Li-Ion Battery Setup HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (Please Read Me)

[Jetmech]

Has anyone else has run into the same problem I've had with the 14500 Li-ion batteries supplied with the lightsabers? I've ordered enough sabers to now have about a dozen batteries and half of them didn't even make it to their second charge. That's a 50% fail rate. The other half recharge normally and still work great.
Given the high failure rate of the XTAR 14500's, I was wondering if anyone can recommend a different brand of 14500 battery that might be more reliable?

[firehand10k]

All of the 14500 cells I have ever recieved from US are still going strong. Both the Xtarrs and the Trustfires they used to ship still work in any of  my sound sabers. But I still use two of the Trustfire chargers they used to ship, the same one that a few other highly regarded saber companies still do ship. One of the chargers and several of the battery  cells are around 6 years old.

[Cyclops942]

Has anyone else has run into the same problem I've had with the 14500 Li-ion batteries supplied with the lightsabers? I've ordered enough sabers to now have about a dozen batteries and half of them didn't even make it to their second charge. That's a 50% fail rate. The other half recharge normally and still work great.
Given the high failure rate of the XTAR 14500's, I was wondering if anyone can recommend a different brand of 14500 battery that might be more reliable?

I have not had this problem; I’m using the original batteries on both my Diamond sabers (although one of those just arrived a couple weeks ago, so it’s not seen that much use).  I have a recharge port in both, and I make sure to keep both sabers topped off.  What I mean by this is that at least one of the sabers is typically plugged in all the time; Every couple days, I move the cord from one to the other. 

Lithium-ion batteries don’t like to be run down to “fully dead” like you used to need to do with Nickel-Cadmium batteries.  It’s not good for their long-term health, and every time you do that (or allow it to happen), you run the risk of the battery STAYING dead, forever.  From your brief description, I can’t tell if this might be your issue or not, but I thought I’d mention it, just in case.

[Jetmech]

I was able to use the "9 volt battery shock method" described in the first post to revive all but two of the batteries back to life. The two that are "dead" dead were in a lightsaber I just got recently and it was "dead on arrival". It was kind of a bummer because I was recording it on an unboxing video. The big moment came to turn on the saber and see what color the blade was, and.......nothing. Oh well.....

I AM glad I got the XTAR 8 port quick charger with separate LED readouts for each port. It's designed so you can leave the batteries in the charger and use a trickle charge to keep them "topped off".

[Niteshot]

Hi everyone I recently got my ultrasaber and I must now charge the batteries. I opened up the bottom and got the battery pack, I just cant seem to get the batteries out of the pack. Does anyone have any tips?

[Darth Logos]

Hi everyone I recently got my ultrasaber and I must now charge the batteries. I opened up the bottom and got the battery pack, I just cant seem to get the batteries out of the pack. Does anyone have any tips?

The batteries can be taxing to get out at times, but that's also a good thing as they won't easily pop out during combat. When I run into this issue, I usually just use the blade screw wrench to pop lever them out from the non-spring side.

[Niteshot]

The batteries can be taxing to get out at times, but that's also a good thing as they won't easily pop out during combat. When I run into this issue, I usually just use the blade screw wrench to pop lever them out from the non-spring side.

It worked! thanks so much for this!

[Darth Logos]

WOO! I'm 2 for 2 this week.

[firehand10k]

The batteries can be taxing to get out at times, but that's also a good thing as they won't easily pop out during combat. When I run into this issue, I usually just use the blade screw wrench to pop lever them out from the non-spring side.

This usually will work but it is always better to use something non-metallic. Guitar picks, plastic flatware, or even Lego separator tools are better choices in the long run. And will get the same results.

[For Tyeth]

Hi everyone I recently got my ultrasaber and I must now charge the batteries. I opened up the bottom and got the battery pack, I just cant seem to get the batteries out of the pack. Does anyone have any tips?

It sounds as if you have managed to remove your batteries which is good news. I have a tip for you to help you out in future...
Before you re-insert your batteries get a 1.5 to 2inch strip of electical tape and fold it around the battery, lining up the two ends and pinch it flat around the cell to form a tab which you can grab to pull the battery free. You can also do this with a similar strip of ribbon and just glue the ends together to form the same sort of tab (this way you can slide the "pull tab" off a dead battery if you need to replace it and slide it onto a new battery).

It's an old musician's trick we use on guitar foot pedals, effects boxes and radio mics!

[Darth Logos]

It sounds as if you have managed to remove your batteries which is good news. I have a tip for you to help you out in future...
Before you re-insert your batteries get a 1.5 to 2inch strip of electical tape and fold it around the battery, lining up the two ends and pinch it flat around the cell to form a tab which you can grab to pull the battery free. You can also do this with a similar strip of ribbon and just glue the ends together to form the same sort of tab (this way you can slide the "pull tab" off a dead battery if you need to replace it and slide it onto a new battery).

It's an old musician's trick we use on guitar foot pedals, effects boxes and radio mics!

Great idea.

[Vdubbinmke]

So I just got a neopixel saber with obisdian v4 sound. I got the li lion eizfan 18650 3500mah with the xtar vc2 charger.  Charged the battery to full, used the saber for about 15min, full brightness and sound, then put the saber down for the night. Went to grab it in the morning and battery was fully drained. Is this normal? 15min use and the battery was dead overnight?  If so im about to send back and get that charge port install I may should have gotten

[Darth Logos]

Did you get an illuminated switch?