Buyer Beware Sony VTC4 and VTC5 - w/ Status Updates

[lordmage]

There are legit VTC4's on the market. VTC5's, not so much. Those are fakes.
a legit VTC4 will not have a shiny wrapper it will be dull something akin to

might even have a white tag on it will not have a shiny sticker.

Sony has stopped production a while back on the VTC4 not to say you wont be able to find legit v4.

The Sony VTC5 on the market today are surely mislabeled or false.

"The 18650 (VTC5) type batteries are no longer manufactured by Sony." quote from

How do I spot a fake VTC5?
Just take a look at a calendar. At the time of writing this post, December, 2014, Sony does not manufacture the VTC5.

Should you buy Sony VTC5s?
No, definitely not. You will likely receive a dangerous, low-quality cell, hidden under a fake shrink-tube wrapper.

To confirm for yourself, email [email protected] and ask "Is my Sony VTC5s real?"
What is a good alternative to the VTC5?
The Samsung 25R is the best alternative to it.

Edit: as of 3/8/2016 Sony has officially distanced themselves. Ie use at your own risk. I will unlock this thread for the purpose of Talks on the newer possible legit VTC4 and VTC5.

 

[lordmage]

Reserved

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

Thanks for opening up the thread. At the time it was posted there were indeed no VTC5's on the market but nowadays there definitely are. VTC4 as well. We audit our own stock and we did a post with more info, you can find it here: Tests on authentic VTC5

 

[r055co]

Thanks for opening up the thread. At the time it was posted there were indeed no VTC5's on the market but nowadays there definitely are. VTC4 as well. We audit our own stock and we did a post with more info, you can find it here: Tests on authentic VTC5

You guys at Liion Wholesale are my trusted source for authentic batteries!

Keep up the good work.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Oracle]

It is really a useful news. As you said, are all of Sony VTC5 false or mislabeled? Maybe i would like to choose the others.

 

[Zamazam]

The VTC5 is a 20 amp continuous drain rated battery. Use the Samsung 25R instead and you will be fine.

 

[r055co]

It is really a useful news. As you said, are all of Sony VTC5 false or mislabeled? Maybe i would like to choose the others.

Outdated news, no longer applicable. Read the response and the link posted by Liion Wholesale

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[r055co]

The VTC5 is a 20 amp continuous drain rated battery. Use the Samsung 25R instead and you will be fine.

They'll be fine buying Vtc5's from reputable sources also

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[szymon]

Hello,

I bought some VTC5's from an Amazon.co.uk seller SmashingDealsDirect, and looking around on the internet they appeared to be fakes. Looking at the "older" threads (SunVapers etc) they do look like "old fakes". They also came with stickers covering the actual printed battery information, which seems odd to me (why would you choose to cover that if up they are originals?). However this thread (and the link from liionwholesale) appears to indicate that they might be the new type of originals.

I've attached some photos of the new batteries -- could someone give an opinion as to whether they might be the "new" originals?

Many thanks,

-simon

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

Hello,

I bought some VTC5's from an Amazon.co.uk seller SmashingDealsDirect, and looking around on the internet they appeared to be fakes. Looking at the "older" threads (SunVapers etc) they do look like "old fakes". They also came with stickers covering the actual printed battery information, which seems odd to me (why would you choose to cover that if up they are originals?). However this thread (and the link from liionwholesale) appears to indicate that they might be the new type of originals.

I've attached some photos of the new batteries -- could someone give an opinion as to whether they might be the "new" originals?

Many thanks,

-simon

The sticker is commonly used if they're getting them shipped in by air from Asia to meet shipping regulations. Covering the information is standard practice because it makes it less likely to get held up by confused people checking shipments and reading the wrong information, or confused people in customs thinking it's something it's not. It's impossible to say by appearance alone whether sony batteries are genuine since there are some good fakes out there but I don't see anything there that marks it as fake so it's probably genuine.

 

[szymon]

Ok that's great to hear, thank you Jon. I did raise a return with the seller and have asked for some evidence that they are genuine, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now and charge them up.

 

[r055co]

Hello,

I bought some VTC5's from an Amazon.co.uk seller SmashingDealsDirect, and looking around on the internet they appeared to be fakes. Looking at the "older" threads (SunVapers etc) they do look like "old fakes". They also came with stickers covering the actual printed battery information, which seems odd to me (why would you choose to cover that if up they are originals?). However this thread (and the link from liionwholesale) appears to indicate that they might be the new type of originals.

I've attached some photos of the new batteries -- could someone give an opinion as to whether they might be the "new" originals?

