[counterfeit 18V XRP batteries on ebay]

Sorry to hear that you were taken advantage of like this! Unfortunately, I have dealt with a few users who have bought different versions of these batteries (one user bought over $6000 in these things, and he was just out the money!)

I'm not sure about yours (you can check and let us know if you want)  but in all of the fake batteries that I have seen, there have only been two electrical contacts in the stem of the battery, where the DeWALT has three. That has been the easiest way for me to find them.

Hi K it appears that the counterfeiters are stepping it up a notch. Mine has the 3rd post, its just not connected internally. Instead of being connected to the thermal switch, It goes no where electrically.  

[counterfeit 18V XRP batteries on ebay]

Hi all. I'm waltinbatonrouge. New to your forum but not new to DeWalt tools...

Anyway just wanted you to become aware of counterfeit XRP batteries making their way into the US.

I bought 2 of them off of ebay in December 2011.

Paid $92.92 and they arrived from California without the plastic blister packaging but otherwise looked fine to me..I did noticed that they appeared a tad lighter in weight than the other 3 18V Dewalt batteries I own.

The batteries were date stamped February 2011 so i thought "thats ok, maybe an overstock sell off"

they worked ok for about 5 months but both failed to hold a charge about a week apart in mid June 2012...(6 months after i received them)

I brought them to my local DeWalt Store and the young guy behind the counter looked them over and noticed that the #1) "date stamping didn't look quite right"  He's seen many per day over 5 years.

So he pulls his torx driver out to open them up and notices that:

#2) the torx bit is the wrong size

Meanwhile he pulls a new 18v XRP of the shelf and sets it alongside mine... and opens the top of his battery

#3 he opens my battery and we both notice that the overheat sensor is not present on my battery. the hole is there in the cardboard battery shield for it, but no sensor.

#4 the carboard cover on mine is red.

#5 no moisture/ shock barrier at the base of the top cell on mine

#5 he removes the battery pack from my battery and shows me a blank piece of carboard.

He pulls the battery pack out of his and shows me the same code number that is stamped on the plastic top cover..

#6 now i compare the weigh of the 2 battery packs..the fake is noticeably lighter

None of these differences are initially apparent

You'll notice in the pics that there is no temp sensor and a hand soldered joint ..but be careful..they are cleverly built fakes that fooled me (notice the excellent lettering and labeling) but don't last AND DeWalt obvisously won't warranty them

I'm working with ebay and the dozens of others that bought these fakes from a seller on ebay....

I just checked ebay and there are a number of sellers selling UNpackaged NEW XRP's on ebay.

I'll hold back mentioning his name unless he continues to insist that I didn't buy them from him.

I've been an ebay member since 1998 and know how the seller feedback system works. I bought them from him.

Yup I was just trying to save a few dollars..somethings I can save money on, somethings I can't.

waltinbatonrouge