Thread: 18650 Thermal Batteries

Who knows a thing or two about batteries?
I want to buy a couple of spare batteries for my Hikmicro handheld thermal, though the Hikmicro branded ones are a bloody rip off.
Can I use other brands so long as the battery is a 18650 with similar Mah (3200mah) and 3.6v??
Photos incoming

Originally Posted by JesseYoung

Who knows a thing or two about batteries?
I want to buy a couple of spare batteries for my Hikmicro handheld thermal, though the Hikmicro branded ones are a bloody rip off.
Can I use other brands so long as the battery is a 18650 with similar Mah (3200mah) and 3.6v??
Photos incoming

Sure can. 18650s are interchangeable. You mAh is the amount of energy stored, higher the better, but also more expensive. You need to make sure the discharge rate (amperes, A) matches or exceeded your devices requirements, otherwise it won’t get the amount of power it needs in a timely fashion. Cell-supply.co.nz has been good to buy from.

Is it button top or flat top? I think you will have to replace it with the same.
Pretty sure there's a thread on here somewhere about 18650s.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/5120424957

Originally Posted by Shearer

Is it button top or flat top? I think you will have to replace it with the same.
Pretty sure there's a thread on here somewhere about 18650s.

Button top, shit I’m now reading about “protected” and “unprotected” sounds like you really wouldn’t want have an issue with a “non protected” battery while in your expensive thermal equipment

I'm not an expert and we have a few on the forum, but I think protected batteries are recommended when you use more than one battery in a device.

It would be interesting to test one and see if it is realy 3200 (many are not). 18650s are not as sinple as an AA, they can be different lengths and as per the label these are "Protected". you might want to tread carefuly.

Not all “18650s are interchangeable” as the 18mm diameter and 65mm length appear not to be exact dimensions. I tried to rationalise the devices I was carrying so they all used the same spare batteries - to reduce the number of different types of spares I was carrying.

I also have Hikmicro 18650s and they are very slightly larger in diameter than the others and won’t fit in some devices, but because of the battery compartment design on my Hikmicro thermal (Falcon) I can use other brand 18650s in the thermal.

I have used Fenix batteries in mine, mainly as I have these for my Fenix headlamp.

Not sure if it is the same for all thermals, but with the Hikmicro if you’re not using it, shut it down rather than putting it in standby as standby seems to do little more than switching the screen off, and it quickly drains the battery when left in standby mode.

Originally Posted by JesseYoung

Button top, shit I’m now reading about “protected” and “unprotected” sounds like you really wouldn’t want have an issue with a “non protected” battery while in your expensive thermal equipment

Those batteries for the Hik Micro have a protected circuit in the top of the battery, you need this, also the protected circuit type battery is slightly longer than the standard unprotected version. I happen to have a couple of these sitting around not being used. Message me and we could sort out a deal if your interested.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Those batteries for the Hik Micro have a protected circuit in the top of the battery, you need this, also the protected circuit type battery is slightly longer than the standard unprotected version. I happen to have a couple of these sitting around not being used. Message me and we could sort out a deal if your interested.

Hey mate, yea the more I dive in to the subject the more complicated it seems to become. Sounds great will send you a PM now. Thanks

https://www.piercingthedarkness.co.n...ries/batteries

He gives you the amp hours and the draw rates for the differance batterys.
Plus he supports the forum

I use the Vapcell 3800MAh jobbies from night vision nz

18650 refers to only the battery size. 18mm x 65mm.
amp output is one variable (more is better) but some are more suited for low output across many hours and some high output across less.
piercing the darkness on the forum would be the guy to ask

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

https://www.piercingthedarkness.co.n...ries/batteries

He gives you the amp hours and the draw rates for the differance batterys.
Plus he supports the forum

And really good to deal with