Many thanks,

-simon

That's you should NEVER buy batteries from Amazon or eBay, fakes are common. Only get your batteries from reputable sources.

I get mine from Liion Wholesale, I've also heard good things about IMRBatteries.com.

 

[r055co]

The sticker is commonly used if they're getting them shipped in by air from Asia to meet shipping regulations. Covering the information is standard practice because it makes it less likely to get held up by confused people checking shipments and reading the wrong information, or confused people in customs thinking it's something it's not. It's impossible to say by appearance alone whether sony batteries are genuine since there are some good fakes out there but I don't see anything there that marks it as fake so it's probably genuine.

You've been my source of batteries for a while now, I've been very happy with you guy's.

 

[teeroy]

The sticker is commonly used if they're getting them shipped in by air from Asia to meet shipping regulations. Covering the information is standard practice because it makes it less likely to get held up by confused people checking shipments and reading the wrong information, or confused people in customs thinking it's something it's not. It's impossible to say by appearance alone whether sony batteries are genuine since there are some good fakes out there but I don't see anything there that marks it as fake so it's probably genuine.

hI Jon, are there any issues if I'm ordering from your site and having VTC4 batteries shipped to Alberta Canada?

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

hI Jon, are there any issues if I'm ordering from your site and having VTC4 batteries shipped to Alberta Canada?

Nope, no issues.

 

[teeroy]

Nope, no issues.

thank you. can I ask a bit of advice on battery selection from you sir?

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

thank you. can I ask a bit of advice on battery selection from you sir?

Ask away but you might want to use private messages.

 

[teeroy]

Ask away but you might want to use private messages.

ok. I will shoot you a pm. thanks

 

[szymon]

That's you should NEVER buy batteries from Amazon or eBay, fakes are common. Only get your batteries from reputable sources.

I get mine from Liion Wholesale, I've also heard good things about IMRBatteries.com.

That's all well and good for Americans with lots of choice -- it's much harder to find a trustworthy supplier of original batteries in the UK.

 

[r055co]

That's all well and good for Americans with lots of choice -- it's much harder to find a trustworthy supplier of original batteries in the UK.

I'm sure you can find one across the pond, check with Liion Wholesale I'm pretty sure they can ship to you. I myself get items from Europe, just takes a bit longer to ship.

Edit:

Yes they do ship International
http://liionwholesale.com/pages/liion-wholesale-faq

Google is a wonderful tool

 

[szymon]

Ordering from America is very much a last resort over here. Not only is shipping very expensive (it didn't used to be, but in recent years it's grown such that for a couple of batteries shipping to the UK can be twice as much as the order cost), you also end up paying import duty, which incurs handling charges from the UK government. A $20 order can turn into £50 without much difficulty!

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

Unfortunately batteries are a different world than other stuff, especially now that new regulations went into effect, since they're not allowed on most planes and have to be shipped as hazardous goods. We do have quite a few shops ordering batteries from us in the UK, and it can be pretty well priced for them since they're ordering in bulk and in some cases can ship direct from Asia, but small orders are just not feasible. You're looking at something like $60 in shipping for under 8 batteries. And that's with our massively discounted UPS rates! It's dumb but it's the way it is.

 

[vap3r]

Why not ship USPS Priority Mail International (Large Video) for $35 USD? Tracking and insured up to $100 USD with lower commercial rates than UPS.

 

[szymon]

Unfortunately batteries are a different world than other stuff, especially now that new regulations went into effect, since they're not allowed on most planes and have to be shipped as hazardous goods. We do have quite a few shops ordering batteries from us in the UK, and it can be pretty well priced for them since they're ordering in bulk and in some cases can ship direct from Asia, but small orders are just not feasible. You're looking at something like $60 in shipping for under 8 batteries. And that's with our massively discounted UPS rates! It's dumb but it's the way it is.

Do you perhaps have a list of UK shops that order from you? That would be very useful, if I know that their source is good then I can buy from them in confidence!

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

Why not ship USPS Priority Mail International (Large Video) for $35 USD? Tracking and insured up to $100 USD with lower commercial rates than UPS.

Because it's illegal, unfortunately. http://blog.stamps.com/2015/02/26/new-usps-mailing-standards-for-lithium-batteries/

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

Do you perhaps have a list of UK shops that order from you? That would be very useful, if I know that their source is good then I can buy from them in confidence!

Off the top of my head, try contacting these guys:
vapourway.org.uk
bomb-juice.uk

 

[vap3r]

Because it's illegal, unfortunately.

