's.
I am pretty new to all of this, so yet I don't have my own opinion.
I don't intend to push them at their limits, since intend do stay below 110W.
I had to get something better than the Samsung 30Q's to get more than 90W at safe levels.

 

[Baditude]

I thought about getting the VTC5a's, but many people use and recommend the VTC4's.
I am pretty new to all of this, so yet I don't have my own opinion.
I don't intend to push them at their limits, since intend do stay below 110W.
I had to get something better than the Samsung 30Q's to get more than 90W at safe levels.

Oh, so you're using a regulated mod.

Are you using a single, dual, or triple battery mod? In the interests of keeping things simple:

-If you use a good quality 15 amp CDR battery like the Samsung 30Q or Sony VTC6, then you are good up to 45 watts per battery; 90 watts using two; 135 watts for three batteries.

-If you use a good quality 20 amp CDR battery like the LG HG2 or Samsung 25R then you are good for 60 watts per battery. If using a 2-battery regulated mod, you're good for 120 watts as you have two batteries. If you are using a 3-battery mod, you're good for 180.

-If you use a single 25 amp CDR battery like the Sony VTC5A, then you are good for 75 watts per battery, 150 watts for two batteries, and 225 watts with three.

-If you use a single 30 amp CDR battery like the LG HB6 you are good up to 90 watts; with a pair of 30 amp CDR batteries you could safely do 180 watts.​

WATTAGE PER SINGLE BATTERY on REGULATED MOD:
(Wattage doubles with 2 batteries; triples using 3)

Up to 45W:

Samsung 18650 30Q, 3000 mah 15 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC6 3000mAh 15 amp CDR

Up to 60W:

LG 18650HG2 3000mah 20 amp CDR

LG 18650HE4 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-25R, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sanyo UR18650NSX, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5, 2600 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC4, 2100 mah 23 amp CDR

AW 18650 3000 mah 20 amp CDR

Up to 75W:

LG 18650 HD4 2100 mah 25 amp CDR

LG 18650 HD2 2000 mah 25 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-24S, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5A, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

Up to 90W:

LG18650HB6 1500mah 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB2 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB4 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-20S 2000mah 30 amp CDR

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

Oh, so you're using a regulated mod.

Are you using a single, dual, or triple battery mod? In the interests of keeping things simple:

-If you use a good quality 15 amp CDR battery like the Samsung 30Q or Sony VTC6, then you are good up to 45 watts per battery; 90 watts using two; 135 watts for three batteries.

-If you use a good quality 20 amp CDR battery like the LG HG2 or Samsung 25R then you are good for 60 watts per battery. If using a 2-battery regulated mod, you're good for 120 watts as you have two batteries. If you are using a 3-battery mod, you're good for 180.

-If you use a single 25 amp CDR battery like the Sony VTC5A, then you are good for 75 watts per battery, 150 watts for two batteries, and 225 watts with three.

-If you use a single 30 amp CDR battery like the LG HB6 you are good up to 90 watts; with a pair of 30 amp CDR batteries you could safely do 180 watts.​

WATTAGE PER SINGLE BATTERY on REGULATED MOD:
(Wattage doubles with 2 batteries; triples using 3)

Up to 45W:

Samsung 18650 30Q, 3000 mah 15 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC6 3000mAh 15 amp CDR

Up to 60W:

LG 18650HG2 3000mah 20 amp CDR

LG 18650HE4 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-25R, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sanyo UR18650NSX, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5, 2600 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC4, 2100 mah 23 amp CDR

AW 18650 3000 mah 20 amp CDR

Up to 75W:

LG 18650 HD4 2100 mah 25 amp CDR

LG 18650 HD2 2000 mah 25 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-24S, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5A, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

Up to 90W:

LG18650HB6 1500mah 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB2 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB4 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-20S 2000mah 30 amp CDR

Yes, I am using the SMOK Alien 220W, a dual battery regulated mod, a lot of positive feedback, many friends and poeple in the city have it.

 

[Joules_Verne]

Hi BeginnerOfVaping, take a look at nkon.nl website, they mention shipping taking a little longer to Russia so don't see why they wouldn't ship to Baltics and their prices seem reasonable.
you can always send them an email enquiry.
Good luck !
DaveD

 

[TrollDragon]

Yes, I am using the SMOK Alien 220W, a dual battery regulated mod, a lot of positive feedback, many friends and poeple in the city have it.

Hope you have good luck with the Alien, we stopped selling them because of the number of returns with screen failures.

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

Hope you have good luck with the Alien, we stopped selling them because of the number of returns with screen failures.

I have heard the screens fail on the Alien, but is it that serious?
So far none of my friends/people I know don't have that issue,
Did you sell the A or B version of the Alien?

 

[TrollDragon]

I have heard the screens fail on the Alien, but is it that serious?
So far none of my friends/people I know don't have that issue,
Did you sell the A or B version of the Alien?

I think they were the A version as there was only one firmware update out at the time but it was for the other version. We replaced 6 for customers and no more were ordered.

 

[BeginnerOfVaping]

I think they were the A version as there was only one firmware update out at the time but it was for the other version. We replaced 6 for customers and no more were ordered.

I thought it might be due it being the A version, cause it would be kinda logical for them releasing a newer
Version of the device where they "Improve the software", but overall fixing the huge display problem.
People with the B version seem to be having even more problems than the A one. Well, I guess
This is the part where SMOK's engineers took their wrong steps.

 

[catilley1092]

Don't buy batteries from Ebay or Amazon, or even a vape shop. Purchase from trusted battery suppliers who guarantee that their batteries are authentic brand name cells, like those in the links below:

North America
www.liionwholesale.com
www.imrbatteries.com
www.illumn.com
www.rtdvapor.com
www.batterybro.com
www.orbtronic.com
UK
myepack.co.uk
www.batteriesplus.co.uk
www.fogstar.co.uk
www.nkon.nl
Welcome to Ecolux. The UK's Battery and accessory specialists. Wide range of authentic leading brands in stock ready for immediate dispatch.

Last week, purchased 10 Sony VTC5A's from www.illumn.com & were in my hands inside of 48 hours!

Did some reading after discovering the site, since these batteries are getting hard to find, or pricing jacked up to the ceiling. The low price seemed 'too good to be true' being what triggered my research. Several sites stated that ILLUMN & RTD Vapor were the best for genuine batteries.

Also purchased 4 from Fasttech earlier this month, looks to be identical to those from ILLUMN, siad authentic in description. However, I learned a lesson a couple of weeks ago, after placing that order, one cannot assume that just because it says authentic rather than 'styled', it's cast into stone. I feel fortunate that the batteries are real, a pack of coils weren't.

Looks like I have enough VTC5A's to last awhile, had two sets (8) before purchasing any this month.

Cat