Test / Review: Panasonic NCR18650B Protected 3400mAh (Green)
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 14:53
Panasonic NCR18650B Protected 3400mAh (Green)
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Official specifications:
- Original Panasonic (Industrial) products, Made in Japan
- Capacity: 3400mAh (Min 3250mAh)
- Charging volt: 4.2v
- Max charge current 0.7C 2A
- Recommend discharge current 1C 2.9A
- Discharge Termination Voltage: 2.5V
- Protection kicks in : 2.75v and 4.2v
- Over-Charging / Draining at 4.2v / 2.75v
- Protection Circuit installed
- Weight : 47g
- Size 18.50mm x 70.5mm (Larger than non-protected)
- The voltage of full charge & empty condition is 4.2v & 2.75v respectively
The above specifications is from the dealers website and there is a few errors in it!
/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20(Green)-info.png)
This battery is not made by Panasonic. The cell inside the battery is from Panasonic, the protection cirucit and the assembly work is done by somebody else.
Notice the length of the battery, it is the longest 18650 I have seen to date.
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The capacity looks very good as expected for a Panasonic 3400 mAh battery.
/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20(Green)-CapacityTimeHours.png)
/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20(Green)-CapacityTime.png)
/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20(Green)-Energy.png)
/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20(Green)-PowerLoadTime.png)
/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20(Green)-TripCurrent.png)
The protection at 6.5A makes it very difficult to overload these batteries, but is high enough for any normal use.
/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20(Green)-Charge.png)
Conclusion
This is a very good battery, except for the length. Only buy it if you know you equipment can use a very long battery!
Notes and links
How is the test done and how to read the charts
How is a protected LiIon battery constructed
More about button top and flat top batteries
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 16:23
#2
Thanks you very much!!There
Thanks you very much!!
There are many products of Protected NCR18650B on the market! How many do we know? Enerdan, KeepPower, Eagletac, XTAR, Efest, ..
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 16:25
#3
kreisler wrote:There are many
There are many products of Protected NCR18650B on the market! How many do we know? Enerdan, KeepPower, Eagletac, XTAR, Efest, ..
Yes, but they are not sold with that name on them and there is also small differences between the batteries.
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 16:49
#4
Thank you!
Thank you for conducting your tests and sharing your findings. 
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 16:51
#5
I just compared some of the
I just compared some of the -B cells in HKJs comparator and it seems that - so far - the AmpMax and Keeppower perform best. Probably both made by Keeppower. Just like the one from Intl-Outdoor, but it doesnt perform as good. I wonder why that is..
Oh, and do you have a bare -PD cell up for tests?
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:03
#6
NightCrawl wrote:I just
I just compared some of the -B cells in HKJs comparator and it seems that - so far - the AmpMax and Keeppower perform best. Probably both made by Keeppower. Just like the one from Intl-Outdoor, but it doesnt perform as good. I wonder why that is..
Me too, I do not get the same result.
Generally there are two differences:
Capacity, this can be due to age of the cell. I.e. do I get a fresh battery and test it immediately when I receive it, or is it a couple of month old before it is tested.
Voltage at high load, this often depends on the protection circuit. I.e. a 12A protection will often have higher output voltage than a 5A protection.
There can also be production tolerances between different batches of cells.
Oh, and do you have a bare -PD cell up for tests?
No, but I expect to receive another protected one and will probably test it up to 10A.
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:08
#7
Or Keeppower saves the
Or Keeppower saves the premium circuit for the premium brands and the little less (but still very) good ones for budget brands like IO.
I guess you are gonna receive the one from IO? A comparison with the unprotected one would be really cool though.
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:20
#8
NightCrawl wrote:Or Keeppower
Or Keeppower saves the premium circuit for the premium brands and the little less (but still very) good ones for budget brands like IO.
That theory does not fit.
I will call the performance of these two batteries virtual identical.
The lowest trace (i.e. the 5A) is the best to see differences in protection.
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:25
#9
Yes, the 5A trace is
Yes, the 5A trace is different but the capacity is the same. So that would be a different PCB. Why doesnt my theory fit then?
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:32
#10
NightCrawl wrote:Yes, the 5A
Yes, the 5A trace is different but the capacity is the same. So that would be a different PCB. Why doesnt my theory fit then?
