A-grade 304 Eve cells - fake, or real? What to expect?

[wfdTamar]

Hi. First post. I bought 4x304Ah cells from a seller on Australian Ebay for A$1079 (US$685). The red is the sale info:

Title - EVE 12V 304ah Lifepo4 Lithium iron Battery Solar cell grade A Phosphate

Text from the description:
Lifepo4 Lithium iron Battery Electric Vehicle 300AH 3.2V solar cells NEW 12V Phosphate cells.

Brand: EVE
5,000 cycle life

Size: 12V/12.8V 304AH .
Grade:A 100% new.
PC: 4 cells / 1 set 12V 304ah.
Each cell is 3.2V.

Delivered in a carton with no labelling stating that they were lithium. No paperwork with specs. Just the cells, bars & nuts.

According to the QR codes 3 cells have the same production date (4 months ago), 1 is a month earlier. All have exactly the same 972.8Wh Energy (is that suspicious, or is it worked out based on theoretical capacity?).

All are close to 3.29 volts. 2 cells have nice flat or slightly concave sides, but 2 have bulging as shown in the photo on both sides. They have octagonal terminal bases that I've never seen on any photo's of Eve cells.

Is the bulging within ok limits, or bad? Is it 'A-grade'? Are those octagonal terminals genuine Eve, or just some generic brand?

Anyone know of sites that have information backing this up?

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Hi. First post. I bought 4x304Ah cells from a seller on Australian Ebay for A$1079 (US$685). The red is the sale info:

Title - EVE 12V 304ah Lifepo4 Lithium iron Battery Solar cell grade A Phosphate

Text from the description:
Lifepo4 Lithium iron Battery Electric Vehicle 300AH 3.2V solar cells NEW 12V Phosphate cells.

Brand: EVE
5,000 cycle life

Size: 12V/12.8V 304AH .
Grade:A 100% new.
PC: 4 cells / 1 set 12V 304ah.
Each cell is 3.2V.

No such thing as "A" grade. They are either EV grade, or they are something less.

Delivered in a carton with no labelling stating that they were lithium. No paperwork with specs. Just the cells, bars & nuts.

That's how they avoid paying proper taxes/fees and complying with international hazmat shipping requirements.

According to the QR codes 3 cells have the same production date (4 months ago), 1 is a month earlier. All have exactly the same 972.8Wh Energy (is that suspicious, or is it worked out based on theoretical capacity?).

That's a rating: 304Ah * 3.2V = 972.8Wh

All are close to 3.29 volts. 2 cells have nice flat or slightly concave sides, but 2 have bulging as shown in the photo on both sides. They have octagonal terminal bases that I've never seen on any photo's of Eve cells.

Is the bulging within ok limits, or bad?

That's not bulging. That's just waviness. Never seen one without at least a little.

Is it 'A-grade'?

See above.

Are those octagonal terminals genuine Eve, or just some generic brand?

No idea.

Anyone know of sites that have information backing this up?

 

[wfdTamar]

The carton labelling - They were shipped within Australia, so it's more about warning the couriers what they're carrying. I think lithium has to be labelled. (but they may also have come from China like that to the seller for the tax reasons you mention)

Thanks. Reassuring about the waviness. Just hadn't seen it in YouTube when they talk of 'good' cells.

 

[wfdTamar]

That black stuck on top - if you peel it back to look for other QR codes, does it stick back on and look ok and untouched (if I need to return them)?

 

[sunshine_eggo]

That black stuck on top - if you peel it back to look for other QR codes, does it stick back on and look ok and untouched (if I need to return them)?

Hit and miss. almost 100% certainty you'll find an alternate QR code and/or evidence that the area under/around the visible QR code has been buffed/sanded.

 

[wfdTamar]

So what to do? They may be ok, but it's pretty sure they're not what were advertised (they'd have cost more). If they were open about what they are you wouldn't mind, though you can get generic versions off Aliexpress for 2/3rds that cost.

I have a cell tester coming so maybe wait to see what capacity they have. Decide then wether to return (if nowhere near capacity), or a partial refund if they're ok.

Just heard from Andy from Off Grid Solar on YouTube - he says the octagonal terminal base is the latest v.3 of the Eve 304Ah. That's good so I'll see what happens when I test them.

 

[Alkaline]

Here is how you can find out:

LF280K EVE cells FAKE Grade A cells !

Hi everyone, I just received a batch of 280Ah cells The seller assures me that these are grade A, tested at 306Ah, EVE LF280K new version, but... Here's what I discovered! Your opinion ?

diysolarforum.com

but you have to remove the black cover and clean with rubbing alcohol to see.

Others:

EVE 280K LiFePO4 Cells from QSO/Shenzhen Qishou Technology

... Woooosahhhhhh. My Apologizes, I did not read that, Nightguest I'll await your posting of the qr code.

diysolarforum.com

Docan Power bad experience, beware.

Hello! Having read here on this forum a lot of positive feedback about Docan Power decided to buy from them on Alibaba. Ordered 84pcs of Eve LF280K cells from Docan in January. Sales rep was Jenny Wu. Cells were sold as "brand new Grade A". I paid almost USD12K for them, USD141 per cell...

diysolarforum.com

Cell ordering journey

Just placed my order and wanted to document it to potentially help any others looking to order in the future. I ordered from Minji Guan who works for Dongguan Billion Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. My order was 16 310 cells with 2 8s150a daly bms with bluetooth. The total total including...

diysolarforum.com

there are more, but bottom line if you don't' get a manufacturer report... its probably grade B.

