How to Quickly Identify Fake LFP Battery Cells Part 3 – QR Code

Tim Lee

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You may have noticed that almost every LiFePO4 battery cell has a QR code on it.

What is the LiFePO4 QR code?

The QR code is generated by a combination of characters that represent information about the LFP battery cell. This is shown in the picture below(Notice where it is on the battery).

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde

Using QR code parsing software (you can do this with your phone’s QR code parsing app), you will get this string of battery information. Some manufacturers will inscribe this string of characters next to the QR code, such as EVE.

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde-serial

Actually the string parsed by QR code is this horizontal and vertical string engraved next to the QR code.

How to parse the QR code information?

You can parse the QR code by reading the description of it in the specification.

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde

Let’s take the QR code of EVE 3.2V 280Ah LF280K as an example to explain the process of parsing the LiFePO4 battery cell information.

We read out the string of this battery as 04QCB76717900JB5S0005806.

According to the encoding rules, we can get the following information.

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde-parsing

  • Vendor Code: EVE
  • Production Type: Cell
  • Cell Type: LiFePO4
  • Model: LF280K
  • Production Line: 71
  • Task Code: 79
  • Factory Address: Jingmen
  • Production Date: May 29th 2021
  • Product Serial No.: 5806
In fact, for the buyer, only the production date needs to be concerned. So let’s focus on describing the parsing rules of date code.

The date of manufacture is the 15th, 16th and 17th characters, which correspond to the year, month and day respectively.

In this case it is B5S.

Year: 1~9 represents 2011-2019, the next years are in alphabetical order A~Z, A represents 2002, B represents 2021…

Month: 1~9 represents January to September, A~C represents October to December.

Day: 1~9 for the 1st to the 9th, A~V for the 10th to the 31st.

So B5S represents the production date of May 29th, 2021.

How to use QR Code to avoid buying fake battery cells?

Suggested steps:

1, Ask the seller for a photo of the QR code of the battery cell before purchase.​

Sellers of A-grade battery cells are happy to provide this information if they are.

such as Energiepanda will usually offer to provide the QR Code of the battery cell to the buyer.

2, parse the date of manufacture.​

Production dates preferably within a year to avoid buying old stock.

3, Check whether the QR code is in the right place.​

  • The QR code of A-grade cells is always in the position marked on the Specification.
How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde location

  • The QR code of B-grade battery has only a smaller QR code in different position with a different coding rule. The original large QR code will be scraped
Different QR Code of LiFePO4 battery cell



  • The QR code for fake batteries is elsewhere and does not parsing any information or points to a strange URL. Some fake batteries have QR codes that are printed with white paint rather than laser engraved.
In short, the QR code for LiFePO4 battery cell is its identification, which allows you to know the production information about the battery before you buy it.

Conclusion​

1, Understanding the relationship between energy density and weight and volume of LiFePO4 batteries can help us identify sellers who have falsely marked their capacities. — see How to Quickly Identify Fake LFP Battery Cells Part 1 – Weight & Volume.

2, Access to specification can help us find a serious and compliant seller. — see How to Quickly Identify Fake LFP Battery Cells Part 2 – Specification(datasheet).

3, Learning to read QR codes can help us identify old stock/refurbished/fake battery cells.

We can use the above methods to identify fake batteries and find a trustworthy seller so as to minimize the risk of transactions.
 
Thanks Tim!
I wish I had known this before I order my cells, but I am only getting 8, so if I get burned it won't be major.
I hope most of these fake sellers get weeded out in the coming years.
 
You may have noticed that almost every LiFePO4 battery cell has a QR code on it.

What is the LiFePO4 QR code?

The QR code is generated by a combination of characters that represent information about the LFP battery cell. This is shown in the picture below(Notice where it is on the battery).

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde

Using QR code parsing software (you can do this with your phone’s QR code parsing app), you will get this string of battery information. Some manufacturers will inscribe this string of characters next to the QR code, such as EVE.

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde-serial

Actually the string parsed by QR code is this horizontal and vertical string engraved next to the QR code.

How to parse the QR code information?

You can parse the QR code by reading the description of it in the specification.

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde

Let’s take the QR code of EVE 3.2V 280Ah LF280K as an example to explain the process of parsing the LiFePO4 battery cell information.

We read out the string of this battery as 04QCB76717900JB5S0005806.

According to the encoding rules, we can get the following information.

How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde-parsing

  • Vendor Code: EVE
  • Production Type: Cell
  • Cell Type: LiFePO4
  • Model: LF280K
  • Production Line: 71
  • Task Code: 79
  • Factory Address: Jingmen
  • Production Date: May 29th 2021
  • Product Serial No.: 5806
In fact, for the buyer, only the production date needs to be concerned. So let’s focus on describing the parsing rules of date code.

The date of manufacture is the 15th, 16th and 17th characters, which correspond to the year, month and day respectively.

In this case it is B5S.

Year: 1~9 represents 2011-2019, the next years are in alphabetical order A~Z, A represents 2002, B represents 2021…

Month: 1~9 represents January to September, A~C represents October to December.

Day: 1~9 for the 1st to the 9th, A~V for the 10th to the 31st.

So B5S represents the production date of May 29th, 2021.

How to use QR Code to avoid buying fake battery cells?

Suggested steps:

1, Ask the seller for a photo of the QR code of the battery cell before purchase.​

Sellers of A-grade battery cells are happy to provide this information if they are.

such as Energiepanda will usually offer to provide the QR Code of the battery cell to the buyer.

2, parse the date of manufacture.​

Production dates preferably within a year to avoid buying old stock.

