Test/Review of Keeppower 18650 3600mAh (Black) 2015

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

Keeppower 18650 3600mAh (Black) 2015



Official specifications:

  • Capacity min.: 3500mAh
  • Capacity typ.: 3600mAh
  • Nominal voltage: 3.70V
  • Charge voltage: 4.20+/-0.05V
  • Standard discharge cut-off voltage: 2.50V
  • Standard charge current: 1000mA
  • Charge termination current: 50mA
  • Standard discharge current: 3500mA
  • Max. continuous discharge current: 8A




Top of the line high capacity 18650 cell, at the current time (10/2015) you cannot get any cell in this size with more capacity.










The two cells tracks fairly well.
My result is below rated capacity, some of the reason is probably because I terminate charge a bit early (100mA instead of 50mA) and do not discharge to 2.5 volt, only to 2.8 volt.















Conclusion

There is not much difference between 3400/3500/3600mAh cells and to use the full capacity you must discharge down to 2.5 volt. This means the advantage of using this cell over the other high capacity cells is fairly minimal.
I will rate this cell very good.

Notes and links

The batteries was supplied by Keeppower for review.

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
Compare to 18650 and other batteries

2

Thorough test as usual. One question remains: when I look in your comparator and compare this cell and its predecessor from 2014, I get the impression that the older version is on all points at least as good as the new version, if not better! Or is there more to be seen than meets my eye?

3

There can be a couple of reasons for this. One reason is age, another reason is different grade of cells. Difference in protection circuit can explain the difference in voltage when loaded.

4

This is very rare.
Hard to get this cell compared to the Keeppower 3500mAh version

5

HKJ, thanks for this test.
Again, it shows the trend even for serious manufacturers to overrate their batteries (like Olight “3600mAh”).

The 3500mAh version is even better (higher voltage), check here .
Even the 2014 3600mAh version was better.

This battery won’t reach 3600mAh even at 0.2C discharge to 2.50V and 50mA charge termination. Not even 3500mAh, I bet.
Which cell is supposed to be inside? NCR18650G?

6

They claim 13.32Wh, it would be very interesting to know how they got to that number and under what circumstance & test setup they used, what discharge rate & temperature for example.

7

Discharge rate? Temperature? Test setup? AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT!!

They obtained that number by just simply using the Volt x Capacity equation… 3.7x3.6= 13.32. They didn’t even bother to do a quick real world test!

8

Yeah you are probably right, and what is worse first they straight up make up a number like 3600mha and then they double down by claiming 13.32Wh.

I bet if lithium technology haven’t improved in a years time they will just bump up the claimed capacity by a 100 again to 3700mha, if Keepower keep :smiley: this up they will soon reach Ultrafire level of silliness and loose all the goodwill they have by selling otherwise good quality cells.

I really don’t get what is so hard about being honest with these rewrappers :expressionless: at least Keepower don’t endanger people by faking max amp specs though.

9

Indeed. The only reason of me getting their 3500mAh version is due to the PCB and button-top.
If I don’t need these features, I would just get the stock NCR18650GA and be happy with it

10

I’ve been looking at KP 18650 batteries on GB

Can somebody tell me the difference between the

3.6V 18650 3400mAh @$9.95
http://www.gearbest.com/chargers-batteries/pp_104176.html

and

18650 Protected Li - ion 3.7V 3200mAh @ $11.00
http://www.gearbest.com/chargers-batteries/pp_104178.html

At 1st glance it looks like the 3.7v may have a higher discharge rate allowing more output on some lights but I’m pretty new at this with lots to learn

Are they better suited for different applications?

Thanks in advance

cheers

11

I’m surprised no one has answered this, and not sure myself! Was thinking one of them might charge to 4.35 volts as well, complicating the answer

12

Forget the 3400 is outdated. The 3200 is much more efficient .
In fact we have the following batteries :

Panasonic NCR 18650 B 3400mAh 6.8A

Panasonic NCR 18650 BE 3200mAh 6.5 - 7 A.

The 3200 is much more efficient , as they must have some difference in construction and is newer than the NCR B.
Her performance , is like the batteries with 10 Amps.

But I , I would choose the 3500 .
If I am not mistaken , it is within the Sanyo NCR 3500 GA, which is leading to this type of batteries.

13

I made a mistake.
The Panasonic NCR BE has 3100mAh.
No 3200 .
But Efest and KP, call them 3200mAh.

However, they have very good performance, equivalent to batteries of 10Amps.

I personally would call good battery.