Are these cells genuine or is the wrapper a clue?

[matthewslack]

Is the misaligned printing normal, or a sign of not really Samsung cells?

What are the giveaway signs of counterfeit cells?

 

[Stanebike]

Good afternoon.
Sorry I known next to nothing about ebike battery cells so can't answer your question. I was just wondering though, if the cells are are placed nose to tail (+ve to -ve ) to add up to 36V then alternative cells would be the opposite way around. Might that explain their writing being on different sides and alternate rows being upside down? I'm curious to see what those knowledgeable have to say.

 

[wheeliepete]

The printing is misaligned because as Stanbike suggests the cells are in alternating rows. The printing looks OK to me, but I'm no expert on fake cells. Sometimes the insulators can be the wrong colour and the legs on the + cap can differ from genuine. You should be able to find more info on the net, Google "fake 25r cells". Is that one of the packs being sold on Ebay?

 

[matthewslack]

I don't know the answer, I'm curious as some cells I bought 10 years ago for torches have consistent placement of the printing, and reports of fake cells are common these days.

 

[wheeliepete]

I just explained why the print is misaligned. Fake cells will show their true colours under testing, but this is not so easy with an assembled pack.

 

[matthewslack]

I just explained why the print is misaligned. Fake cells will show their true colours under testing, but this is not so easy with an assembled pack.

I understand the reverse aspect, but looking closely at the characters at the edge of the the black cell holder, they don't line up. That's the imprecision that suggests fakery to me, as my older batteries are printed precisely.

It's like mine were printed after the sleeve is fitted, and the others have a pre printed sleeve. But as I say, I don't know!

 

[wheeliepete]

Just run it and see how it performs. Unless you are pulling over 25 amps from it, you prob. won't know the difference. Most chinese cells are around 2500mAh unless they are Surefires.

 

[Nealh]

The printing looks fine, the cells are in series so are top and tailed hence some have writing alternately.

Genuine Sam 25R

 

[Nealh]

A clear pic pic of the can pos end is needed to check for any oddities.