3, Check whether the QR code is in the right place.​

  • The QR code of A-grade cells is always in the position marked on the Specification.
How-to-Quickly-Identify-Fake-Batteries-Part-3-QRocde location

  • The QR code of B-grade battery has only a smaller QR code in different position with a different coding rule. The original large QR code will be scraped
Different QR Code of LiFePO4 battery cell



  • The QR code for fake batteries is elsewhere and does not parsing any information or points to a strange URL. Some fake batteries have QR codes that are printed with white paint rather than laser engraved.
In short, the QR code for LiFePO4 battery cell is its identification, which allows you to know the production information about the battery before you buy it.

Conclusion​

1, Understanding the relationship between energy density and weight and volume of LiFePO4 batteries can help us identify sellers who have falsely marked their capacities. — see How to Quickly Identify Fake LFP Battery Cells Part 1 – Weight & Volume.

2, Access to specification can help us find a serious and compliant seller. — see How to Quickly Identify Fake LFP Battery Cells Part 2 – Specification(datasheet).

3, Learning to read QR codes can help us identify old stock/refurbished/fake battery cells.

We can use the above methods to identify fake batteries and find a trustworthy seller so as to minimize the risk of transactions.
Is there a directory to check vendor codes?
 
the decoding of the qr code is interesting, but the grade A and grade B photo is absolutely not true, in that photo you can see a garbage cell (grade B) and a cell with the right qr but which does not necessarily have to be grade A, it could be quietly a waste cell.
 
the decoding of the qr code is interesting, but the grade A and grade B photo is absolutely not true, in that photo you can see a garbage cell (grade B) and a cell with the right qr but which does not necessarily have to be grade A, it could be quietly a waste cell.
That's not grade B cell, but REPT's cell. Both EVE and REPT produce 230Ah and 280Ah LFP cells, and their cells are very close in size.
 
That's not grade B cell, but REPT's cell. Both EVE and REPT produce 230Ah and 280Ah LFP cells, and their cells are very close in size.
to see the photo the QR code seems tighter than the Rept, but it is a photo taken with malice as it does not show the battery poles
 
VERY helpful info, thank you very much.
Small hint extra for those that are unaware:
After receiving the cells check for "bulging"!!!
Before you are going to put them into a charge, make sure that they are in a "prison" so they can no swallow up.

Yeah what to do if you receive the packet..opening/checking before signing is usually not possible.
Ask for this with your local post office/driver/ delivery man, pay a bit more for this.
If the cells are signed for and you have a swollen cell, good luck with your refund.

With best regards Igor

Again very good information
 
Hi, i am new here and want to say thank you.
I am currently looking for about 80 cells and i received (as everyone that asks on Alibaba) tens of offerings.
As an example how (from my opinion) a white printed QR code looks like:
 

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Wow, this thread is pure gold dust for me.... I'll Look onto my cells tonight.
 
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I received these pictures for EVE cells ...*edit* scanned by androind apps (tried 2) , the scan showed awkward numbers.
a friend of mine scanned with his iphone and the scan was exactly the code.

so i checked if it is an issue with my app or a combination with my pc monitor (IPS Display, i see the grid on the camera) ... and decided to print the QR Codes. Then all codes were scanned flawless.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oE89ixCLqI


seller is docan ... how to proceed ? they offer cancellation as i said i want to have the eve shipment report and wrote that in my purchase order and after payment they were not able to provide that, instead they showed me good QR code photos
 

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OK, i have had a look onto my cells.
Surprisingly, the Barcode is lasered into a cutout of the black Cover. So far, so good.
The general Code is, for 8 cells, like 02kcbf146100bc A765101015.
Which is July 2020. Given a buying date of sept. 21 that ist just over one Year.
And having seen several other cases on a german Board, lasered Code, bought as Grade A, about one Year old.

So i start speculating.... aus are the offered "new" cells 1 year old? It is hardly enough to have them used already, but it is quite alot for an average for new ones.... Are they lots exceeding stocktime ?

One other thing, two cells have datecode A6X and A7W. That is out of range for the day.
Anybody heard of that?
 
An online decoder for the barcodes.


Have fun.
 
I solved the a6x day Count Problem.
Letters I,O and Q dont Count, for obvious Problems.
 
Anyone want to help me figure out who actually makes these mystery "Varicore" 105AH cells I got from Aliexpress? Neither barcode I found works in the barcode decoder above from gobelpower, and the cells do look like the EVE cells, couldn't find any similar dimensioned cells from other Chinese makers.

1651257779797.png

1651257920758.png
 
Anyone want to help me figure out who actually makes these mystery "Varicore" 105AH cells I got from Aliexpress? Neither barcode I found works in the barcode decoder above from gobelpower, and the cells do look like the EVE cells, couldn't find any similar dimensioned cells from other Chinese makers.
In fact you will be hard to find the original manufacturer of these cells.
Some second-tier manufacturers, they also have the ability to make LiFePO4 cells, but they can't do quality control well. They make the same size cells as the first tier brand manufacturers in order to try to replace them in some markets at a low price.
 
adding this thread to 'Battery Tools' in the main menu! Just used the information to decode mine.
 

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Scanned my lifepo4 cells with the scanner which give me "10000478111707261021400196" as output. Have put this number on gobel power decoder which gave no details. Can anyone decode?
 

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Anyone want to help me figure out who actually makes these mystery "Varicore" 105AH cells I got from Aliexpress? Neither barcode I found works in the barcode decoder above from gobelpower, and the cells do look like the EVE cells, couldn't find any similar dimensioned cells from other Chinese makers.

View attachment 27399
View attachment 27401
@rev0

I bought some second hand with QR codes very similar to this but are 90Ah and otherwise look the same as these. I have an invoice from the original buyer that show these came from Shenzhen QH Technology CO Ltd (https://www.lifepo4-batteries.com/).
 
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