These batteries are not from Panasonic, they are made by an unknown manufacturer that buys Panasonic cells and then add protection!
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.
These batteries shows very good performance.
The protection circuit trips at a value that will protect the battery from being mistreated.
Conclusion
This battery uses a good cell, this secures many things:
The batteries does match in capacity, i.e. they can be used in series.
The battery is very safe.
The battery has the specified capacity (But only when tested at the specified conditions).
All in all a very good battery.
I have to add a warning to this conclusion: Somebody might see an opportunity to earn more money, i.e. take a cheap cell and add a fake Panasonic wrapper. I expect this will happen!
Unfortunately, like you said, we're quite likely to see fakes soon. Which is why I hoard Panasonics right away before they are more popular. Later, they might just be like TF / UF right now, very hard to find genuine ones.
And with gleaming reviews like this all over BLF and elsewhere, I'd expect this won't take too long.
I do hope to return to these tests and do a couple of different LiIon batteries, but as long as I have lots of batteries for the battery test, it will have to wait.
i think that's exactly what i was talking about: the discharge capacity of a li-ion cell starting off a resting voltage other than the (slightly overcharged but "standard") 4.20V.
so from the table i am gathering that the AW cell (-0.1A, 4.10V) contains only 89% of the max possible capacity (-0.1A, 4.20V, 2336mAh), namely 2072mAh.
reason why i am curious, it happens that the integrated flashlight charger of one of my flashlights only charges the cells to 4.103V, while i was expecting 4.15V or higher. poor charging circuit in my flashlight!!
well this reminds of a night club where i order a 0.2L glass of cold coke but the tender serves a half-a**ed glass with maybe 0.17L in it hehe. gotta hate that club!! ;)
Good point. When the flashlight signals "charging done!", i take out the HQ cells (18650 Panasonic) and measure their voltage (i.e. after 10 seconds). UT61E would show a 4.104V offline reading. Since these are HQ cells, the self-discharge rate, offline, is super low. After 60 minutes UT61E would still return ~4.10V, so no big difference/self-discharge/loss of capacity.