 

[Brett V]

You already bought them. Top balance them, build a pack, and quit worrying.

 

[Alkaline]

This is true, either do your research before you buy or if you chose not to then don't cry later. Best you can do is use them.

 

[wfdTamar]

I did do some research pre purchase. I may be new to this field, but been internet buying since the '90's. It's just now I have the product I wanted to be sure I had what was listed. It's worth finding out as I could return them if they're not ok. As it is, subject to testing (just got the tester today) and maybe looking under the black top, it looks like they're ok (just not Grade A). If they're Eve, test ok and don't have scratched out QR codes under the sticker, I'll be happy.

 

[wfdTamar]

Peeled a top label off enough to look at the QR area. All I've done is clean a thin layer of adhesive off around the QR.

 

[Alkaline]

Clean all the way to the edges only when you compare can you tell. They look ok so maybe you got grade A. Get some rubbing alcohol it takes a while.

 

[newbostonconst]

Just do an output test (4 cells is easy to do). Cells degrade on a predictable curve....Does anything else really matter?

 

[Brett V]

Peeled a top label off enough to look at the QR area. All I've done is clean a thin layer of adhesive off around the QR.

You do realize by doing this, you've probably abandoned your opportunity to return them...

 

[EastFalcon]

Peeled a top label off enough to look at the QR area. All I've done is clean a thin layer of adhesive off around the QR.

They look fine to me. Did you ask the seller to give you a test report?

 

[featherlite]

You do realize by doing this, you've probably abandoned your opportunity to return them...

????

 

[wfdTamar]

The top label stuck back down fine. No didn't ask for a test report (which wouldn't been a bad idea).

 

[Alkaline]

Does anyone know if the LF304 has switched to hexagon terminals like the new 280K V3?

If the LF304 has not then you may have gotten LF280K with re-lasered QR code to look like a 304.

I'm emailing EVE. On a side note Lampard Lee is no longer with the EVE so I sent an email to Meteor Ye & Doris Lui to see what they say.

wfdTamar you'll need to clean the terminal all the way if you want to be sure, if you don't that's fine, but without test report Its not looking good, especially if EVE is still making the 304 with round terminals.

 

[Alkaline]

wfdTamar,

I have some bad news for you, EVE 304 is still using a round terminal, not hexagon.

Meteor Yi, has said the LF306K will have a hexagon terminal but these cells have not yet been released.

I suspect these are LF280K V3 Grade B cells that have a counterfeit QR code to appear as grade A LF304

 

[augiedoggy]

According to pics on the 18650 store theres both round like pictured here and the hexagon cells out there..

 

[Alkaline]

Capacity does not matter, cells staying balance matters far more, not having to break apart your pack and bringing them back up matters. Having cells that aren't runners and dippers far more.

I'll trade capacity to cells working in unison any day of the week. Having built both grade A and B, I know B requires extra care, balancers and will still require the potential to replace 1-2 cells to get the pack working optimally.

You can reduce a lot of these issues with an active balancer and routinely charging to 100%.

Capacity can give you a false sense of quality, because you are judging each cell on its own and not how its going to work in a pack with other cells.

 

[Alkaline]

According to pics on the 18650 store theres both round like pictured here and the hexagon cells out there..

LF304 and LF280K v1/V2 have round terminals
LF280k v3 has hexagon terminals
LF306K (unreleased) will have hexagon terminals
LF560K (unreleased) will have hexagon terminals

No LF304 has had hexagon terminals.

 

[wfdTamar]

I don’t see any cells with octagonal terminal bases on the 18650 store. (ah, I wasn't seeing under the welded on posts).

What is your source for that (previous post) info Alkaline?

There was the K in marker pen under the top label.

 

[hwy17]

I don’t see any cells with octagonal terminal bases on the 18650 store.

It's this listing:

PRESALE (Version 3) - EVE LF280K Grade A Cells - LiFePO4 Battery

*NOTE*This is a special presale price. Product expected to ship ~NOV 20, 2023 from our warehouse in Atlanta, GA. Now with 8,000 cycle life and testing much higher than 280Ah, most all test above 300Ah. Cells include the double hole terminal block welded factory direct by EVE and Flexible...

www.18650batterystore.com

 

[Alkaline]

https://www.18650batterystore.com/cdn/shop/files/image_2023_09_25T08_01_31_868Z_700x.png?v=1695629686

Only 280K V3 has octagon terminals.


Grade B 280K V3 tests so high that scammers inevitably are re-lasering them as 304, we suspect this would happen and now it has.

You can contact EVE yourself on Alibaba:

Company Overview - Eve Power Co., Ltd.

Eve Power Co., Ltd. Products:Lithium Ion Batteries

evebatteryhb.en.alibaba.com

Shot of our convo.


NOW GET TO CLEANING that terminal it will take a while, go slow and wipe away. Once you do then you tell the Australian vendor you want 50% of your money back.