Cheap A123's?

[woody]

Link found on RFL forum.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... duct=16575

OlevinPower 2300Ah, 3.3v Lithium Ion Single Cell. Ideal for custom battery packs or other applications where high discharge rates are required. OlevinPower provide genuine Enerland Lithium Ion~A123 Cells.

Spec:
Nominal Voltage: 3.3v
Nominal Capacity: 2.3A
Standard Charge: 3.6A
Max Charge: 10A
Max Allowable Charge Voltage: 4.2v
Max Discharge: 30A (Continuous)
Burst Discharge: 60A
Weight: 70g
Dimensions: 66.5mm x 26mm

Note: This is a genuine A123 cell.


PRICE $7.99



I have NO idea if they're any good or if any of the blurbs or specs are correct....but there is evidence that the specs above are a typo and the Discharge spec A is supposed to be C .



The wrapper on the cell in the pic says 30C Continuous 60C Burst





A posting under Reviews also says..


Webmaster, please fix description. Should say: Max Discharge 30C (69A), Burst Discharge 60C (138A), Charge at 10C (23A) (safely charges in 10 - 15 minutes, if your charger is capable of this many amps)




Quote from RCGroups Forum...

E mail notification received this morning from HK.

Korean A123 Cells, at a new low price.

Now everyone can afford A123 technology
A123 have released a new brand of their famous 26550 cell. The new brand 'Olevin Power' has a lower price yet delivers the same punch and robust design as the A123 branded cells.
A123's are fantastic for high stress applications. Charging at 10C while the battery is still hot is totally acceptable for these amazing batteries.
Don't be fooled by Chinese copies, A123 cells cannot be matched.
Get your Olevin Power A123 cells today, while stocks last.




A liitle more info that perhaps supports the new brand name.

http://www.a123systems.com/a123racing.htm



Effective January 24th 2011, A123 Systems€™ subsidiary, Enerland, no longer manufactures or sells RC products.

Products sold under the brand names A123Racing, Enerland and PolyQuest have been discontinued.

[kane]

I've just ordered some A123s from ebay so if anyone is interested let me know.

[terry]

how many packs in series / paralell did you decide on in the end ?

[kane]

I haven't decided on parallel but definately going 8S.

[terry]

I have uploaded my build pics onto toxic website, at their trial run at leicester they were perfect
they are 9 cell packs and i used 4 packs, in the pics the battery is 9 cells side by side to make
2 battery packs in 1 polycarbonate piece.
at the event I was using about 55% - 60% of the batterys, I could get away with 3 packs but will
leave 4 in as ive got loads of power spare now.
the pics ore here -

http://www.toxicrobot.co.uk