18650 Batteries. Different sizes?

roccles · 23 Dec 2022 at 21:20

In 2015 I bought an LED torch that required button top 18650 batteries. At the time I bought 4 "Ultrafires 18650s" (the gold and black batteries in pic) which now hold very little charge so yesterday I decided to buy 5 new ones from https://www.18650.uk/ at £9.49 quid each (the green batteries in pic). When they arrive today I find that they do not fit in my charger?

The batteries feel like they have a thick plastic film around them but this does not fully cover the top or bottom so not sure if this should be removed or not?

I am confused, I assumed 18650 would be a standard size should fit my charger (Nitecore i4)?

The new green ones just feel bigger and chunky

The pink efest batteries are 18650 flattop ones I use in my vape.

mickyflinn · 23 Dec 2022 at 21:54

I just googled the battery and get the same battery but not protected its a diffrent size . Not sure what the protection thing is .

Take a look at length.

LG MJ1 - 18650 Battery - 3500mAh - 10A

3500mAh - 10A Continuous Discharge - Flat Top/Button Top/TabsOrder by 3pm (Monday to Friday) for same day dispatch!This battery now displays the warning: “Risk of disfiguring fire/explosion injury. Battery is NOT for consumer use. OEM only! If you can see this label do NOT use this battery.”...

www.nubattery.co.uk

Semple · 23 Dec 2022 at 21:58

Mine are more like the green ones on the left, I'll see if I've got one loose that I can measure.

Eddie99 · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:04

roccles said:
In 2015 I bought an LED torch that required button top 18650 batteries. At the time I bought 4 "Ultrafires 18650s" (the gold and black batteries in pic) which now hold very little charge so yesterday I decided to buy 5 new ones from https://www.18650.uk/ at £9.49 quid each (the green batteries in pic). When they arrive today I find that they do not fit in my charger?

The batteries feel like they have a thick plastic film around them but this does not fully cover the top or bottom so not sure if this should be removed or not?

I am confused, I assumed 18650 would be a standard size should fit my charger (Nitecore i4)?

The new green ones just feel bigger and chunky

The pink efest batteries are 18650 flattop ones I use in my vape.

Looks like you might be able to squeeze it in if you use less of an angle.

roccles · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:04

mickyflinn said:
I just googled the battery and get the same battery but not protected its a diffrent size . Not sure what the protection thing is .

Take a look at length.

LG MJ1 - 18650 Battery - 3500mAh - 10A

3500mAh - 10A Continuous Discharge - Flat Top/Button Top/TabsOrder by 3pm (Monday to Friday) for same day dispatch!This battery now displays the warning: “Risk of disfiguring fire/explosion injury. Battery is NOT for consumer use. OEM only! If you can see this label do NOT use this battery.”...

www.nubattery.co.uk

Not sure what "protected" mines either. That is actually the site i got mine from, seems 18650.uk redirects to nubattery

This is the item I purchased https://www.nubattery.co.uk/lg-mj1---18650-battery-protected-button-top

Skynet5 · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:05

Protected ones have electronics in to prevent over charge, and I think under charge.

As long as you have a decent charger you trust you're fine with unprotected ones.

Same goes for if the device youre putting them in has a charge capability (think vaping mod etc)

roccles · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:07

Eddie99 said:
Looks like you might be able to squeeze it in if you use less of an angle.

Unfortunately not, that's as far as it will go.

The other 4 are still sealed, but would assume they are the same.

roccles · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:10

lnoton said:
Protected ones have electronics in to prevent over charge, and I think under charge.

As long as you have a decent charger you trust you're fine with unprotected ones.

Same goes for if the device youre putting them in has a charge capability (think vaping mod etc)

I use flat top ones in my vape (eFest, pink in image) and never had an issue with them. The new ones are for a torch

roccles · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:16

Eddie99 said:
Looks like you might be able to squeeze it in if you use less of an angle.

Ok it seems your right! managed to squeeze the little sod in!

Be interesting to see if I can get 4 in at a go

Thank you

mickyflinn · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:30

roccles said:
Not sure what "protected" mines either. That is actually the site i got mine from, seems 18650.uk redirects to nubattery

This is the item I purchased https://www.nubattery.co.uk/lg-mj1---18650-battery-protected-button-top

Yes I compared the 2 and the one i linked compared to yours is a few mm shorter in the secs.

dave28 · 23 Dec 2022 at 22:33

there are protected and unprotected, button top and flat top, cheap rubbish and good ones,

and flashlights can be very fussy, my cheap asian flashlights work with unprotected flat tops but my nicer fenix / nitecore flashlights fit protected button tops

i use samsung for unprotected flat tops and fenix / nitecore batteries for the same brand of flashlights

jackboy · 23 Dec 2022 at 23:03

I am not associated with Nubattery but as they are local to me I visited on Wednesday to pick up some cells, just wanted to say that they were really helpful.

A 18650 battery should be 18mm by 65mm, but they do vary, if you read their website for the cell you bought it quotes 18.22mm by 69mm.

The protected bit as others have stated mainly stops the battery over charging and importantly discharging below a specific voltage, which is dangerous for most cells. Some appliances have this built in but personally for a torch I would only have protected cells as you could easily leave the torch on and discharge below the minimum.

Brizzles · 24 Dec 2022 at 20:22

Never trust a battery with 'FIRE' in the name

Swanster · 24 Dec 2022 at 22:04

yeah, the protected cells have circuitry at the top to cut them off if over discharged/charged or shorted. But afaik the limits are usually more to stop the cell getting, ummm, firery if something bad happens, rather being anything close to optimal for cell lifetime. I.e. the device using protected cells / charging them still needs it's own over discharge/charge logic, otherwise the cells aren't likely to have a great life expectancy.
tbh if protected cells fit, an extra layer of protection if something goes wrong isn't a bad thing tho

Rroff · 24 Dec 2022 at 22:29

dave28 said:
there are protected and unprotected, button top and flat top, cheap rubbish and good ones,

and flashlights can be very fussy, my cheap asian flashlights work with unprotected flat tops but my nicer fenix / nitecore flashlights fit protected button tops

i use samsung for unprotected flat tops and fenix / nitecore batteries for the same brand of flashlights

This - you'll also find some torch brands, vape brands, etc. do their own modified 18650s as well which can vary slightly from spec.

Belly · 28 Dec 2022 at 16:22

Roccles "I am confused, I assumed 18650 would be a standard size should fit my charger (Nitecore i4)?"

There was something on the "Spec me an LED Torch" some time ago, where one of the very knowledgeable posters posted a photo, or a link to a photo, showing that some batteries with the same number were slightly different sizes (I'm unable to find the post).

My suggestion would be to have a look on aliexpress where the flashlight is sold with a battery, take note of the battery and try and purchase it separately, if necessary from a different supplier.

Poster Deluxe1 pointed me to the correct (fit) battery for one of my flashlights. Good Luck, it must have been annoying for you.

silversurfer · 28 Dec 2022 at 16:58

Olight USB charger. It would fit anything because its just two magnetic contacts that slip on. Its kinda sloppy how the size varies. I'd rather have the protected type also but industry wise the best stats and price I see for flat top

Compatible with lithium batteries with a rated voltage between 3.6V and 3.7V. NiMH batteries.

www.olightstore.com