Test/review of Vapcell AA 1800mAh P1418A (Black-Orange) 2020

Vapcell AA 1800mAh P1418A (Black-Orange) 2020







Official specifications:

  • Size: ø 14.2mm x 50.2mm

  • Nominal voltage: Constant 1.50V +/- 0.02V

  • Typical capacity: 1800mAh

  • Minimum capacity: 1700mAh

  • Weight: Max. 22g

  • Charge by USB: 5V 350mA +/- 50mA

  • Over current protection: 2-3A

  • Maximum continuous discharge current: 1500mA

  • Build in battery: LiIon INR14430 920mAh 3.6V



This is a USB charged LiIon backed 1.5V cell with a build-in buck converter to step voltage down.













This type of cell has a very stable output voltage independent of load up to the limit. The two cells has slightly different capacity.
The A 0.2A curve is due to a failed charge. At 2A the battery shuts down and recovers constantly.










The battery can deliver about 1.8A, then it will shut down.



This charge test is done much later than the other tests and the battery has not been charged in that period. This means it was completely empty and the cell must have been damaged due to that.



Conclusion

The cells works fine as 1.5V USB charged batteries. The maximum output current is fine compared to alkaline batteries, but cannot match a NiMH battery.
Also, the battery cannot be stored for prolonged periods, it must be charged at regular intervals, this will be the case for all LiIon based 1.5V batteries.



Notes and links

The batteries was supplied by Vapcell for review.

How is the test done and how to read the charts
Compare to other AA/AAA batteries: Alkaline/NiMH/Lithium

Thanks for this review, HKJ! I’ve wanted to know how this battery performs for some time now.

I do have some questions:

In your information table — [Discharge current — Capacity mAh — Energy mWh]
0.2A 1996mAh 2967mWh
0.5A 2325mAh 2354mWh
1.0A 1737mAh 2584mWh

Is the information for 0.5A correct? 2325mAh (at around 1.5v) but only 2354mWh?

I’ve tried using SkyRC MC3000 to discharge a just-fully-charged Vapcell P1418A at –0.50A and got around 1928mAh before it dropped to 0-volt.
(I understand the MC3000 wouldn’t be that accurate. compared to more professional test equipment…)

Another question:

Is the “USB charging” graph started from when the battery is Empty? (I think probably not, because only “288mAh” capacity was charged).

I tested how long it took to charge a fully-drained P1418A, and it took a bit over 3 hours.
(using EBD-USB+ meter at the USB source voltage side)

No, I made a typo transfering results from my test log to the spreadsheet, it is fixed now.

Sadly yes, but the battery had been in storage for some time and discharged totally, this had damaged the cell.