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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.Quote:
Originally Posted by JesseYoung
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 equipmentQuote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by JesseYoung
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. ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by zeropak
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
And really good to deal withQuote:
Originally Posted by ZQLewis
If you can use non-protected batteries in your devices, I've bought from this seller before when building up battery packs, good to deal with and honest about products (2nd hand). I've always gotten at least 90%,typically 100% of rated capacity from cells I've bought from him.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/5129563756
Also if you are in Chch Ecotech Services sells used Li ion 18650 cells in good nick, a couple of bucks each. I've bought many from them for various uses, some I add a protection circuit if needed, its not difficult.
Thanks for this. I just bought 20 off your bloke on Trademe for $52 landed.Quote:
Originally Posted by bjp
He actually credited me $7 so cheaper still. $2.25 each delivered.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
At that price you don't fell so precious about them, aye. I've got a little powerbank case from Aliexpress that can take 1 or 2 (they are in parallel, so doesn't matter how many), so can then just carry loose cells and use them in headtorch, thermal or to charge phone, whatever is needed. At the moment I just place masking tape over the ends to avoid short circuiting, keep meaning to find a storage case. Though just had a thought, I might just stitch up a bit neoprene a bit like a shotshell holder... definitely wouldn't want to risk short circuiting one without built-in protection!
get the nitecore ones.
When I was a torchaholic the best batteries around were the Panasonic 3400mAh ones. Still got them after a few years and all going strong. If you have something that only takes one battery you can disassemble a laptop battery pack and pull the 18650s out of there since it's usually only 1 or 2 that crap themselves and make the battery "bung" Bear in mind laptop ones don't have the protection circuit so be careful charging them but I haven't had any problems with any of mine
I bought my spare 18650 batteries from AliExpress. They are fantastic. They arrived with no issue.
These fit my thermal. I bought 21700 batteries for my headlamp from the same supplier.
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_ms1a8cB
I've just paid for 2 on Aliexpress. Says they are Panasonic. I'm not sure if they are genuine.
I was told not to use protected batteries in my Sytong thermal?
(flat top 18650)
Although my Nitecore headlamp use's button top protected 18650's
I have bought heaps of cells from this seller, they are cycle tested and he writes the tested capacity on each cell so you know what to expect. I have had 70 total from him over the last 4 years and only 2 of those have gone bad. My charger also records the MAH that goes in on each charge and its always about the same as what is written on the cell.
Beats paying $30 per cell for batteries that are only on par performance wise! I have Nightcore, Sytong, Pard and Fenix branded cells here and they all test about the same as his cells do.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...6?bof=6mqaOakj
