Review request for HKJ [Rechargeable Batteries]

I see now that the “2pcs li ion 14500 rechargeable Genuine 14500 battery 3.7v 700mah high drain 12A” looks exactly like the “Hibatt IMR14500 700mAh (Orange)” that you already have tested except that they have removed the Hibatt name.
It’s even sold by the same aliexpress store that you bought your Hibatt cells.

Edit: Just for info

A think a full test in room temperature + a 1-2 tests in a fridge would be great.

Fridge, Agro? HKJ lives in Denmark and by the time he gets the low temperature batteries he may already be seeing some nice sub-zero celsius temperatures on street thermometers. He'll just load some equipment on his van and that's about it. ;-)

Cheers ^:)

You mean like eneloops? :slight_smile:

My test equipment lives best at around 25C and living in an apartment I am not going to draw wires out a open window to test anything outside when it is cold. :smiley:
Fridge is the best solution, but I need to get some test equipment together (I will not take down any of my regular test stations, i…e I have to use some spare equipment).

Link: Charging at High and Low Temperatures

Alot of text but does this apply to high drain cells to?

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Low temp
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Li ion can be fast charged from 5°C to 45°C (41 to 113°F). Below 5°C, the charge current should be reduced, and no charging is permitted at freezing temperatures because of the reduced diffusion rates on the anode. During charge, the internal cell resistance causes a slight temperature rise that compensates for some of the cold. The internal resistance of all batteries rises when cold, prolonging charge times noticeably.

Many battery users are unaware that consumer-grade lithium-ion batteries cannot be charged below 0°C (32°F). Although the pack appears to be charging normally, plating of metallic lithium can occur on the anode during a sub-freezing charge. This is permanent and cannot be removed with cycling. Batteries with lithium plating are more vulnerable to failure if exposed to vibration or other stressful conditions. Advanced chargers (Cadex) prevent charging Li-ion below freezing.

Advancements are being made to charge Li-ion below freezing temperatures. Charging is indeed possible with most lithium-ion cells but only at very low currents. According to research papers, the allowable charge rate at –30°C (–22°F) is 0.02C. At this low current, the charge time would stretch to over 50 hours, a time that is deemed impractical. There are, however, specialty Li-ions that can charge down to –10°C (14°F) at a reduced rate.

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High temp
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Lithium-ion performs well at elevated temperatures but prolonged exposure to heat reduces longevity. Charging and discharging at elevated temperatures is subject to gas generation that might cause a cylindrical cell to vent and a pouch cell to swell. Many chargers prohibit charging above 50°C (122°F).

Some lithium-based packs are momentarily heated to high temperatures. This applies to batteries in surgical tools that are sterilized at 137°C (280°F) for up to 20 minutes as part of autoclaving. Oil and gas drilling as part of fracking also exposes the battery to high temperatures.
Capacity loss at elevated temperature is in direct relationship with state-of-charge (SoC). Figure 5 illustrates the effect of Li-cobalt (LiCoO2) that is first cycled at room temperature (RT) and then heated to 130°C (266°F) for 90 minutes and cycled at 20, 50 and 100 percent SoC. There is no noticeable capacity loss at room temperature. At 130°C with a 20 percent SoC, a slight capacity loss is visible over 10 cycles. This loss is higher with a 50 percent SoC and shows a devastating effect when cycled at full charge.

Discharging at High and Low Temperatures

I don’t like those numbers. Probably won’t hit the turbo as much now.
Or is it only when it discharge AND charge at those temperatures the cycle life drops?

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As all drivers in cold countries know, a warm battery cranks the car engine better than a cold one. Cold temperature increases the internal resistance and lowers the capacity. A battery that provides 100 percent capacity at 27°C (80°F) will typically deliver only 50 percent at –18°C (0°F). The momentary capacity-decrease differs with battery chemistry.

