How to tell a genuine Makita 18V Battery from a Fake.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2018
- Purchased two batteries through eBay at the same time, one from the USA the other China. I was quite sure the Chinese one had a high probability of being fake, but how to tell? Check the video and you will see what i found out.
Now you may say, but if it's a fake and its just like the real one, why not? If you do a bit of research, you will see that they don't last long at all on a charge or last at all in their overall life span, so it's important to not be duped and stick to the real one.
PS: I incorrectly say that the weight is in ounces, should be a pound plus so many ounces.
The irony for me. Bought 2 Chinese knock offs a few years back. Outlasted the real Makita. Some you win, some you lose
i bet the makita ones are still ok, maybe a single cell gone bad / lost voltage, more likely the heating alert tripped three times rendering the pcb inside useless. i hate makita for putting such a chip inside with no way to override it.
As long as the fake looks genuine a fake that is better than the real thing is actually beneficial to the company in the long run because although they lose out on that sale the people who have the better fake will tell their friends how good that particular brand is.
I bought 3 batteries of Amazon, sold by Amazon not third party.
After watching ur video I was convinced they were fake, they show all the signs you pointed out when compared to my known genuine ones (apart from the fully charged led thing). So to be sure I emailed pictures of them to makita. They confirmed that they actually are genuine. So I would not take this video as gospel. It's good as a guideline but makita are saying mine are genuine and it doesn't have the metal, it has the fancier codes. Makita may have changed their design slightly and mine look exactly like these fake ones on this video but they confirmed they're real. Hope this helps someone
Thanks for the input. I have not seen any genuine without the metal so far. Manufacturers do change specs so my video as you pointed out may not apply across the board.
I got a 2 pieces of 3amp battery bought direct from makita one without the metal in the heating port, so your testimonials is incorrect.
Straxx99 no hate but your comment is not clearly understandable. So many people are unable to write sentences that are more or less grammatically correct. Its not an issue for me if the thought is conveyed clearly but your comment could easily be interpreted a number of ways. Im interested in what point you were trying to get across.
I have a makita PDF with a picture of the serial code of one of their batteries, it has a newer label like mine, with a q code, and no metal or white visible from the vent. It also has tamper proof marks but on the opposite side. The power meters work. The packaging that they came in looked tampered with. This is why I was concerned.
I am from Australia, There are two variations, the stamped code is Made in Singapore and the one with the QR printed code is Made in Vietnam. The plastic and printed are slightly different. The stamped on has smoother skin plastic, and the QR code has a rougher skin. The reflection on the makita logo is slightly different colour. This the way the two manufacturer
Plants have setup, both battery are genuine. The metal part at the vent is not visible for the one with QR code, it doesn’t mean it has to be fake. So this video is not 100% accurate, it is only based on an individual trying to be the expert and spread the wrong information. The only way to convince someone if these are fake is to open it and check or contact Makita directly.
Thanks! I’d love to see you open that fake one up and see what cheap 18650 cells they used vs the real Samsung or Sony ones used in genuine Makita packs.
The colour and logo placement is the give away instantly
Very good tips. Nowadays i assume brand name items on Amazon FAKE until i prove otherwise. Just ordered x2 Makita batteries advertised as "new, open box". Great price. If they are real, i got a deal; if they are fake, I'll return them.
how did you go ?
@@sprintershepherd4359: UPDATE: they were REAL. I did capacity test and they passed. I bought 2 more, then seller raised the price to the going rate; no more SALE. Been using them a year and no problems.
@@hightttech nice .I am tempted to get fake ones but it will shit me if they turn out to be crap
Thank you. I needed that info!
I bought one of these 6ah batteries off eBay that ended up being fake and I could tell immediately based off that button and the weight wasn't right either 👍 I contacted the seller and told them that Makita said it was fake and they were selling it as a "genuine"Makita battery in the description. I got a refund and got to keep the cheapo battery.
Was the seller fyd auto parts cause I bought 2 6ah from them I'm pretty sure they scammed me
@@noahbruder6000 FYD Auto Parts (on EBaY), I believe was the seller I got my 2 6ah from as well! I contacted them; no reply. I also contacted EBay and they told me they were going to look into it, but I never heard anything back from them. They seemed non-committal as to what they could or would do for my situation.
