Review request for HKJ [Rechargeable Batteries]

That may be true adam7027.

Ni-Zn too much voltage? While this may be true for some devices, I think most would probably take the surplus, it's not that much really (less than 1.75V for most of the discharge curve). Problem is that by the time you may notice the cells are discharged the designed to run with alkalines or carbon zinc appliance will have discharged them quite low.

Hi HKJ,

Love your web site. I didn’t see a Nitecore NL1835HP 3500 tested on it. I would be interested to see if it was as good as Nitecore claims. I have one in my HC33 and love it. Thanks! Mike :+1:

Short answer: no. I may be wrong, but I really doubt it.

Nitecore does not manufacture li-ion cells, they outsource them from actual manufacturers, maybe add protection circuitry like in this case, button top, different wrap and exaggerated specifications. Maybe not by much, but lies anyway. Inside that “3500” NL1835HP probably is a Samsung INR18650-35E, LG INR18650-MJ1/M36, Sanyo NCR18650GA or Murata US18650VC7 cell. These are the cream of the crop in high capacity 18650s and none of them meet a 3500mAh rating. You can check some Nitecore cell reviews by Henrik and see why I say exaggerated ratings: Nitecore IMR18650 3100mAh (Yellow) 2018 (Samsung 30Q inside), Nitecore 18650 2900mAh NL1829LTHP (Black-yellow) 2018 (Panasonic cell).

Cheers ^:)

Thanks for the info! :+1:

Ni-MH enquiry: bought a couple Turnigy sub-C 5000mAh 7.2V stick packs recently and dismantled them, no loose pieces were available by the time. CC/CV mode charged them all in parallel up to 1.414V. Cells have been resting 4¼+ days and just measured their open circuit voltages. From lowest to highest, in volts:

  1. 1.350
  2. 1.361
  3. 1.363
  4. 1.368
  5. 1.370
  6. 1.371
  7. 1.372
  8. 1.374
  9. 1.376
  10. 1.376
  11. 1.377
  12. 1.378

Is this a wild self-discharge spread? I'm not too versed in Ni-MH stuff, right now I am charging up the cells in standard chargers and will assemble them in series. Did another sub-C pack in the past and after charging up all cells I first set all of them in parallel for voltage balancing, I wonder if this does really matter.

Thanks for any tips.

I know some people will laugh on this, but I would like to ask for a review of a NCR18650B from GTF (yes, GTF).

I used to buy batteries from Liitokala and liked their cells, but they changed their shipping methods and screwed everything up ($150!). Then I found some NCR18650B from the “GTF Official Store”. I had already seen bad ratings on them, but nothing about this specific cell model, and since the price was the same of Littokala, but with cheap shipping, I bought it. Allow me to say that they look brand new, very well wrapped and have the same weight than Liitokala NCR18650B. They also get the same mAh ratings on the Lii-500.

https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/100-Nova-NCR18650B-Originais-3-7-v-3400-mah-18650-Bateria-De-L-tio-18650-Bateria/32923736537.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.675ab90ansJY3i

Penta-legged/penta-lobed tops, cells likely manufactured by some chinese OEM (Shenzhen BAK probably).

The problem with this is financing a counterfeiting business model.

I had two doubts about this cells: is it original? and even if not, is it a good cell?

I looked pics of original flat top NCR18650B and there was not so many ‘legs’, so looks like my first question is answered. But the second one remains…

However, looking on the counterfeiting point, you guys can ignore my request.

Thank you anyway!

I have ordered two cells.

Time to add some interesting stuff here.

First of all I must admit I've been vaguely considering the purchase of some additional battery testing gadget, for affordable money of course (not in O:) a hurry). But I also like things to be good, powerful and even beautiful, so let me show you:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC-digital-voltmeter-300V-100A-ammeter-voltage-Mobile-APP-meter-car-battery-capacity-volt-current-detector/32957814319.html

That looks like a lot of gadget for little money. I wonder if that can make discharge graphs, it looks like it is able or sort of.

I may be looking at the wrong :D stuff, but certainly looks interesting.

I also found quite inexpensive 16500 cells which look to be manufactured by Heter Battery: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-lot-Free-shipping-16500-battery-1200mah-3-7V-Li-ion-rechargeable-battery-with-flat-top/32882185152.html

I have no particular interest in them but found them good candidates for a review given their price.

16500 is an odd battery format, what stuff uses this? They do fit in SK68 flashlights, but I seriously doubt they were designed with them in mind. Maybe for the small electric appliance market?

Cheers ^:)

100A, I doubt it, except for a short peak.
I have ordered both your suggestions.

HKJ,

could you retest the Panasonic NCR18650B on the 4-wire test station?
It’s still the most common high-energy cell.

Also, it would be very nice to be able to compare 3 cells in the comparator instead of only 2.

Thanks for your work and great website!
I read the “multimeter design” article yesterday and learnt a lot.

Hey HKJ,

I want to thank you for your time and work. I would like to ask if you could test the Sofirn 18650 3000mAh batteries. You can buy them here in their AliExpress store.

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32926129538.html?trace=storeDetail2msiteDetail&spm=a2g0n.store_home.allProducts_2846568.32926129538

Thanks and best regards
Tom

At the current time I have a long queue for battery >2800mAh and do not want to buy any for testing. For smaller batteries my queue is basically empty.

For small cells, think this 16340 has been mentioned before, but the IMREN 14500 and 16340 would be great - I've had both for quite some time now.

https://liionwholesale.com/collections/batteries/products/imren-imr-14500-700mah-button-top-battery?variant=33786711889

https://www.imrbatteries.com/imren-16340-700mah-button-top-battery/

Do you know any EU shops or Chinese shops that sells them?

Vapcell is releasing a “16340 800mah 7A” cell. I guess some info will available here, and I suggested Dennis to send you some to test them.

EDIT: And it is never too much to thank you for all your works in these tests! So thank you HKJ :beer:

Sorry, no, but haven't searched yet.

The Vapcell 16340 is listed now:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-capacity-power-RCR123A-Vapcell-16340-800mah-7A-CDR-3-7v-Rechargeable-Li-lon-Battery-First/33000319786.html
I’m curious about the blue 14500 650mAh too, how does it compare to the purple Efest:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/High-power-original-Vapcell-INR14500-650mah-7A-3-7V-li-lon-rechargeable-14500-battery-For-flashlights/1084158_32974996117.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.3.527f747cAVH8ry
The Vapcell 18350 seems to have changed manufacturer without changing the wrapper, there was a rand about that by Mooch I seem to remember, maybe a re-test?
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Vapcell-purple-18350-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Battery-1100mah-3-7V-9A-for-Electronic-Cigarette-18350-Vape/1084158_32872007642.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.1.10307614XTS764

Generally speaking the price of these newer cells leaves me far from being thrilled. The newer 16340 800mAh and Vapcell's 18350 “1100” (cough!) are the worst offenders, particularly the 18350 which can be bought from a well known alternative source at a shockingly ;-) better price. Please lower your jacked up 18350 prices Vapcell, please.

I do not like button tops. I do not like disguising cell practices.

Cheers ^:)