Which DealExtreme 18650s are best???

[Traveller]

I'm getting my frist 18650 host and I wanted to order some batteries for it over at DX and there are no less than... SIX variants... :wtf:

Ok, so I realize there are protected and non-protected version of all the traditional batteries we use here on LPF but there are variants among those classes too... argh.

"Non-Protected" Class:
1. Ultrafire 2400mAh (classic "blue")
2. UF 2600mAh (dark green... woah)

Protected class:
1. UF 2400mAh (classic shiny grey - silver)
2. UF 2400mAh (matt grey)
3. UF 2400mAh (matt grey?)
4. UF 2600mAh (read... woah)


So Jay (JayRob) recommended an American-distributed model (2600mAh, protected) but as I am in Europe, it's much easier to deal with Asia (namely DX). Igor always recommends the protected batteries however we occasionally run into "fitting" problems; some protected batteries are too long for the host and believe it or not, I even had one that was too fat (but I think it was a production tolerance failure).

So I'm ideally looking for responses from LPFers that have bought and fit-tested one (or more) of the above sets, thanks :beer:

p.s. Yes, I do realize that 2600mAh > 2400mAh, but if it doesn't fit...

 

[TTerbo]

the protected batteries have a little circuiit in them to shut of when shorted etc. they can be up to 4mm longer and will have fitting problems sometimes.

 

[Traveller]

they can be up to 4mm longer...

Yes, I know, I have both protected & unprotected 14500s & CR123As (16340). The problem is the "up to 4mm"... some may be 3 and some may be 5... which is why I'm ideally looking for first-hand experience...

 

[DJNY]

Read through this thread here
18650 Battery Test - CandlePowerForums

 

[Elektrotechniker]

Stick with the regular, not protected if you know where the + and the - are located
as TTerbo, you might have fitting problems.

 

[Traveller]

Read through this thread here
18650 Battery Test - CandlePowerForums

Thank you / danke Dir :beer:

The following
1/ Ultrafire 18650 Protected 2600mAh 3.7v
1/ Length 2.65inch or 67.3mm , Dia 0.72inch or 18.5mm

2/ Ultrafire 18650 2600mAh 3.7v
2/ Length 2.57inch or 65.5mm , Dia 0.72inch or 18.5mm

4/ Ultrafire 18650 Protected 2400mAh 3.7v
4/ Length 2.66inch or 67.6mm , Dia 0.71inch or 18.2mm

are from the ones I found on DX. Thus, #4 should be a guaranteed fit (still protected) and 1&2 somewhat risky. It's interesting to note that the green, non-protected 2600s are the same size as the protected ones... :thinking:

EDIT: Scratch that last sentence... :yabbem: