LGHG2 VS. VTC5-Capacity Retention Test

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

This is a simple test. To me it is practical, informative and useful.

People like HKJ are valuable to me for ALL the testing he does. One thing he can not do because it would be way too time consuming, is to test a battery continuously for its entire life time to see how fast or how slow it may degrade.

Finding out which battery has the most capacity and least amount of voltage curve is very helpful in helping me determine which battery to get.However, it is impossible to know its longevity and rate of degradation until we use them and record their on going history.

I have the time to do that and am a fanatic for doing and keeping track of Voltage checks, battery cycles,capacity tests and purchase dates.

Here are the stats for the batteries:

The discharge rates are ALL @ 1Amp,HKJ and Mine.

VTC5-2600mAh/HKJ-2575
Purchased:6.17.2015
Cycles:170
Used in: SDMinivn- 2X/Week

LGHG2-3000mAh-HKJ-2804
Purchased:1.5.2016
Cycles:105
Used in:TX25C2vn-2X/Week

I just did these tests over night and this morning. I put the batteries in slots 1 and 4. Then I switched the batteries so both can be compared in their respective slots.

As you can see the VTC5 tested similar in both slots and averaged a capacity of 2456mAh. Pretty impressive after 27 months old and 170 cycles.

On the other hand[for whatever reason] the LGHG2 had a difference of 207mAh from slot 1 to slot 4.The average is 2469mAh which is far below its rated capacity.

The LGHG2’s numbers do NOT surprise me because it is noticeable in my voltages when I get home and the fact that the light is not as hot as it use to be after 10 minutes of use!!!

The bottom line is that a battery[LGHG2] that is 7 months younger with 65 LESS cycles, has lost a considerable amount more capacity than the VTC5, which is rated at 2600mAh compared to the LGHG2 which is rated at 3000mAh.

Being that the batteries were in the same slots gives a pretty good idea of their capacity regardless of how accurate the OPUS may or may not be. I have found that my Opus averages about 3% high.

I only had one other LGHG2 cell before this. I recycled it after about 16 months. This was Before I had my Opus. However, it was easy to tell that it was losing capacity. My run times and voltages easily determined that.

Your experiences may be different.This is just my experience with 2 X LGHG2. From that experience I would never buy them again. I will stick to 30Q and VTC5/VTC6!

It is also important to note that both these batteries have been used in the same chargers, my Fenix-ARE-C2 and my KP L2.

Something else I have noticed, regardless of which charger I use.They are having problems terminating the voltage. I just pulled it off the charger after not terminating for about 30 minutes when it was @ 4.18v. It was VERY HOT!! I think I may recycle this one! W/ a brand new 30Q for only $5 and a 1.5 mile ride to Liionwholesale,it would certainly be worth it

2

I like Sony… I use Sony vtc4, 5, 5a, 6… All holding charge.

3

Me to. My VTC5 that I used in the test will still take a full 4.20v CHARGE. It will drop a max of 0.02v over a 4 or 5 day period.

I agree with a lot of people that 30Q are the best for the money, Sony is best over all.

4

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Do you have any such data on 30Q?

5

Not so fast, there's evidence which supports the VTC6 was not made with high cycle life in mind. Source: #44 post and on in Who has the best 3000mAh battery? -- LG HG2 vs Samsung 30Q vs Sony VTC6 Shootout @ E-CigaretteForum

Even worse than HG2s!!!

Also, I'd avoid making a battery rest above 14/15th of its maximum voltage. You know, sort of what happens inside laptop computers (laptops cook batteries).

Cheers

6

I have THREE sets Of Four X 30Q.

-One set[FT’s]has been in storage since March of 2017. I got them in October 2016 and only used them for about 10 cycles.

- 2nd set I got in March 2017,BT’S,using them in place of First set.

–3RD set I got in June of 2017[BT’s]

So to be honest I have to wait about a year or so and see how they are.

I did have 1 X 30Q several years ago. I used it for ~ 1 year and sold with the light! It worked well for that year and was maintaining its voltage.

7

Yes,I remember seeing that review by Mooch.

-I guess it goes like this for me. The VTC5 in my experience exceeds the LGHG2 in maintaining capacity.

-My 30Q still need more time before they can be judged.

I have 6 X VTC6.

Two of them were purchased on 8.22.2016 and are doing well and maintaining voltages.

I have 4 X VTC6 that were purchased on 6.26.2017 and whose Born on Date is 6.22.16! Gearbest flash sale specials. I got half my money back after complaining that they were OLD STOCK!.Not sure how long they will last. Only cost me $2.50 each after refund!