Interesting point about the 4 rectangular LED windows not being accurate in the fake. I'm not sure if that is applicable to all fakes. One other issue around these LED lights that doesn't seem to be the case here, but I noticed in the two fakes that I bought are how the lights are lit up. So, what I'm about to state is something I noticed for the two fakes I have, but it appears to not affect all fakes because of what I've seen here in this video. Here's the difference: In a Genuine Makita battery, when you press the button, any rectangular window that lights up will light up fully in red. In a fake (or at least the ones that I have), you will see light activity, but you kind of see just a 'roundish' light in the middle of the little rectangular window, and the entire window doesn't light up in sharp red that is consistent over the area of the little window.
You are correct! I just bought a fake Makita unknowingly. Ebay did squat for me because 30 days had passed since purchase
@@wallacegrommet9343 Yeah, sorry u had that experience. Hey, you want to buy my fakes? I’ll give you a great deal! 😃 The 30 day excuse is what they gave me, but I pushed back on that and stated for out and out fraud/counterfeiting there shouldn’t be a 30 day limit.
Helpful tips as I bought 5.0’s on offer up
Great video, well done. The thing i noticed immediately on viewing is that the '5.0Ah' font is bold on the original. I suppose this would vary on the fakes depending on who's making them.
Yep, I bought the Amazon ones, sold directly from Amazon. They are genuine, as far as Makita are concerned.
Good work man.
I just called Makita USA. I was comparing my old 5.0 battery to a new one I got on ebay. One says makita usa, the other says makita corp. Japan. He said they might come from manny places (europe, china etc) and be genuine, but US warranty is only for batteries from makita USA. That is the difference. Counterfeits do exist, but so do genuine imports from other regions. He did say that there are specific amperage differences in other countries due to different laws. (Possibly less power) My new battery WAS 50 grams lighter. (Which is slightly more than the weight of an entire cell) I will probably send them back and pay the extra $10 for the USA batteries.
My 3 ah battery is 608 grams. So it is higher than what Andrew says is the counterfeit battery at about 593 grams, yet lower than what he says is the real Makita battery, at 638 grams. By the way Andrew is misinterpreting the ounce weights. His scale is reading in pounds and ounces, not in ounces. For example the first battery weighed does not, as Andrew says, weigh 1.68 ounces. The scale says, rather, that it weighs 1 pound and 6.8 ounces. That is equivalent to 22.8 ounces. So a lot of confusion here.
there are lots of fake batteries these days that have a working charge indicator. some fake batteries even have an accurate digital readout. for me, i knew which one was fake from the first frame of the video due to the one on the left having a visible lower quality plastic shell and poor fitment in the corners.
Your review is wrong, there are two version. The serial stamped is made in Singapore, and the Printed one is made in Vietnam. They are assembled in two different country and the packing label is different. The metal shown at the vent is not visible on the one that is made in Vietnam.
I bought these from local shops and they do have two variations as I mentioned above.
The seller refunded you because he doesn’t want the headache and the bad feedback that ruins his business, not because it is fake. You need to stated in your video that it’s your opinion, not confirmed by Makita. So that other users be aware of what you are spreading.
almost to by 2 of them today if i dindt see this video,thx you very much for info you jest save me dude.
Thx it was helpful
Apparantly, Makita use genuine Samsung Li-On cells for their batteries, another way of checking genuine status.I always buy genuine Makita batteries, I get why people skimp on their batteries, but it really is a "false economy" trust me...
I just bought my 1.5 Ah for my usb 2 USB adapter, for my phone, months ago at The Home Depot, no question
I noticed that the white painted logos on the side of the fake batteries looks satin and the real look a bit more glossy.
How about do a run time test? If it runs just as long, I don't mind it's fake.
I haven't done a test but I've read various Amazon reviews claiming they crap out pretty quick. So you may get something ok, and then you may not, no way to tell unless you're able to verify by the cells.
@@RM77MKII how have they fared for you so far?
Sir,i have a question i bought a few day ago 5ah makita battery in authorised dealer cost me almost 100 € and i opened there is no metal in charge slot,but when i press indicator it was almost empty and in one of 4 screw there is one plug on screw,regarding the press white button i can't say is it genuine or not it came with transparent plastic shield which goes at the charge slot,what do you think is it genuine or not,i am in doubt.thank you a lot.
Regards from:old world
They are always almost empty when new and that plugged screw is how they check to make sure the battery has not been opened or tampered with. It sounds like you have a genuine. Weigh it and see to confirm further.
Thanks for the review 👍
my 2 5ah batteries that came with my circular saw from home depot dont have the metal in the connector. does that mean home depot sells fake batteries?