The 5A track is the same for the two batteries, except at the start and that has nothing to do with the protection.
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:34
#11
Okay. So there is a
Okay. So there is a difference in the cell?
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:42
#12
NightCrawl wrote:Okay. So
Okay. So there is a difference in the cell?
That dip at the start might be due to temperature (The cell need to heat up a bit, to get full performance), my testing lab does not have a tightly controlled temperature, it will vary a few degrees.
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:50
#13
Thats plausible. Thanks for
Thats plausible. Thanks for enlightening me. 
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 17:53
#14
Thank you for conducting your
Thank you for conducting your tests and sharing your findings.
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 08:03
#15
Thanks very much! Frontpage’d
Thanks very much! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 00:08
#16
Where can I get these
Where can I get these batteries??
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 00:23
#17
good share
thanks a lot for your information, the batteries look great.
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 13:37
#18
HKJ posted in his
HKJ posted in his graph.
HKEquipment 
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 14:15
#19
HKJ wrote:This is a very good
This is a very good battery, except for the length. Only buy it if you know you equipment can use a very long battery!
HKJ, will these fit in the TN30 & TN31? Thanks.
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 14:52
#20
Any known fav lights that
Any known fav lights that these positively won’t fit in? I know Hi-Max’s won’t fit in 501Bs, but I’ve not seen too many batteries that are so big that they don’t work in most lights.
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 15:02
#21
luvlites wrote:HKJ wrote:This
This is a very good battery, except for the length. Only buy it if you know you equipment can use a very long battery!
The diameter is to large, but they do fit in length.
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 15:05
#22
Rusty Joe wrote:Any known fav
Any known fav lights that these positively won't fit in? I know Hi-Max's won't fit in 501Bs, but I've not seen too many batteries that are so big that they don't work in most lights.
I would expect there are many light, but I have not tested.
Thu, 02/21/2013 - 11:32
#23
Rusty Joe wrote:Where can I
Where can I get these batteries??
http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001980/1141104-panasonic-ncr18650b-…
Sat, 03/02/2013 - 16:14
#24
jpil wrote:Rusty Joe
Where can I get these batteries??
http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001980/1141104-panasonic-ncr18650b-protected-rechargeable-3400mahDistributor On CNY Holiday 
Sat, 03/02/2013 - 16:38
#25
I think fasttech has them in
I think fasttech has them in stock though. I ordered a set a week and half ago and just got them. Got another set coming in.
Fri, 04/05/2013 - 22:03
#26
so which battery is better?
Where can I get these batteries??
http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001980/1141104-panasonic-ncr18650b-protected-rechargeable-3400mah
Fri, 04/05/2013 - 22:53
#27
luvlites wrote:HKJ wrote:This
This is a very good battery, except for the length. Only buy it if you know you equipment can use a very long battery!
HKJ, will these fit in the TN30 & TN31? Thanks.
I have these Batteries, they are a tight fit, but they fit both the TN30 and TN31.
Sat, 04/06/2013 - 03:01
#28
light junkie wrote:Again. I.
Again. I. Advance I apologize but if I had to pick between the keeppower black 3400 maH protected or these Panasonic 3400 maH protected which is a better performer?
Keeppower, without a doubt
Sat, 04/06/2013 - 04:33
#29
Shadowww wrote:light junkie
Again. I. Advance I apologize but if I had to pick between the keeppower black 3400 maH protected or these Panasonic 3400 maH protected which is a better performer?
Keeppower, without a doubt !http://qs.lc/p/wn2.png!i thought keeppower also use panasonic cell.
so the protection circuit does the difference?
Sat, 04/06/2013 - 04:39
#30
sorotantaz wrote:so the
so the protection circuit does the difference?
Yup. Better PCB has lower internal resistance, and therefore less voltage drop.
Sat, 04/06/2013 - 04:47
#31
Shadowww wrote:sorotantaz
so the protection circuit does the difference?
I guess the clear PVC concept pays off.
Sat, 04/06/2013 - 04:58
#32
Hikelite wrote:Shadowww
so the protection circuit does the difference?
