I'm doing my part by repurposing 18650 batteries from broken laptop batteries into bright LED torchlights. it's hard to believe that 18650 batteries from 2008 laptop can still power up a flashlight in medium brightness for over 2 hours.
I've thrown out many emergency lamps and bulb torchlights which use 12V VRLA batteries, D batteries etc because when it's time to replace the batteries, I quickly realized that using 18650 batteries are the logical choice.
since the newer laptops no longer use 18650 cells, I have to get my 18650 from something else. over the last 5 years I only purchased powerbanks which uses 18650 cells so that I know for sure I can repurpose the cells for more torchlights. I mean a 4-yo powerbank usually could still work but it lacks quick-charge or type-C input. or sometimes the usb port is loose. time to break the plastic and repurpose all 6 cells.
it'll be interesting to see if someone found a way to mass-repurpose a portion of 18650 cells from retired electric cars. who knows if that'll have a slight effect in driving down the price of new lithium batteries. I personally would still trust a Samsung, LG or Sanyo cells coming from 3-yo laptop than a new cheap 18650 cell from China.
I've thrown out many emergency lamps and bulb torchlights which use 12V VRLA batteries, D batteries etc because when it's time to replace the batteries, I quickly realized that using 18650 batteries are the logical choice.
since the newer laptops no longer use 18650 cells, I have to get my 18650 from something else. over the last 5 years I only purchased powerbanks which uses 18650 cells so that I know for sure I can repurpose the cells for more torchlights. I mean a 4-yo powerbank usually could still work but it lacks quick-charge or type-C input. or sometimes the usb port is loose. time to break the plastic and repurpose all 6 cells.
it'll be interesting to see if someone found a way to mass-repurpose a portion of 18650 cells from retired electric cars. who knows if that'll have a slight effect in driving down the price of new lithium batteries. I personally would still trust a Samsung, LG or Sanyo cells coming from 3-yo laptop than a new cheap 18650 cell from China.
