Test / Review: (OLD) Panasonic NCR 18650A 3100mAh batteries $11.96 Protected and $9.97 Unprotected (OLD)

The 'knee' at 3.3v shows a highly stressed cell on 2c discharge Benckie!

M.

That knee might also be due to the testing equipment.

I have not done any test at 6 ampere, but all my test up to 5 ampere does show smooth curves.

Unlikely IMHO, I've seen all this before with lithium chemistry at high or maximum with some manufacturers rated c discharge claims.

M.

Ok, here is a discharge test at 7 ampere I just did:

Another heavily stressed battery shown by initial voltage sag/recovery.

Best to run lithium at 60% maximum rated 'c' discharge to avoid damage and get good life.

Exactly, and then it recovers a bit when it heats up. But there are no bumps midway in the curve.

That is true, they are the best cell out there. Interesting data.

M.

I thought it did well once it leveled out, I asked my daughter to stay away from the battery while it was discharging, she asked me are we going to pop it dad lolls it did get bloody hot but did well.

Charged the batteries yesterday let the batteries rest over night then today discharged. (remember all my test since post number 85 have been with the protection PCB,s removed)

Cell A discharged from 4.15 volt to 2.5 volt at 0.5 amps

Data table

Volts Vs mAh

Volts Vs Wh

In your first test with the PCB and 0.5A discharge, the cell was charged to 4.2V.
This one is starting from 4.15V, so theoretically the 3100mAh should have been achieved if the cell was charged to 4.2V
But for those charging to 4.15V is a good reference point.

Looks like we have some good cells with POS PCB's! The protected are useless for most of us unless running them in parallel or in a low draw/high capacity uses.

If you can get these cells with a kallie's pcb you will own the market!

To be honest with these cell after being rested from a full charger the voltage is around 4.18, the rested voltage of this cell was 4.159 after being rested, it might of droped 0.021 volt or so for sitting on the charger to long, before i removed it.

It would be a good test for people say using xtar chargers like the one i test a little while back they seam to cut out around 4.15 volt, better then over charging and the cells would last bit longer, but from 4.18 or 4.20 they would hit 3100 mAh no problem.

Im doing a 0.2 amp discharge from 4.163 volt to 2.5 volt for you now ill post the results tomorrow after work, the starting voltage of the discharge was 4.163 volt with a 0.2 amp load, i know its not 4.18 or 4.2 volt but that was the rested voltage after i charged it yesterday for this test, i thought it best not to try and top it up the rest it again.

I hope you still find the test useful.

What alarmed me was the such low mah testing with the pcb,s.

redilast and aw sell the same cell,s with good pcb,s but the price is higher.

Since the Pcb's suck. I think hank should refund/ credit the extra $2 people spent on the batteries. I would like a refund/ credit of $6.

This is a very good thread. We're lucky we have multiple here people doing extensive tests and can compare and cross check their results.

I think that’s fair.

I got my three unprotected ones, charged one already.

Using in my ZebraLight SC600w now.

So far I like them

or how about a $2 credit towards a new cell once the pcb issue is fixed? we are going to have to remove the pcb to use them

so far my "mnke" 26650's seem to be performing solidly in a 9amp lights so thumbs up there

Charged the batteries sunday let the batteries rest over night then yesterday discharged, this test took almost 15 hours just to discharge. (remember all my test since post number 85 have been with the protection PCB,s removed)

Cell B discharged from 4.163 volt to 3 volt at 0.2 amps

Data table

Volts Vs mAh

Volts Vs Wh

The cells starting voltage was 4.163v with a 0.2 amp load, the cells resting voltage after a few hours was 3.24 volt, it almost gave 15 hours of run time, but this test was ment to be to 2.5 volt not 3 volt, my bad.

just stumbled on this thread! A lot of useful info here... I don't mind unprotected batteries, but I'll keep an eye on this thread to see if intl-outdoor get's these ncr18650a with better quality protection circuits. If so, they're a great buy.

Last night I started a 0.2 amp discharge from 4.18v down to 2.5v this morning before I left for work the discharge cycle was at 12 hours it will most likely still be going when I get home from work tonight, the discharge test should run for around 20 + hours.

Is there any other test people are intrested in ? Would any one like any series test done ? I can do individual battery voltage still while discharging in series.

I ordered three. How well do they work in a mid-drain light like a TK30 or Jetbeam MX? Will the protection trip?

Thanks

Dave