Interesting...I did not know that .

 

[szymon]

Off the top of my head, try contacting these guys:
vapourway.org.uk
bomb-juice.uk

Unfortunately neither of those seem to sell batteries!

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

Unfortunately neither of those seem to sell batteries!

I would actually contact them, they definitely do sell batteries.

 

[szymon]

Ok, I shall do!

I don't suppose "Apex Euro Limited" in Temple Drive, Blackburn UK are one of your customers are they?

 

[szymon]

Also hmm...decoding the numbers on my batteries, they are somewhat different in format to the ones listed in your article (http://liionwholesale.com/blogs/rev...d-proof-we-sell-authentic-sony-vtc5-batteries). Mine are:

SE US18650VTC5 C5
G 1798761XK02S

and

SE US18650VTC5 C5
G 0651764XK02S

The first line has an extra C5, which on your example is on the second line after the plant code, and the three digit REL code has turned into a seven digit number -- perhaps a serial number.

Do you know if newer original batteries (the date code from these ones is 02/11/2015, decoded from your article) have this kind of slightly different format to their serial numbers?

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

Also hmm...decoding the numbers on my batteries, they are somewhat different in format to the ones listed in your article (http://liionwholesale.com/blogs/rev...d-proof-we-sell-authentic-sony-vtc5-batteries). Mine are:

SE US18650VTC5 C5
G 1798761XK02S

and

SE US18650VTC5 C5
G 0651764XK02S

The first line has an extra C5, which on your example is on the second line after the plant code, and the three digit REL code has turned into a seven digit number -- perhaps a serial number.

Do you know if newer original batteries (the date code from these ones is 02/11/2015, decoded from your article) have this kind of slightly different format to their serial numbers?

Good catch. Yes they have changed the specification, our newest ones are also that format, I'll see if I can get the newest spec.

Ok, I shall do!

I don't suppose "Apex Euro Limited" in Temple Drive, Blackburn UK are one of your customers are they?

No unfortunately.

 

[szymon]

So, based on the article and discussions here, I charged the batteries up overnight. I have to say I'm impressed. The performance is significantly better than my LG HG2's.

I vape on an Aspire Pegasus with Aspire Triton (the Odyssey kit), using 0.5ohm clapton cells. I usually vape them at 35-40 watts. With the HG2's, the point at which my battery icon on the pegasus starts to flash is significantly earlier than with the new batteries. This is not a scientific test, but it's very clearly superior

So I am going to keep the batteries; I believe that they are original and they work well, so all is good.

Thank you for all of your help Jon!

 

[Jon@LiionWholesale]

So, based on the article and discussions here, I charged the batteries up overnight. I have to say I'm impressed. The performance is significantly better than my LG HG2's.

I vape on an Aspire Pegasus with Aspire Triton (the Odyssey kit), using 0.5ohm clapton cells. I usually vape them at 35-40 watts. With the HG2's, the point at which my battery icon on the pegasus starts to flash is significantly earlier than with the new batteries. This is not a scientific test, but it's very clearly superior

So I am going to keep the batteries; I believe that they are original and they work well, so all is good.

Thank you for all of your help Jon!

That seems weird. At that low watts I would think the HG2 would be at least a little better. I should tell you that the most highly counterfeited battery out there right now is the HG2.....so it's quite possible your HG2's aren't real but the Sony's are. How's that for irony...

 

[szymon]

Wierd. The HG2's were bought from the official LGChem representative here in the UK. Maybe I need to test them more thoroughly, but it would be ironic indeed if they were the fakes!

 

[r055co]

Ordering from America is very much a last resort over here. Not only is shipping very expensive (it didn't used to be, but in recent years it's grown such that for a couple of batteries shipping to the UK can be twice as much as the order cost), you also end up paying import duty, which incurs handling charges from the UK government. A $20 order can turn into £50 without much difficulty!

Well that really sucks.....

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[vap3r]

The HG2's were bought from the official LGChem representative here in the UK.

That may be a red flag right there. I don't believe LG Chem would sell you loose cells directly...

 

[kbooth2112]

what do u guys think of the batteryjunction.com vtc4s? i cant figure out how to attach an image to this post.

 

[jamezcua12]

That may be a red flag right there. I don't believe LG Chem would sell you loose cells directly...

What are the Lowest ohms I could run these batters at 3000mah 3.7v brown ones running on a 3 cell rx200

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

 

[nightshard]

What are the Lowest ohms I could run these batters at 3000mah 3.7v brown ones running on a 3 cell rx200

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Why take a 6 month old thread and insert a non related question into it??
Open a new thread and ask your question there.

