All our torches (except FL0 and FL4) use rechargeable Li-Ion batteries*.
There are now so many different batteries available that a new method has been adopted to specify the physical size of batteries. A 5-digit number is used. The first two digits specify the diameter in mm, he next two specify the length and the last digit specifies the shape, 0 = cylindrical.
Generally speaking, the larger a battery, the more capacity it will have, but this will depend on both the quality of the battery and the truthfulness of the manufacturer in stating the capacity. Measuring the actual capacity of a battery is complex with too may variables to describe here.
There are a lot of “fake” Li-Ion batteries being sold. For example, any claim that an 18650 battery has a capacity of more than about 3700mAh is untruthful. That is the upper limit for 18650 batteries. Fakes weigh less than genuines. For example genuine 18650s weigh around 45 – 48gm; fakes weigh in the 30s. A genuine 21700 battery weighs 68-73gm; fakes as low as 40gm. Genuine 26650 batteries weigh around 90gm, and fakes a lot less.
Fakers can fake in various ways including putting cheap, smaller, low-quality components inside, re-wrapping used batteries with their own “brand” and selling them as new, copying genuine battery wrappings, adding sand to increase the weight, etc. It is important to buy only genuine, quality Li-Ion batteries made by reputable manufacturers, and charge with an intelligent USB charger. Both are more expensive than cheap rubbish, but in terms of safety, durability, capacity etc, the extra cost is worth it.
* Fires caused by exploding Li-Ion batteries have been in the news lately. Most incidents occur as a result of over-charging cheap Li-Ion batteries. We only supply genuine batteries made by reputable manufacturers, and in over 10 years to the best of our knowledge, none of our batteries has had a safety issue.
A TEXTBOOK FAKE BATTERY.
I could tell this was a fake before I cut it open.
1. It weighed only 23gm
2. It claimed to have 48mAh
3. It claimed to be protected but was only 65mm long.
4. Poor quality printing
5. Numerous spelling and grammar errors.
- maximum mAh for an 18650 battery is about 3700mAh
- Poor quality printing
- Spelling error, no space after comma.
- Grammar errors: Environmentally friendly.
- On protected batteries there is a metal strip from top to bottom. The black printed strip is supposed to look like that strip.
- Grammar error (dispose of).
- Grammar error ( or disassemble).
The battery is 65mm long which is the length of an unprotected battery. A protected battery has a small circuit board which extends the length of an 18650 battery to ~68mm. This battery is not (as claimed) protected.
- It weighs only 23gm. A genuine 18650 battery weighs between ~44gm and ~48gm.
- The Li-Ion cell (the white package) is ridiculously crude.
- There is no protection circuit board.
So… Don’t buy cheap (probably fake) Li-Ion batteries!
They are the kind that catch fire when not charged properly.
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