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

Considering that a website is your shop window, nothing should be put up for sale that is not performance tested IMHO......Unless you have more front than Woolworths.

Guys,

How about these NCR18650A 3100mAh with welded top button, but without protection add-on PCB ?

Size would be just about right for any flashlight, and you can use them connected in series.

Thank you for your opinion

AW takes a cell and add some protection, this is the same as intl-outdoor, RediLast and lot of other does and all uses the Panasonic cell (inclusive AW) for the 3100mAh battery, i.e. they are just about the same in capacity. Actual performance at high currents will vary with protection PCB.

I have done test of both AW and intl-outdoor and also some other batteries, you can find these test here and on my website. I will also post comparisons charts between these batteries, making it easier to see the differences.

I ordered 3 of these cells and received them last week. I have tested them in a Fenix TK30 and TK35 on high / turbo mode and they perform satisfactorily; no protection cut off.

Whether the original PCB is going to be an issue or not is all going to come down to what the current draw actually is in that particular light - it's going to be fine for some lights, but not for others. I could happily use these in any of my single XR-E or XP-G lights for instance. A moderately driven single XM-L is also no problem. When you start looking at things like fully driven MC-Es, P7s,SST-50s, XM-Ls etc. then you are likely to find that the current draw will be too high for the protection circuit.

Keep the current draw to around 2 amps max, they should not trip and you should not loose to much run time.

I do find this funny "2 amp maxium current draw from panisonics" or is it just me.

Im waiting for the new version to come out and be well tested before I jump in again, but then xtar are releasing cheap protected 3100,s

Panasonic bare cells NCR18650A will run up to 6A w/o problem.

Yes the unprotected ones will, I've tested them on this thread to 6.2 amps, but the protected version we are talking about here will struggle at 2 amps

That's what happens when manufacturer (seller) cut the corners on PCB design to save some $$.

Bare NCR 18650A cells are the best 18650 cells on the market (so far) - no doubt about that.

Yes great cells, even better if you can use them down to 2.5 volt.

Hello everyone, im new here. Very nice forum. Great review.

Im new to all this - and I have ordered 4 x NCR1850A batteries. I was planning on using them in a dereelight dbs-t aspheric with the 1.5a EZ900 pill - but now I have some questions/concerns.(using 2 x panasonic unprotected 18650's)

Basically I ordered these batteries because I had read they were very good batteries.(same reason I ordered the torch)

Problem is, the more reading I do, the more worried I get that I cannot use 2 x NCR18650A unprotected cells together in my new Dereelight.

I must have read dozens of pages on the subject already but cant really find a solid answer. I have learnt that over charging and over discharding are the main safety concerns with unprotected cells. I have also learnt that panasonic cells are very safe/reliable even if unprotected.

So my basic question is, can i use two of these togerher in my new dereelight? Assuming I measure voltage while charging etc, and dont let them get too low on power? Almost eveything i have read suggests almost all problems/fires etc happen while charging..so i cant really see the problem.

Comments?

thanks very much

Hello,

I think it will be the easiest way to ask user 2100 - he has the light (and a lot others, too) and I think, he has some unprotecetd batteries, too. Maybe he could answer your question well.

When will the protected Version be available?

You can already get the Panasonic NCR18650A in protected versions, but not from Panasonic.

All the 3100mAh batteries listed in my comparison uses the above cell (And I will be adding more).

I din't have time to post them, yet.

Panasonic NCR18650A bare cell 3100mAh

Panasonic NCR18650A with Button top - without protection (wrapped in black PVC)

Panasonic NCR18650A Protected Cut off at 7A (with 2 types of full button tops), cut off at 2.5V

High drain Panasonic CGR18650CH 10A continuous discharge with button top

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HKJ - you will get some new "players" in your testing collection.

Learned from AW, and Redilast , and made even better 18650 battery.

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Unfortunately protection circuit on cells that you have is with only one FET, and it will trip on about 3A always.

I also understand that seller had very good intentions , but lower price, and manuf. promises made his project not so good on test bench.

THe new protected batteries are available.. from IOS.

please read my opening post

Did you send your new cells to HKJ to test them ?

Hi, not me.. Hank did, the owner of Intl Outdoorshop!

At what current draw level protection will terminate this time?

Please have a look here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/6745

there is the test HKJ performed...