Test/review of Sanyo NCR20650A 3100mAh (Red)

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

Sanyo NCR20650A 3100mAh (Red)







Official specifications:

  • Rated capacity: 2900mAh at 20°C

  • Minimum capacity: 2950mAh at 25°C

  • Typical capacity: 3100mAh at 25°C

  • Nominal voltage: 3.6V

  • Standard charge current: 2065mA

  • Charge voltage: 4.20V

  • Weight (max.): 55.4g

  • Temperature: Charge: 10°C ~ 45°C, Discharge: –20°C ~ 60°C, Storage: –20°C ~ 50°C




This is one of the new formats for LiIon, this cell do not gain any extra capacity but can deliver a lot of current.










The discharge curves match perfectly and the capacity do not drop much at higher currents.







The cell gets hot at 30A, my log says 79°C















Conclusion

The cell is not a super cell, there ware limits to how much extra performance 2mm extra in diameter gets, but it is a very good high current cell (The next size up is 5mm longer and is better).

It is a very good cell, but do we really need this size (Check 21700)?



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
Compare to 18650 and other batteries
Compare to 26650 and other batteries
2

I can see a lot of incompatibility issues if we end up with 21700, 20700, and 20650s. Will one be the VHS and another the Betamax?

3

I’m rooting for 21700 for extra capacity, and I just think that form factor will make lights that are well sized.

4

Luckily they all work the same and should be interchangeable in most things due to the springs if the bore is setup for 21mm cells from the start.

5

Yes, as long as designed for it, it should be possible to make a 18650/18650 protected/20650/20700/21700 light (Maybe with a plastic sleeve included for the 18650 cell).

6

HKJ,
Many Thanks for the Tests.
Interesting.
Cheers,
S-L :slight_smile: