Test/Review of AW 18500 1500mAh (Black) 2016

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

AW 18500 1500mAh (Black) 2016







Official specifications:

  • Nominal capacity: 1500mAh

  • Nominal Voltage: 3.7V

  • Diameter: 18.45mm

  • Length: 51.33mm +/- 0.05mm

  • Max. discharge rate: 2C (3A)

  • PCB protection against overcharge, over discharge and short circuit

  • Safety vent with thermal cut off protection




This cell from AW is a bit shorter than 18650 cells and is used in a few devices (2 of these cells matches 3 CR123 in length and voltage).










The discharge curves looks good, the two cells match nicely and capacity is nearly constant independent on load, but the cells are not for high current.







Even when discharging at 5A, the cells do not get unresonable hot.















Conclusion

I have a suspicion that just about all 18500 cells on the market uses a old design and that is the reason for the fairly low capacity.
With that said these cells look good up to a few amps.



Notes and links

The batteries was supplied by aw-akku.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
2

Thanks HKJ.

3

Thanks.
Its worse than classic Sanyo 18500 like all the 18500s…

4

But there is not much progress in 18500s…whereas 18650s seem to get better and better in many different ways…

I am unsure how old the sanyo 18500 is(I have them feeled forever) and I have not found any better 18500 in terms of voltage sag combined with capacity. The Panasonic cells have a bit more capacity,but the Panasonic typical constant decrease in voltage and all other batteries seem to be even worse…so for 18500 up to 3A the sanyo or a protected version of it seems the best. For more than 3A the only option are the 1Ah 18500.

Vapers are junkies so they use everything they can get there hands on :wink: these 18500 are no way high power for me which begins above 3A but the AW Fanboys will sure love it and pay any price… The voltage sag is terrible and especially if you compare to a 18650 which is a lot lot lot better so every serious user which needs power should use 18650s…

5

Look at the current generation of 18650:
3300mAh @ 10A
3000mAh @ 15A
2500mAh @ 25A
I would expect about (for 18500 assuming 70% active size) if they used the same technology:
2300mAh @ 7A
2000mAh @ 10A
1700mA @ 17A