You would have gotten the real deal from Home Depot
Why would they make the LED light on the battery RED ? 4 RED's means its fully charged ?. Confusing should be 4 GREEN ?
Red is much more sexy than green. If you want buy Festool, their gauge is multicolored if that is easier for you.
Agreed! When i took mine off te charger and saw four red lights i though t it was knackered. Took it to a shop to s how incidentally when buying other things the guy didnt comment but said he had one in stock. I pressed the button -- nada, but took it home to charge -- ALL RED. I thought the charger must be knackered. The book is no help -- it's B&W and they don't mention the colour. Tested both on multimeter -- fully charged! So for my copy batteries (forgotten the name... Flylinktec) there are three GREEN lights. All my tool batteries have green for good, red for bad. Hours searching, you are te first mebbe only person to say this (I've not seen vid yet, often read reviews first.
Thanks for the video. Just FYI, I have a 4.0 AH battery that i got in a set on eBay and thought it was fake, but upon opening it, it looked very real to me. Full circuit board, samsung IVR 20R batteries. I was very skeptical too, since you couldn't see metal in the holes, Non security torx screws, white plug was in the wrong hole, and the more focused Red LED lights. All reasons why i opened it. I think the newer ones that have the copper printing and 2D bar code are this way. All the plastic molding was marked on the inside, all metal plates were used instead of wires. It was a little lighter but still close to makita's FAQ spec of 1.35 lbs. My Red LED's did go down as I used the battery too.
And why would you purchase the fake battery knowing it was way cheaper than a Makita original battery.?
I purchased it knowing it was most likely a fake and that it would be simple to get my money back.
Purchased through eBay, when it came in and I compared with originals, made the claim on eBay and seller refunded the full price without a hassle as he knew he was had. I lost nothing in the process and used the battery for a while until it broke on a fall. :)
Also the PC (polycarbonate) letter font isn't right/the standard
I have purchased non-genuine Ryobi batteries knowing that they are not genuine the seller never claimed that they were genuine they were not even marked Ryobi they were about 1 third the cost of a genuine battery and they lasted several years they are now not holding a charge. In saying that I have also genuine Ryobi batteries that have shit themselves after several years. But if someone is selling fake batteries as genuine they need to be exposed.
the only way to find out is to open and check the the cells. this are expensive high current cells from the well known high quality producer like LG, sanyo-panasonic or sanyo. the 18650 size with type code, you can google for, example sony 18650 vtc6.
ALL fakes contain cheap chinese cells with less than 1500 mAh and low current. there is not one single type of fakes. there are several different on the market. and most of them not only weak, the are also unbalanced and dangerous. makita learned this the hard way, several years ago they sold their batteries unbalanced too.
what abouttthe actual capacity? Just measure it, to see the real difference between them.
Removing the plug over the screw on the bottom plate should not “void your warranty”. Manufacturers, especially overseas ones still try to use that scare tactic, and put stickers and warnings about “voiding warranty” if opened or removed. That’s against the law these days, according to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It is illegal for manufacturers to refuse a warranty just because equipment was serviced outside of their “authorized” service centers or by the end user.
In other words the fake battery is lying about its ACTUAL charge level.
I think the one on the left in the original shot is fake...the printing is different on the 5Ah
The fake one I got says it was made in Korea and prossesed through Vietnam ??? Makita don't even make batteries in those countries so beware of that as well look on the bottom of y'alls batteries to see where they where made.
My 5Amps 18v Makita (i have three of them so far, bought from different sellers, I believe all are original) - are all made in Vietnam..:)
Real Makita Batteries have a Star and the PC on the top, the one you are saying is a fake has those markings. The one you are claiming is genuine does not have the Star or the PC mark. So maybe you are confused.
Yea i bought a 6amp one from china. Looks like it's the same breed as yours. It's a good looking fake for sure
wow dude your car !
he is have the real or fake motor in it ?
just look at the wheels!
MAKITA does not manufacture or produce 18V Li Ion batteries with charging capacities greater than 6Ah..., but on AliExpress there are many advertisements for larger batteries, 9, 10, 12, 18, 29, 30Ah. So anything greater than c6 Ah, until now, it will be fake or unheard of, the Chinese do things that others don't do, but they don't always work or don't even work as they should...😆😝
Bought a 5ah on eBay, I'm from the UK and all my others say Makita Europe while this says Makita USA. Really difficult to get into my tools but goes into my SDS perfect. Messaged them and got a refund instantly and said I could keep it! Doesn't matter if it's fake when it's free!
