Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries?  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries?
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Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/19/2007 1:20:31 AM   
fugadude


 

Posts: 782
Joined: 9/11/2006
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		I suspect but do not have conclusive evidence that Tenergy (a brand of sub-c cells sold on ebay through allbattery.com) may be defrauding their customers by shipping mislabled batteries. These 3800mAh batteries may in reality be mislabled 3000mAh batteries. I would just like to know if anyone has taken time to prove these are in fact 3800 mAh batteries and not just 3000 mAh batteries which have been mislabled with the intention of defrauding people.

Thanks for your time.
       Post #: 1

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/19/2007 10:23:24 PM   
guver


 

Posts: 8542
Joined: 3/7/2003
From: LaGrange, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Never heard of that, but if someone sends me one I will test it on a CBA . The difference from a 3000 to a 3800 is substantial.

I hope your suspicions are wrong.

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RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/19/2007 11:38:52 PM   
Motions



Posts: 422
Joined: 10/30/2005
From: Tallahassee, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I purchased 3 different packs from them last year and wasn't happy with any of them. I charge them at .5C and they get really hot. They seem to hold a charge fairly well though.


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       Post #: 3

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/20/2007 9:51:03 PM   
fugadude


 

Posts: 782
Joined: 9/11/2006
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		guver would you mind testing one of my packs? They're absolutly brand new I've only used one of them. I'll send it to you and also pay for postage back. I too hope my suspicions are wrong, but having a proper test would be a good thing. I'll actually send you two packs so the test is somewhat more notable. I am not a battery expert. I think it would be a good idea to call Tenergy (who operates in California) I'll give you the number to discuss the methodology for the tests. I relayed this concern to them already and I think it would be fair to discharge/charge according to their specifications and instructions to properly assess the actual performance of the packs.

Thanks,
fugadude

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       Post #: 4

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/20/2007 11:40:48 PM   
guver


 

Posts: 8542
Joined: 3/7/2003
From: LaGrange, OH, USA
Status: offline 		My CBA will do 100 watts so to test a 6 cell pack it would be a max of 12-15 amps. If I am allowed to dissasemble the pack then I can test multiple cells (1-3 at a time) at perhaps 30-40 amps.

If it happens to be a stick pack I can test each side (3 cells) very easily.

Better yet, maybe instead of me testing your pack at 12-15 amps or taking your pack apart it would be far cheaper for me to buy some cells and then just keep them. It would also save you/me the shipping back and forth.

For test accuracy I can get a decent result on the capacity, and even though the drain says 38 amps and capacity says 3800 mah , I think that those are "generic" specs (10c) and the cells should not be expected to deliver 3800 mah AT 38 amps. There is standard test specs, I can look them up and they are probably closer to 3800 mah at less than 3.8 amps.

I can also compare and/or overlay graphs of other batts I've tested from the cheap generics to the gp 3800. I have a new gp 3800 stick pack for a direct comparison if you want to do the lower current test on the complete pack.

What do you think?

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RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/20/2007 11:44:14 PM   
guver


 

Posts: 8542
Joined: 3/7/2003
From: LaGrange, OH, USA
Status: offline 		In the meantime How about posting a link to these batts? It seems to be just a typical generic type cell. Similar to batterspace,BYD,and many other cardboard cells that are sold by many many companies. Maybe I'll be able to get 10-20 cells without tabs for a decent price?

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RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/21/2007 2:21:46 AM   
fugadude


 

Posts: 782
Joined: 9/11/2006
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Here is a link to where they are sold.

Tenergy/All-Battery.com 3800 mAh

Tenergy Sub-c 3800 mAh (Individual)

I don't think they'd be cheaper to just buy, than ship.

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       Post #: 7

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/21/2007 2:43:00 PM   
0ldSkulRC


 

Posts: 26
Joined: 12/14/2006
From: Maryville, TN, USA
Status: offline 		I'd like to find out as well. I had a pack, not the cells themselves, catch fire. The battery bar that was used in the end of the pack overheated and caught the end cap on fire.

(in reply to guver)
       Post #: 8

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/22/2007 10:31:11 PM   
guver


 

Posts: 8542
Joined: 3/7/2003
From: LaGrange, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Wow, those are expensive. Ok, that settles it for me. Since I am not interested in "owning" any of them , lets go for your original idea of shipping and see what you think of this. If you'd rather PM that's fine too.

Send me 1 stick pack and I'll test it at the highest current I can (my standard is 10 amps) and can overlay some of my graphs of various 6 cell batts. I can then test at my max current of about 15 amps.

I will then test each "stick" of 3 cells at the max current of about 30 (CBA max is 40 and I'll try to get to the 38 amps without breaking apart the cells anymore)

I won't break apart the cells that are all spot welded together, but will probably have to remove the shrink wrap and either solder to or just replace the bottom (end) battery thin strap with a regular battery bar.

If all the cells make it thru all the testing without getting hurt then when I get done I'll shrink wrap it with the heavy duty battery bar at the end and you may get back a better battery than you started with. It will have some heavy cycles on it, but hopefully will take it.

If this sounds good then please e-mail me and I'll send you my shipping address.

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RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/23/2007 12:14:00 AM   
guver


 

Posts: 8542
Joined: 3/7/2003
From: LaGrange, OH, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: 0ldSkulRC

I'd like to find out as well. I had a pack, not the cells themselves, catch fire. The battery bar that was used in the end of the pack overheated and caught the end cap on fire.



Maybe I should get this pack instead? It would get "repaired" for free.

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RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/23/2007 6:16:02 AM   
84moneypit


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: , UT, USA
Status: offline 		I just bought 2 of those packs from Ebay. Hope they are not junk.

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       Post #: 11

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/23/2007 6:33:43 AM   
Silentbob343


 

Posts: 667
Joined: 1/2/2005
From: Alpharetta, GA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: 84moneypit

I just bought 2 of those packs from Ebay. Hope they are not junk.

good luck, another member had their pack self destruct.

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       Post #: 12

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 3/23/2007 7:46:10 AM   
84moneypit


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: , UT, USA
Status: offline 		Crap

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       Post #: 13

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 5/16/2007 3:11:06 PM   
cubmaster


 

Posts: 525
Joined: 1/13/2005
From: Bottineau, ND, USA
Status: offline 		84moneypit, make sure you put a new bettery ber on the end and resolder the leads to the battery end. I'f you bought the hump pack like I did replace the leads going to the 7th cell with 12g wire.
My packs get warm/hot while charging and running but after doing the mods I'm OK with the performance

(in reply to 84moneypit)
       Post #: 14

RE: Has anyone thoroughly investigated Tenergy batteries? - 5/16/2007 11:07:36 PM   
tukkus


 

Posts: 910
Joined: 6/26/2004
From: salisbury, MA, USA
Status: offline 		I have 2 of the 3800 packs set up in series for my starter. When I originally charged them at 10/c it showed a peak charge of around 2800 for both packs, I then discharged them and charged again at a 20/c and got a charge around 3800-3900.... maybe they are initially being charged at too high of a rate and that's why people are having problems