I guess the clear PVC concept pays off.
just ordered myself a pair of panasonic 18650 just like in the review but with 3100 mAH.
little bit regret however the price spread between the two brands can reach $5 for the same capacity.
mind to elaborate with your post of clear PVC pays off?
Sat, 04/06/2013 - 05:08
#33
sorotantaz wrote: Hikelite
so the protection circuit does the difference?
I guess the clear PVC concept pays off.
just ordered myself a pair of panasonic 18650 just like in the review but with 3100 mAH.
little bit regret however the price spread between the two brands can reach $5 for the same capacity.
mind to elaborate with your post of clear PVC pays off?
It's not branded, but you can see the Panasonic original battery wrap underneath. No matter what protection circuit is used, the cell will be bought in masses for being Panasonic.
Wed, 04/17/2013 - 13:02
#34
These fit in the Sipik sk98
These fit in the Sipik sk98 and Aleto 26650 jumbo sipik (with 18650 sleeve)
Wed, 04/17/2013 - 17:27
#35
Fasttech
Where can I get these batteries??
Fasttech has BBC them but now the Keeppower 3.6 volt 3400 mAH are now the top dawg from hat I have been told.
Wed, 04/17/2013 - 17:30
#36
light junkie wrote:Rusty Joe
Where can I get these batteries??
Fasttech has BBC them but now the Keeppower 3.6 volt 3400 mAH are now the top dawg from hat I have been told.Keeppower will be more expensive though, yes?
Wed, 04/17/2013 - 18:23
#37
I have put in a request a few
I have put in a request a few days ago for FastTech to start carrying the keeppowers 3400mAh, they told me this morning “we will update you when it’s here”
_
Others on here may wish to do the same, the more requests maybe the better chance they actually will carry them soon, but it does sound like from their reply they will carry them. I gave them a link to a competitor for the product that shows the price and graphs showing how good the batteries actually are.
I think FT will gives us a better price and a much quicker turn-around time for USA customers.
Wed, 04/17/2013 - 21:05
#38
yep
Where can I get these batteries??
Fasttech has BBC them but now the Keeppower 3.6 volt 3400 mAH are now the top dawg from hat I have been told.Keeppower will be more expensive though, yes?
About 5-7.00 USD
Thu, 04/18/2013 - 02:01
#39
How much better are the
How much better are the Keeppowers?
Thu, 04/18/2013 - 02:07
#40
spaceboy wrote:How much
How much better are the Keeppowers?
The battery inside is, of course, the same. The Keeppower protection circuit has slightly less voltage drop and considerable higher current limit (If this is good or bad can be discussed).
The Keeppower is 1 to 1.5 mm shorter, this can be very significant!
Sun, 04/21/2013 - 05:28
#41
Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the review.
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 05:47
#42
http://www.fasttech.com/produ
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10001980/1141104
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10001980/1341105
Anybody knows the difference between these two types, beside one is cheaper? Which should I buy?
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 05:49
#43
1st option is protected.
If
1st option is protected.
If you have to ask, it’s the one you should buy.
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 05:50
#44
DasEtwas
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10001980/1141104 http://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10001980/1341105 Anybody knows the difference between these two types, beside one is cheaper? Which should I buy?
With or without protection.
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 06:03
#45
Look at the pictures and read
Look at the pictures and read the description/listing guys They are BOTH protected
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 06:18
#46
DasEtwas wrote:Look at the
Look at the pictures and read the description/listing guys They are BOTH protected
They are BOTH protectedI looked at the heading, it does only say protected for one of them.
But you are right, both batteries has photos that shows a strip and a black extension at the bottom.
Except the photo with batteries in a box, there they do not have the black extension.
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 06:47
#47
HKJ wrote:DasEtwas wrote:Look
Look at the pictures and read the description/listing guys They are BOTH protected
They are BOTH protectedI looked at the heading, it does only say protected for one of them.
But you are right, both batteries has photos that shows a strip and a black extension at the bottom.
Except the photo with batteries in a box, there they do not have the black extension.
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 07:16
#49
MRsDNF
"These":http://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10001980/1341105 are advertised as 4.35 volts.
That is obvious a mistake, that a couple of sites made when the battery was new.
thank you very much, as always, for these very useful information