Test/Review of Samsung ICR18650-30B 3000mAh (Green)

Samsung ICR18650-30B 3000mAh (Green)



Official specifications:

  • Nominal Capacity: 2950mAh (0.2C, 2.75V discharge)
  • Minimum Capacity: 2850mAh(0.2C, 2.75V discharge)
  • Charging Voltage: 4.35 ±0.03 V
  • Nominal Voltage: 3.78V
  • Charging Method: CC-CV (constant voltage with limited current)
  • Charging Current: Standard charge: 1475mA, Rapid charge : 2950mA
  • Charging Time: Standard charge : 3hours, Rapid charge : 2.5hours
  • Max. Charge Current: 2950mA (ambient temperature 25°C)
  • Max. Discharge Current: 5900mA (ambient temperature 25°C)
  • Discharge Cut-off Voltage: 2.75V
  • Cycle life: 299 cycles to 70%
  • Cell Weight: 48.0g max
  • Cell Dimension: Height : 65.00mm max, Diameter : 18.40mm max
  • Operating Temperature: Charge : 0 to 45°C, Discharge: -20 to 60°C,
  • Storage Temperature: 1 year: -20~25°C, 3 months: -20~45°C, 1 month: -20~50°C


Note the charge voltage, it is +/-0.03 volt tolerance, not the usual +/-0.05 volt.

Test with 4.35 volt charging



These cells are high capacity cells with moderate current capability. The higher voltage means more energy.












The discharge curves looks nice, good tracking and nearly constant capacity. The cell has a little trouble with the 7A track, it heats up a bit and this improves the performance.















Test with 4.3 volt charging



Reducing the charge voltage to 4.30 volt means losing about 100-150mAh.



The slightly lower voltage makes the discharge curve be more load independent.














Test with 4.20 volt charging



At 4.2 volt charging the loss is about 400mAh compared to 4.35 volt.



The independence of load is also present at 4.2 volt.















Conclusion

This cell has a more flat discharge curve than some high capacity cells, this means higher voltage at the last part of the discharge at any charge voltage. The initial part of the discharge will be higher when charged from 4.35 volt (only at low loads).

It is a very good cell, but requires a 4.35V charger for best performance.



Notes and links

For 4.35 volt chargers check my chargers reviews, Xtar has a some: WP2h, VP2, SP1.

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

Thank you for the review. Appreciated as always! (I check you site at least twice a day and just can’t get enough of your reviews… sad I know :stuck_out_tongue: )

I’ve been using 30B’s for a while now, I’m glad they tested well.

These are really cheap now…
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10002357/1190101

cycle life is only 299. That’s the only downside I see to this battery so far.

Same, but the protected versions. They were meant to be used for my lower amp draw (ie. less than 3A) lights. It's nice to see they hold their own in the 5A area, even up against a high drain cell like the NCR18650PF.

Yep - I’ve been using the button top unprotected version for a while and have been very happy with them especially as I can get them relatively cheaply (for the UK) locally at aprox $12 a pair including plastic storage box - and no waiting for the slow boat from China to arrive.

HKJ, thanks for your lengthy review as well as the graphs. I hope you can review more protected rather than unprotected batteries!

For comparison it is very nice to have both.

At the current time it will mostly be unprotected batteries, I just got a batch of them.

I guess the reason for the many unprotected reviews is e-cigs, many brands makes high current unprotected for that purpose and some of them send batteries to me for test/review.