Test/Review of LG 18650 E1 3200mAh (Green)

LG 18650 E1 3200mAh (Green)



Official specifications:

  • Typical capacity: 3200mAh
  • Minimum capacity: 3100mAh
  • Nominal voltage: 3,75V
  • Charge voltage: 4,2V - 4,35V ± 0,05
  • Discharge cut-off voltage: 2,75V
  • Continuous discharge: 1,5C = 4650mA
  • Chemistry: LiNiCoAlO2
  • Protection: No
  • Button top: no
  • Diameter: 18,30mm ± 0,05mm
  • Length: 64,9mm ± 0,05mm
  • Weight: 49g ± 0,01g
  • Charge methode: CC-CV




This is a high capacity 4.35 volt cell.











The cell look very good, the two cells tracks nicely and capacity does not change with load up to the rated current.















Test with 4.3 volt charging



Using a slightly lower charge voltage reduces the capacity with about 0.15Ah

















Test with 4.2 volt charging



Going down to a normal 4.2 volt charger cost 0.4Ah in capacity.

















Conclusion

These batteries can be interesting to drive led lights due to their slightly higher voltage, but it looks like LG has traded high current ability for capacity compared to the older 3000mAh cell.
When looking at Wh, this cell can match a 3400mAh cell, due to the higher voltage.

I will call it a very good battery, but a 4.35V charger is needed to really use it.



Notes and links

The batteries was supplied by Akkuteile.de 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
Compare to 18650 and other batteries

4.35 volt chargers: Xtar VP2, Xtar SP1

Fantastic, I’ve been waiting for this to be reviewed, many thanks.

I have been using the older D1 cells with my 1.14A light and using the E1 with my 3A light.
After going through your comparator I have to reverse my cell usage.

Your testing shows this newer E1 to be optimal for my 1.14A light and the older D1 cells to be optimal for the 3A light.

Btw, I can’t believe how much better the older D1 cells are over these at 5A.

Thank you HKJ!

Thank you!
What is the maximum recommended charge current?

I do not have the datasheet for the cell.

The 3000mAh had 0.5C for standard charge and 1C for max. charge current, this cell may be a bit below these values.

Thank you. Is there a way to get the datasheet? As usual, it’s not on the web…

@lagman, I have the LG D1 3000mAh datasheet. Pm me your email and I’ll send it over when I get home in a few hours.
I’m assuming it should be very similar to the E1.

Thanks for the reviews & charts as well!

Many thanks for the review.

Maybe some company should add a protection on top and sell it, or more by making specified charger for this. So in the future every flashlights have more stability to pump out 1000+ lumens on only one 18650… Just saying…

You can already get it with protection, but it was not that good a match: http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Keeppower%2018650%203200mAh%20%28Black%29%202014%20UK.html

Interesting… Didn’t realize its already in your reviews, but its kind of hard for us to notice as they didn’t fully state it as a 4.35v version batteries. Or did Keeppower just expect us to use it as a regular 4.2v?

The new Xiaomi powerbank 16000mah has 5 of this babe - LGABE11865 , with current price of 24$ that work out to be 4.8 USD/each for 3200mah unprotected 18650… much cheaper vs getting it from fasttech.

Also the new Xiaomi powerbank 10,000 mah is even better, with 3 Sanyo NCR18650BF 3400 mah, with current price of 12,56 USD that work out to be about 4,2 USD per cell, pretty good to me. Funny thing that banggood itself sell 1 cell NCR18650BF for 9 USD, but currently are selling the powerbank with 3 cells NCR18650BF for 12 USD. If you want to stock up on high quality non protective cell this is the one to get, much easier than doing laptop pull.

The battery in the Xiaomi powerbank is named the same but has a purple wrapper?
Has anyone information why there are different coloured batts with the same name?
Look here at post #13 for some pictures of the Xiaomi 16000 inside.

Maybe like 25R
Old = blue —- new = green…….

Maybe………….

I have noticed these PURPLE LG E1 cells (3200mah) are much cheaper than other LG cells. what’s the catch?

Lower performance than other models.

This battery can only produce 4.6 Amps.
MH1 - MJ1 batteries with the same NCA chemistry handle up to 10Amps.

It’s cheaper because it can not work like the other batteries.

If you want a 4.35V battery from LG, look for the LG D1 better, but this battery (LG D1) is ICR

There are four LG E1 batteries

Brown (- Orange ) 4.20 V * 2100mAh * 10A

Green 4.20 V - 3200 mAh 4.6A
Green 4.30 V - 3200 mAh 4.6A
Green 4.35 V - 3200 mAh 4.6A