Saber Forum

General Chat => Technical => Topic started by: Maestro Jones on March 25, 2020, 08:37:17 PM



Title: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: Maestro Jones on March 25, 2020, 08:37:17 PM
Is there a better Li-Ion battery than Xtar?  None of my Xtar batteries will hold a charge for long and none will charge up to their mAh (according to my Xtar VC4).  I know they have a long cycle life (like, 500 recharge cycles) but I haven't come anywhere near that.  I have some that are not even a year old that are dead, won't even charge (four at least).  On some I will charge them up, put them in the saber, power it up to make sure it works, power it off and leave it until the next day (or even to the end of the day) and it is dead.  Whats the deal?  All of my sabers with the Xtar have buck pucks (oh, and they do dim even with a buck puck).  My standard setups with Eneloop Pro batteries last forever.  But the Xtar won't last long at all.  I clocked one fully charged set at 24 minutes today.  The same LED (Tri CG) and sound card (v4) with a standard setup was still going after an hour.  It's frustrating. 


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: hazard502 on March 26, 2020, 03:56:31 AM
If you google other battery brands that meet the same specs as the Xtar, you'll see that there's quite a variety available.  The other battery brand that US used for years was Trustfire to which I'm still using many years later.  It's possible to get a couple of dud cells especially at the volume US pumps them out the door.  I've had a few DOA with a new saber before.  You should be able to pick up a 4 pack or the like from Amazon or another online electronics retailer fairly easily.


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: Maestro Jones on March 27, 2020, 12:59:33 AM
Amazon doesn't seem to have any 14500 batteries.  Plenty of 18650 like other saber makers use but no 14500.   I've been looking for about a month now.  I've found some 14500 online but they are either Xtar or unprotected.  TCSS is out of stock of Trustfires and I can't find them anywhere else.  I have two on order from US but I don't know when they will be shipped since I ordered them with a couple of Empress pre-orders. 


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: hazard502 on March 27, 2020, 04:12:27 AM
14500 battery shortage, who knew? Lol  :)


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: KqRo on March 28, 2020, 08:26:40 PM
Amazon doesn't seem to have any 14500 batteries.  Plenty of 18650 like other saber makers use but no 14500.   I've been looking for about a month now.  I've found some 14500 online but they are either Xtar or unprotected.  TCSS is out of stock of Trustfires and I can't find them anywhere else.  I have two on order from US but I don't know when they will be shipped since I ordered them with a couple of Empress pre-orders.  
.    
              Look on Illumn.com, they have plenty of protected 14500 batteries in stock. I would recommend the Keeppower 14500 800mah, the specs are the same as US and they are a great brand. I’m currently using one of their 18650 ones in the saber I just built.


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: Maestro Jones on March 28, 2020, 10:52:21 PM
I checked them out the 14500 800mAh are the only ones they have of that size in stock.  I've checked other places and they are all out of stock in that size.  What is the deal with that size battery?


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: KqRo on March 28, 2020, 11:05:07 PM
I checked them out the 14500 800mAh are the only ones they have of that size in stock.  I've checked other places and they are all out of stock in that size.  What is the deal with that size battery?
No idea, but those batteries match the Xtar ones US uses and I would say they are better. They are pretty dang cheap too.


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: Darth Andeddu on March 29, 2020, 02:29:54 AM
I found some 14500's on eBay recently.  Had good luck with them.  Caveat emptor, though, as with a lot of things


Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: Infinit01 on March 29, 2020, 02:26:11 PM
I like using Olight, Fenix, and Nitecore for my 14500 batteries

https://www.olightstore.com/olight-14500-lithium-ion-battery.html?https://olight.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=217&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsNBi5alUALtVBHsOJwUaMTT3xYh1kc7d6rIOcMlkU2pS3_vbCHRQ8aAqMuEALw_wcB (https://www.olightstore.com/olight-14500-lithium-ion-battery.html?https://olight.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=217&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsNBi5alUALtVBHsOJwUaMTT3xYh1kc7d6rIOcMlkU2pS3_vbCHRQ8aAqMuEALw_wcB)

https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-arb-l14-800-14500-battery/ (https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-arb-l14-800-14500-battery/)

https://www.nitecorestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BAT-14500-NITE-NL1485&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsD7klUGljU9xPD4h0TFus5t_djBW_iZtqNkb_mOY-dq5OjBvpNfQgaAt6FEALw_wcB (https://www.nitecorestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BAT-14500-NITE-NL1485&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsD7klUGljU9xPD4h0TFus5t_djBW_iZtqNkb_mOY-dq5OjBvpNfQgaAt6FEALw_wcB)



Title: Re: Better Li-Ion Battery Than Xtar?
Post by: Cyclops942 on May 21, 2020, 01:29:03 PM
I like using Olight, Fenix, and Nitecore for my 14500 batteries

https://www.olightstore.com/olight-14500-lithium-ion-battery.html?https://olight.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=217&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsNBi5alUALtVBHsOJwUaMTT3xYh1kc7d6rIOcMlkU2pS3_vbCHRQ8aAqMuEALw_wcB (https://www.olightstore.com/olight-14500-lithium-ion-battery.html?https://olight.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=217&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsNBi5alUALtVBHsOJwUaMTT3xYh1kc7d6rIOcMlkU2pS3_vbCHRQ8aAqMuEALw_wcB)

https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-arb-l14-800-14500-battery/ (https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-arb-l14-800-14500-battery/)

https://www.nitecorestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BAT-14500-NITE-NL1485&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsD7klUGljU9xPD4h0TFus5t_djBW_iZtqNkb_mOY-dq5OjBvpNfQgaAt6FEALw_wcB (https://www.nitecorestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BAT-14500-NITE-NL1485&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9DsD7klUGljU9xPD4h0TFus5t_djBW_iZtqNkb_mOY-dq5OjBvpNfQgaAt6FEALw_wcB)



Infinit01 speaks truth here; all three of those companies are flashlight manufacturers, and they have a vested self-interest in having high-quality batteries available.  They also have a very good reputation in the high-end flashlight community.  (Note: Olight alone has absorbed even more of my disposable income than has UltraSabers, so I know what I’m talking about here.)