Test / Review: AW IMR 18650 2000mAh (Red)

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

AW IMR 18650 2000mAh (Red)



Official specifications:

  • Nominal Voltage : 3.7V
  • Capacity : 2000mAH
  • Lowest Discharge Voltage : 2.50V
  • Standard Charge : CC/CV ( max. charging rate 2A )
  • Cycle Life : > 500 cycles
  • Max. continuous discharge rate : 10A
  • Operating Discharge Temperature : -10 - 60 Degree Celsius




The most interesting parameter with these batteries is the 10A maximum discharge rate.
The cell used can be discharged down to 2.5 volt, in my test I only discharges to 2.8 volt, i.e. I do not measure the full capacity. But then, not all lights will be able to use the full capacity.









The discharge curves at lower loads are not very interesting, many other batteries can do better, but the 5-10A range is above what most LiIon batteries can handle. It cannot match the old AW 1600mAh battery for voltage, but has better capacity.





Notice the short runtime at 10A load, it is only slightly above 10 minutes.











Conclusion

The battery is good battery, but with only 2000mAh it is best used in application that need 5A to 10A current draw and where capacity is more important than maximum voltage.



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

2

Thanks again HJK for the review!

3

Thanks for the review. By capacity do you mean current draw?

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No, I mean the mAh. Try comparing it to the 1600mAh in my comparator, if you can live with 400mAh less capacity you get more voltage when you are above 5A. And while you are checking, try also compare it to some 2250mAh cells.

5

Thx for the review HKJ!! Have been waiting for higher capacity 18650-sized IMR's. Although the CK's are pretty good, they are still hybrids and the performance is not as good vs. the AW's at higher draws.

Again, what a great tool you've built with the comparator, it's been soooo useful!

Cheers,

Tim

6

Another great review HKJ, thanks so much! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

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What is the link of best price international seller?

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How hot do the batteries get at 10A discharge?

I carried out a 15w / 5A max discharge test on some batteries and measured the surface temperature (over the wrapper) to see how they compare. The maximum temperatures reached were:

Panasonic CGR18650CH - 35.8 deg C
Samsung INR 18650-15Q - 34.6 deg C
Sanyo UR18650W2 - 31.7 deg C
Panasonic NCR18650A - 33.7 deg C
Trustfire 3000mAh 2C - 48.1 deg C
AW IMR 2000mAh – 34.9 deg C
AW IMR 1600mAh – 28.9 deg C

I included the Trustfire to see how a standard Li-Ion chemistry would compare, and the Panasonic NCR18550A to see how effective their Heat Reducing Layer is - pretty effective I would say.

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http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?230876-AW-s-LiIon-Batteries-Sales-Thread-**Part-12**