Test/Review of Orbtronic 18650 3600mAh (Black)

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

Orbtronic 18650 3600mAh (Black)


Official specifications:

  • Capacity (Ah): 3.6 Ah (3600mAh)
  • Energy (Wh): 13 Wh
  • Nominal Voltage (V): 3.6V - 3.7V
  • Charging Voltage (V): 4.2 V
  • Weight (g): 47 g
  • Diameter (mm): 18.6 mm (+/- 0.03mm)
  • Height (mm): 68.9 mm (+/- 0.03mm)
  • Max. Discharge rate: 2C (7.2A)
  • Chemical Composition: Li-ion (Lithium-Ion)
  • Protection ICs: Made in Japan (Design by Seiko)
  • Bare Cell: Made by Panasonic, Made in Japan
  • Button Top: Yes
  • External Resettable Protection: Yes
  • Overcharge Protection: Activated at 4.35V
  • Overdischarge Protection: Activated at 2.5V
  • Overcurrent Protection: Activated at 7.5A-8.5A
  • Overheating, and dual short circuit protection (External, and Internal).




This is the next increase in battery capacity, from 3400mAh to 3600mAh, this is not a huge increase.
With my test conditions (Discharge to 2.8 volt), I do not get 200mAh more capacity, more like 100mAh.
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.



Orbtronic uses a very nice packing for this battery.









Due to the protection the battery cannot deliver 7A continuous.















Conclusion

When comparing this battery to the 3400mAh cell, the new battery has slight higher voltage and slightly higher capacity, this is not a revolution in any way, just a small improvement.
Being based on a Panasonic cell the battery is, of course, a very good battery.


Notes and links

The battery was supplied by Orbtronic for review.

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 for the review!

Not worth the price difference IMO. :slight_smile:

3

Especially compared to 3400mAh cells with less complicated citcuits (=with less resistance) when capacity and voltage under load is basically the same.

4

Thanks for testing this new battery, the improvement is small but if money is not the limiting factor this one is more attractive than the 3400mAh one. (but this being BLF, here money is always the limiting factor :-( )

5

Thanks for the review.

6

HKJ thank you for the review!

3600mAh is holding voltage better. Another good thing is that price of 3400mAh protected cells is down - pushed by new 3600mAh cells. Orbtronic 3600mAh vs. Eagletac 3400mAh protected at 5 Amps

7

3600mAh vs non-cherrypicked worst 3400mAh at 5 amps:

What’s with the marketing bs, SpaceCowboy? :stuck_out_tongue:

8

It depends on the protection current limit, a battery with 12A limit will have higher output voltage, than a battery with 6A current limit, when measured at the same current.

To get the most fair comparison between 3600 and 3400, find a 3400 with the same protection current limit.

9

Good call. I’ll be watching for a bare cell to cell comparison. :slight_smile:

10

You should learn about batteries much much more, especially about protection circuits.
You should also know basics of nice communication, and one simple “Thank you HKJ for your time, and devotion” wouldn’t hurt.

Are you saying that Eagletac are the worst batteries?

11

I have EagleTac 's and KeepPowers - KeepPowers are far superior - that 5A graph above tells the story. I'll never buy an EagleTac again - their protection circuit is highly inefficient compared to a KP, but of course for me, low resistance is a high priority to get from a cell - unprotected or protected.

Thanks HKJ for this review! It's the first 3600 based cell you tested, but hope you get an unprotected version at some point soon to test. Any in the queue?

12

EagleTac are not the worst batteries, but not really good either. Even worse than these generic protected cells: http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Panasonic%20NCR18650B%20Protected%203400mAh%20%28Green%29%20UK.html

I guess the Enerpower circuit is pretty similar to the Orbtronic one. So the real difference is somewhere between the two graphs you guys posted..

13

I do not have any unprotected yet, but I will be on lookout for some.

14

Anyone stock these 3600 keeppowers ?.
Thanks…