 

[Sporkdroid]

In need of batteries/charger for my Asmodus Minikin 2, Is this site legit? and for a charger should I get a Nitecore SC2? Thanks for any help.
http://www.sourcemore.com/sony-vtc5-18650-rechargeable-flat-top-battery-2600mah-3-7v-30amp.html

 

[PhantomOp]

In need of batteries/charger for my Asmodus Minikin 2, Is this site legit? and for a charger should I get a Nitecore SC2? Thanks for any help.
http://www.sourcemore.com/sony-vtc5-18650-rechargeable-flat-top-battery-2600mah-3-7v-30amp.html

Older post reply ---
I personally would not purchase any batteries from any Chinese warehouses.
Stick with the known authentic vendors only.

Good Battery Vendors: liionwholesale.com | imrbatteries.com | illumn.com |

 

[Sporkdroid]

Older post reply ---
I personally would not purchase any batteries from any Chinese warehouses.
Stick with the known authentic vendors only.

Good Battery Vendors: liionwholesale.com | imrbatteries.com | illumn.com |

Thanks, I found best prices from Liionwholesale and have placed two different orders, both were delivered in under 3 days. I tried to buy from the local imr batteries (they are less than 1/2 mile off my daily commute path) and pick up from store front, but they only open their storefront for wholesale customers; so they equated to; higher price, +taxes +high shipping; I order from Pennsylvania.

 

[nicounderground]

You guys at Liion Wholesale are my trusted source for authentic batteries!

Keep up the good work.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Me too! Love you guys ! Just helped me out a lot ! Thanks to this site for finding them too

 

[falcor]

What about VTC5a batteries? Same thing? I bought a pair from a very reputable company (Kidney Puncher) and they looked real.

Should I suspect they are fake and stick with Samsung 25rs?

 

[nicounderground]

What about VTC5a batteries? Same thing? I bought a pair from a very reputable company (Kidney Puncher) and they looked real.

Should I suspect they are fake and stick with Samsung 25rs?

They updated this ... also to be safe always buy from http://liionwholesale.com/ they also back their batteries and test them ! They're the only place I buy from read the thread it's been updated personally I like the Sony VTC5a I get from http://liionwholesale.com/

They had a killer contest too! I won $50.00 from their site ! They rock !

 

[bluedodger]

There are legit VTC4's on the market. VTC5's, not so much. Those are fakes.
a legit VTC4 will not have a shiny wrapper it will be dull something akin to

might even have a white tag on it will not have a shiny sticker.

Sony has stopped production a while back on the VTC4 not to say you wont be able to find legit v4.

The Sony VTC5 on the market today are surely mislabeled or false.

"The 18650 (VTC5) type batteries are no longer manufactured by Sony." quote from

How do I spot a fake VTC5?
Just take a look at a calendar. At the time of writing this post, December, 2014, Sony does not manufacture the VTC5.

Should you buy Sony VTC5s?
No, definitely not. You will likely receive a dangerous, low-quality cell, hidden under a fake shrink-tube wrapper.

To confirm for yourself, email [email protected] and ask "Is my Sony VTC5s real?"
What is a good alternative to the VTC5?
The Samsung 25R is the best alternative to it.

Edit: as of 3/8/2016 Sony has officially distanced themselves. Ie use at your own risk. I will unlock this thread for the purpose of Talks on the newer possible legit VTC4 and VTC5.

Thank you very much for this.

 

[Tanker]

What about VTC5a batteries? Same thing? I bought a pair from a very reputable company (Kidney Puncher) and they looked real.

Should I suspect they are fake and stick with Samsung 25rs?

I recently bought VTC5A s from Orbtronics. They are real and they Kick Ass. I’ve been buying from Orbtronics for a couple of years now and everything I buy from them is legit. I rewrap a lot of batteries from them because I like pretty colors it helps me keep my batteries separated for specific mods. I’ve never come across a fake yet.

 

[r055co]

What about VTC5a batteries? Same thing? I bought a pair from a very reputable company (Kidney Puncher) and they looked real.

Should I suspect they are fake and stick with Samsung 25rs?

Kidney Puncher is a top notch site, no need to worry

 

[Tanker]

Kidney Puncher is a top notch site, no need to worry

I buy lots of wire from Kidney Puncher, and I agree that they are “Top Notch”, however Orbtronics only does batteries. I paid $5.99ea for my VTC5A, LGHG2, and VTC6 batteries and they come with a case per pair.