8

I have several VTC5 that on average only lost 3% in 3 yrs—— Efest is a different story—they loose capacity tremendously — age seems to hurt them—several of the 18650/2500 mah and the red 16340 loose on average 45 % within a couple of years— the crazy part is—the ones I left stored with almost full voltage retained more capacity

9

I have had the same experience with Efest. I stopped getting The 18650 2500 a few years ago. They have since been recycled. The only Efest I have left is the 16340 red button top. I bought an Imren 16 340 a few years ago. Its capacity is still higher then a brand new 16340 Efest that I got three months ago!

10

very nice!
thanks!

11

Just so I understand, this is a test of one specimen of each battery model?

12

Welcome to BLF. :wink:

Yes,It will not give us concrete evidence that the VTC5 is more durable, However, others with more hi tech equipment have done tests and I believe the VTC5 is well proven.

As I said I had one other LGHG2 about 2 years ago,before I had my Opus. I noticed after about 9 or 10 months that it was degrading. Just by my run times and the voltage checks before, after and while resting a few days.

So I have had a total of 2 X LGHG2. Both have shown relatively early degradation compared to my VTC5[That is the main reason for this test] and so far with my VTC6,Two of which are almost as old as the LGHG2!

I get a lot of use out of my lights and batteries. I walk my Husky 7.5 miles a day. At night[my favorite hike] I have at least 3 lights with me.

So far CAPO and have have hiked over 15,500 miles in his 6 years of life.

13

Good work. Thanks for the reply. :slight_smile:

14

Just the INFO. I was looking for!

Thanks to MOOCH and my buddy Jon from Liionwholesale,neighbor and battery dealer!

15

This is not true I pulled 12 Samsung 26F from a 5.5 year old Laptop that were plugged in 24/7 as my main computer at home

I could open my new laptop but I am sure it keeps the batteries at about 4V to prvent premature aging

With 1.5A discharge They evened out at 2150mAh, which is less than 20% caoacity loss

16

Wow 4 amp charge / 15 amp discharge that’s pretty serious torture in my book—- I wouldn’t think these cells could maintain 15 amp output all the way down to 2.5 v——- with fet driven quads I can’t maintain that kind of amperage draw— other than some large capacity 26650 cells—-I charge at most 1.5 amp

17

Impressive test,I wish the VCT5 was included. If It was I am certain it would beat out the VTC6 and LGHG2.It would be between the 30Q and VTC5 for the one which degrades the least!

I have more 30Q than any of the other participants. They are a great price and now after seeing these results it confirms to me that I am going to continue using/buying them over any of the others.

18

I have quite a contrary opinion. The quoted statement remains very true even with one isolated incident of exceptional performance, or anecdotes from very light use of a very well designed device. Laptops typically cook batteries. Being plugged in 24/7 is not that bad - not bad at all if your home is kept on the cooler end of the scale - but being powered up 24/7 most often kills cells pretty quick. And while I don’t keep computers powered on 24/7 anymore, my system availability is always more than 60 . I don’t currently(for several months now) operate any laptops, but their battery life has invariably been 1-3 years in the past. My criterion for end of life is when there is some degradation and capacity approaches one half of the original capacity. It was typical to see erratic behaviour and sudden loss of power at less than correctly calculated half charge when batteries seemed to have 60 of total capacity remaining.

If a laptop has a clever thermal design, runs idle and maybe even rests on a ventilation pad, it helps a lot. I’m still assuming your machine was not powered on 100% or even 50% of time.

In case a laptop is actually used, things have changed a lot during a decade. While 1-2.5 hours from full to zero was the standard once, it’s now upwards from the high figure. Laptop batteries have it really easy these days. Battery management circuits have improved, too.

The remaining capacity you measured is still outstanding and speaks for the 26F. Somehow I get the feeling that many Samsung cell types are the best in their class, at least when economy is considered. They may not have the highest figures to begin with, but lack any weaknesses that their seemingly better competitors may have.

Most problems in less than ultra compact packages have always been due to bad design. Batteries should and very well could be kept cool. They just don’t bother. Typical low tier far east design from even the top brands including the holy grail religion of computers. They don’t care, or more specifically they want their products to expire. I mean, who would buy new unless the old one fails, at least if the old ones are good enough for 6-7 years?

19

I kept my Laptop on a podest about 3cm for colling

It was a gaming Laptop, about 6-8 hours dayly use

Of course the placement of batteries near not very efficient colled Laptop parts is an issue, the thicker gaming battery pack was as far away from the CPU and GPU as possible in the front of the laptop

When I opened my new Laptop for 2. SDD installation after I bought it I saw again pink 26F

I am pretty sure in the last decade the wear down of frequently used and 24/7 plugged in laptop cells was reduced a lot by more sophisticated charge algorithms