All batteries achieve optimum service life if used at 20°C (68°F) or slightly below. If, for example, a battery operates at 30°C (86°F) instead of a more moderate lower room temperature, the cycle life is reduced by 20 percent. At 40°C (104°F), the loss jumps to a whopping 40 percent, and if charged and discharged at 45°C (113°F), the cycle life is only half of what can be expected if used at 20°C (68°F). (See also BU-808: How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries.)

The performance of all batteries drops drastically at low temperatures; however, the elevated internal resistance will cause some warming effect because of efficiency loss during use. At –20°C (–4°F) most batteries are at about 50 percent performance level. Although NiCd can go down to –40°C (–40°F), the permissible discharge is only 0.2C (5-hour rate). Specialty Li-ion can operate to a temperature of –40°C but only at a reduced discharge rate; charging at this temperature is out of the question. With lead acid there is the danger of the electrolyte freezing, which can crack the enclosure. Lead acid freezes quicker with a low charge when the specific gravity is more like water than when fully charged.

You will often see temperature specifications in my reviews (At least with Sony, LG, Samsung, Sanyo) and I doubt there is any charging specifications that goes below 0C (I have not checked and cannot remember all the batteries).

low temperature NiMH ?

low temperature cost NiMH ! :slight_smile:

I remember it’s been mentioned and requested before, but have the PKCell IMR18350 700mAh and PKCell ICR18350 900mAh been reviewed by HKJ here yet?

Reason for asking, is I’m trying to decide whice one suitable for flashlights.
When I tested discharging both at 0.25A, I’m getting very similar mAh values (I followed the manufacturer specs, drain IMR18350 up to cut-off voltage 2.75v, whereas I drained the ICR18350 only up to cut-off 3.00v; then I get around 850-900mAh for both types.)

I didn’t test higher drain rate yet. The ICR18350 is up to 2C (1.8A), whereas the IMR18350 is rated for 10C (7.0A).

Let says, I put them in a shorty tube Convoy S2+ (7135x6 = 2.1A highest mode), will it be bad for the ICR18350 (rated 1.8A)? What does “bad” mean — it shortens the life cycle or it might overheat/explode or something like that? Would it have shorter runtime than using an IMR18350? Because, while the S2+ (7135x6) will drain at 2.1A at highest mode, I wouldn’t be using the highest mode all the time anyway, so the rated 900mAh runtime may be better than the 700mAh IMR18350? (granted, I tested both ICR18350 and IMR18350 to have similar ~ 850-900mAh at low drain rates => similar expected runtime when flashlight at low mode)

Also, is it unsafe to use the ICR18350 (1.8A max discharge) for direct-drive flashlights like Astrolux S1 or Astrolux S41S, since these can drain at higher amps?

Panasonic low temperature cell: NCR18650F

Data sheet: https://na.industrial.panasonic.com/sites/default/pidsa/files/ncr18650f.pdf

https://www.fasttech.com/product/5326002-authentic-panasonic-ncr18650f-3-7v-2900mah

I already have an order on them, but it will be some time before I have time to test them.

How about Sony VTC6A?

I will also test them, but I do not know when.

Fenix ARB-L16-700 with built-in micro USB charging circuit.

How about Soshine 5500 mAh?

Samsung ICR18650-32A @ FastTech

Highest capacity “high voltage” Samsung 18650 cell. Already in the market for a long time, it got my attention quite recently because my brother asked me about restoring his Lenovo ThinkPad “73+” battery, a 3S2P pack which comes rated at 5.6Ah and 11.25V. FastTech claims close to 2.9Ah of measured capacity with the usual 4.2 volts, this is just a smidge hard for me to believe.

Cheers :-)

The Kraftmax hybriX pro (KM-4HDDW) could be probably labeled Fujitsu HR-4UTC:

But they are labeled “Made in China”, so a review could clear the quality.
In this review they are shortly befind the Panasonic eneloop BK-4MCCE/4BE.

Pkcell 10440 are known to be good…an now I’ve seen they have 1300 mAh AAA. It would be nice to see what are they worth.