Test / Review: LG 18650 D1 3000mAh (Pink)

LG 18650 D1 3000mAh (Pink)



Specifications:

  • Model: ICR18650D1
  • Typical Capacity: 3000 mAh
  • Min Capacity: 2900 mAh
  • Nominal Voltage: 3.7V
  • Charging Voltage: 4.35V





The cell must be charger to 4.35 volt for full capacity. I could not find any official specifications or data sheets for the cell.








The batteries are slightly below the stated capacity, maybe because I terminate charging at 100mA. The higher charge voltage can also be seen on the output curve, these batteries has some of the highest voltage for LiIon batteries.
Due to the higher voltage these batteries will in many situations deliver more capacity and energy than 3100mAh batteries.











Begin a cell only, there is no protection. This cell is probably not rated for more than 2A current (This looks to be the specified maximum current for some other LG high capacity cells)!



Not many chargers can charge the battery to 4.35 volt.



Test with 4.3 volt charging



Reducing the voltage to 4.3 volt looses about 110mAh and makes it easier to find a charger.















4.3 volt charging is possible with some hobby chargers.



Test with 4.2 volt charging



At this voltage the batteries can be charged with any normal LiIon charger, but the capacity is reduced with about 300mAh. The output voltage is still high compared to most other LiIon batteries.

















Conclusion

I will rate this battery as very good, but it need a special charger to take advantage of its abilities.
Note: Due to the higher voltage the battery might damage some lights, that are designed for maximum 4.2 volt.


Notes and links

I have only added the 4.35 volt test to the bar charts, but all voltages can be found in the 18650 comparator, this makes it possible to compare voltage at different loads and charge conditions.

Review of 4.35 volt charger.

The batteries was supplied by cpf user "Candle Lamp" 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

You can use ichargers to charge to 4.35 volt.

Nice review, thanks. Interesting battery.

My iCharger can only be adjusted to 4.3 volt, not 4.35 volt.

Yes you are correct, mine will only go to 4.30 volt too, unless you play with the calibration and make it over charge by 0.05 volt, but thats alot of messing around for 0.05 volt.

Thanks very much HKJ!

Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.

Does anyone have any experience with those cells?

HKJ stated they might not be specified for more than 2A load.. but I guess he meant 2C, because thats what the data sheet says.

The specifications I found did say 2A, not 2C, but I do not know how reliable the specifications was. I have not found a any real datasheets on the D1 cells.

If you have the real datasheet and can share it please drop a link or send it on a email to me.

Anybody know where I can get the proper Icharger & batteries of these?

6pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/330726158728

8pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/330726159438

12pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/330799552842

Charger: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?240304

Most hobby chargers can charge to 4.3V too.

Where can I purchase these cells from?

2pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-18650-3000mah-Original-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Battery-2PCS-/330813156690

6pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-18650-3000mah-Original-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Battery-6PCS-/330726158728

8pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-18650-3000mah-Original-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Battery-8PCS-/330726159438

12pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-18650-3000mah-Original-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Battery-12PCS-/330799552842

100pcs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-18650-3000mah-Original-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Battery-100PCS-/330685683168

LOL. Thats funny. I guess I should have read the post before mine huh.

Thanks Nightcrawl.

Thanks to you too HKJ. The test data you provide on all these types of cell is unparalleled.

..maybe. But some copypasta doesnt hurt. ;)

Is there any problem with charging these up to 4.2V in a normal charger and after this connecting the cell to a 4.35V power supply to charge them up totally? I know that this will take longer, but that no problem.

I only have the old turnigy hobby charger which has no setting for 4.3V in lipo mode…

I have just bought a pair at fasttech for 8.89$ and want to be prepared when they arrive here.

Just remember to stop charging when they are full, then it will work fine.

What happens if the cells are charged with less termination current?
I have seen you always charge them until 0.1A…

Lower termination current will charger the cells more.

I have been testing it: http://lygte-info.dk/info/BatteryChargeVoltageCurrent%20UK.html

Has anyone a hint how to identify the manufacturing date on these LG cells?

I have a bunch of the 4.30v Samsungs, and I use a DC-DC converter board to finish the charge from 4.20v off the hobby charger. I monitor voltage while charging and manually adjust voltage across the cell to 4.30-4.31v, as the cell gets more full the voltage will blip up to 4.31-4.32v, at which point I turn it back down to 4.30-4.31v, and continue doing that until it stops increasing. Resting voltage after ~1 hour tends to be 4.29-4.30v.

Just doing this last little bit manually doesn't really even need the ability to limit the current, starting from 4.20v the cells will only take around 0.4A each with the voltage limited to 4.30v even with the current limiter pot cranked up past 3-4A..