Same here. The fake one on the video I put a claim and it was refunded almost immediately. If you know how the eBay system works and or PayPal, you won't get stung when you have a pretty good idea that what is being advertised as genuine inst.
Be careful if the fake gets noticeably hot when charging. It might catch fire and burn your house down
in australia the makita battery doesn’t has the metal
I have a Chinese battery the meter works according to charge
Discussion of cosmetics is of no use. Capacity, electronics, cells etc, that's what matters.
The lack of metal parts on the vent I believe is not an indication of anything. I have seen lots of genuine Makitas online without those. I bought some 5Ah's from a couple of reputable stores in the UK and they are without visible metal lines. And the lights on mines do not stay at all the time and they perform OK so far.
where are they made? just thinking i was scammed..
@@izoyt The 5AMPs Makita I have are made in Vietnam. The 6AMPs and the 2AMPs are made in China (cells made in Singapore). But this can't really tell anything - if someone makes fake Makita batteries - that would be the easiest thing to put up right :). Why do you think yours is fake? From my experience - you can really tell by the feeling and by touch. I believe I have a fake Dewalt 6ah one ( the price was unbelievably low for an original and I knew it) - and the plastics and the indication button just don't feel the same as on the original ones, different tactile feeling. Something one can only discern from touch, not by looks.
@@sizif717 by little more bit research, i'm more calm down about this, i think you're correct (lot of disinformation, too). i have a charger and pair of 18v 5ah for my new duc353z saw, bought it from some guy practically new, he was reselling his drill kit (so box, drill ,charger and 2 batteries). it feels genuine, plastic looks ok, so does battery indicator etc, it does have small inprint at the top, but this is not sign of fakes, when in inspect this further. the are made in vietnam. we'll see, i hope it works ok..
@@izoyt Hi there again, I can't really tell, as i can not touch the batteries, but if you have other Makita 18v ones that you are sure that are original - you can compare the touch and tactile feeling. I just left a comment, sharing my experience on buying batteries for tools online under this video - you can see it.
One advice - don't charge the batteries straight away when you take them off the tool - they need to be cooled down, leave them for about an hour before you put them on the charger. Some Makita chargers are vent-cooled and they take care of that - but this is a general advice for taking care of batteries.
I am a carpenter and have lots of tools ( corded, cordless, brushed and brushless - basically all the major brands up to Festool) - and Makita is probably the best quality for the price in general in my opinion so far. Not saying the best in every case and every tool. But you have made a good choice!
@@sizif717 yes, charger that i got beside batteries does have fan. i only have one 14v makita drill set from years ago, which still runs great, but it is not in same range, i think, but maybe it can be usable for comparing. but as i said, now i think it's all original. thanks for advice.
I bought two 5.0ah batteries from we are tools on eBay. One was real and one was fake. They said I was trying to scam them but actually there scamming ppl. Really rude company as well do not buy from them.
I bought an open box 18V 5Ah on eBay and thanks to your video, confirmed it is legit.
Bought 12V 3.6A Ni-Mh 'compatible with Makita' batteries. They seem to be 1.2Ah at best and may even be Ni-Cd 😞
You should remove this video, both batteries are genuine makita as others have pointed out.
I have original batteries. Bought it at home Depot. But They don't have the metal thing. !! Lair
Flipping Chinese! I have some gold and silver coins and you have to keep your eyes open to not buy Chinese fakes. That can be an expensive mistake in a gold coin.
Bad presentation. Not much help other than the battery charge indicator issue.
THE WRITING ON THE RIP OFF BATTERY IS LIGHTER..ITS TIME THIS COPYING WAS STOPPED 🤷 ITS NOT JUST BATTERIES..CONTAINERS FROM CHINA 🇨🇳 SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED INTO OUR COUNTRY 🇬🇧 AFTER ALL MOST OF THERE ELECTRICAL GOODS ARE COPIED AND ARE JUNK..DONT THEY HAVE A BRAIN 🧠 OF THERE OWN ? AND ENVENT THERE OWN STUFF.BEST TO GET YOUR BATTERIES FROM A GENUINE MAKITA DEALER👌🏻🤷
I never buy the genuine ones .The knock off batteries one can buy for one third to half the price of the genuine ones work fine .But if you do want genuine Makita batteries buy from a reputable retailer.
The way you handle the batteries is strange as hell lining them up, slamming them down each time, weird af lol.