Recommendations for decent 18650 batteries and/or battery/charger combos?

surrealone

surrealone

Well-Known Member
Benefactor
Life Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Jan 26, 2021
Messages
2,150
Location
Semora, NC
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
I'm in need of some 18650's. Can anyone who has used them extensively for lights and/or optics recommend some decent brands and/or battery/charger combos?

URL's to things you've found worthwhile are appreciated!
 
18650's are one of my standards. I've been using various brands with a Nitecore Inteli-Charger. I've recently been trying some of the usb rechargables by EBL. They have a built in micro USB port. I'd like to find them with a USB-C port. They've been working well, but I haven't exactly worked them duty hard. But, I do use them daily. I like the idea of not needing a special charger and if you have two or more, you can start charging the depleted one after swapping out and continuing "work".

Amazon product ASIN B0874R85J2
You're probably aware that there are 4 variations of 18650's. Protected, unprotected, button top and flat top. It 's the size variation that can get you. Some lights can accept any. Some, don't.

Although, I've been trying to avoid adding another battery format, I relented and have added a light that takes 21700's. But, it also came with a USB-C port battery and I've just found an 18650 adapter for it.
 
Last edited:
I got a dual charger from Fenix. ARE-A2


www.fenix-store.com

Official Fenix Store | Original Brand Authorized Retailer since 2006

FENIX STORE is the OLDEST and LARGEST BRAND AUTHORIZED RETAILER of Fenix products in the world. Fenix has been producing innovative and high quality personal lighting since 2005 and Fenix Store has been serving customers since 2006. We remain your #1 choice for high-quality Fenix products...
www.fenix-store.com www.fenix-store.com
www.fenix-store.com

Fenix ARE-A2 Dual Channel Battery Smart Charger

Holiday Specials & Black Friday Deals for Fenix Flashlights, Headlamps, Lanterns, & Bike Lights from the Official Fenix Store in the USA. Fast & Free USA Shipping
www.fenix-store.com www.fenix-store.com
 
Last edited:
I get all mine from local vape shop. Not the foreign owned head shop that also sells vapes but a real vape shop. They’re not counterfeit and if something happens to the battery they’ll warranty it. That’s also where I get the chargers but you could probably find them cheaper somewhere else.
 
I bought an Olight flashlight that came with an adapter sleeve that stacks two CR123 batteries. Same light also takes one 18650. Might be another option to look at.
 
Nitecore Intelicharger here. Ultrafire and Olight batteries. Surefire sells 18650's now and I would be G2G with them as well. I buy most of my batteries and some lights from Battery Junction.
 
Nitecore charger. I have some Fenix batteries with USB built in as well as some typical Samsung cells (some of the best out there). You can research 18650 cells until you’re blue in the face then you have the risk of getting counterfeits as well.
 
I run Efest LUC S2 chargers. charge at .5-2.0 amps.

@georgel nailed it in his reply.

My flashlights seem to only like button tops. Ecig batteries are designed for high drain, large amp draws so should be perfect for flashlights. Sony, LG, etc as long as they are legit and I typically run 2600-3000 mah batteries. It seems to be a sweet spot for longevity in 18650's.
 
Thanks, all!

I'll need flat-top batteries and would prefer protected units. I don't tend to prefer USB rechargeables.

@Sp00ks - What protected, flat-top Sony, LG, or Samsung models would you recommend? (i.e. Any of them within the 2600-3000mah range?)
 
Sp00ks said:
I run Efest LUC S2 chargers. charge at .5-2.0 amps.

@georgel nailed it in his reply.

My flashlights seem to only like button tops. Ecig batteries are designed for high drain, large amp draws so should be perfect for flashlights. Sony, LG, etc as long as they are legit and I typically run 2600-3000 mah batteries. It seems to be a sweet spot for longevity in 18650's.
Click to expand...
I think 2600-3000 is the practical max for 18650's. The protected batteries consume some of the space and therefore you lose some capacity. All the other higher rated ones are just labels.
 
I've been using purple imren batteries in vapes for about 10 years. When I started getting lights that take the 18650 I ordered the same for them. I can usually get about 18 months in a vape with them. And even more in the lights.

I use a nitecore i8 charger. Have had it since it came out and can't be beat for the price.
 
Are protected flat-top batteries made? I'm asking because I'd prefer protected batteries, but my application requires flat-top batteries and I'm having trouble finding LG, Samsung, or Sony flat-tops that are protected.

Fenix seems to make ONLY button-tops. I'll try looking at Imren next.
 
surrealone said:
Are protected flat-top batteries made? I'm asking because I'd prefer protected batteries, but my application requires flat-top batteries and I'm having trouble finding LG, Samsung, or Sony flat-tops that are protected.

Fenix seems to make ONLY button-tops. I'll try looking at Imren next.
Click to expand...
Ultrafire and I believe e-fest are.

As said above the top tier are pretty much the same battery just different wrap
 
I’ll add that I really like the integrated USB charger cells for lights I keep in my vehicles because I have USB in both vehicles, so it makes charging super easy. Those units tend to be slightly lower capacity but that’s worth the trade off IMO.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
I’ll add that I really like the integrated USB charger cells for lights I keep in my vehicles because I have USB in both vehicles, so it makes charging super easy. Those units tend to be slightly lower capacity but that’s worth the trade off IMO.
Click to expand...
I can see the convenience in that. I tend to prefer external chargers for reasons related to charge rate control.
 
Search Amazon. You can often find battery + charger combos, and at decent prices.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Search Amazon. You can often find battery + charger combos, and at decent prices.
Click to expand...
I did -- and finding quality batteries that aren't fakes was what drove me to ask for recommendations, here -- because there's a lot of dreck in the battery world on Amazon.
 
Last edited:
I dont think you can get flat tops that are protected. I could be wrong. All the descriptions mostly say button top protected.
 
For the record, I have been through a LOT of 18650's. I have never had a problem. Store them properly in plastic cases, not in your freaking pocket and don't try and discharge them at a high rate in a short amount of time. A flash light isn't going to do that.
 
I don’t trust 18650 batteries off Amazon. Idk if y’all have ever seen one explode but it’s not pretty.
 
I just ordered six (flat-topped, unprotected) Samsung 30Q 18650's from imrbatteries.com. Reputable vendor. Decent price. Shipping sucked but gas isn't cheap.

The devices these will go in don't have a PCB (protection circuit board) or BMS (battery management system) built into them, so I'm leery of using unprotected 18650's, but one of the devices is a battery pack for the other device (a Jerry C5 thermal imager), and the battery pack only takes flat-topped 18650's (while the Jerry C5 will take either button-topped or flat-topped).

The vendor of both devices recommended protected 18650's be used ... but that's probably a CYA strategy since I can't seem to find high-quality/namebrand protected 18650's with flat tops. I suspect the device manufacturer (infiray) doesn't expect protection given the lack of button-top support in the battery back, so I just deciced to wing it and put some trust in a high-quality/namebrand battery.

Thank you for ALL your inputs!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom