I’m should receive my Pana PDs soon. I was hoping to get a little more current out of them compared to my Sanyo ZTs.
If they perform well, they might be a good budget option for higher current lights, and still have some capacity.
I have heard good things about the newer Samsung high-drain cells too, but no first-hand experience. They are 4.35V as well, IIRC.
Hmm . . . another consideration, but what about voltage sag between any of these? I'm guessing an IMR 26650 should sag less than an 18650 generally speaking.
-Garry
Keep an eye out for Milwaukee v-series battery packs in your local HD’s clearance area. They have been discontinued and are no longer carried. The M-series has replaced it. I just scored 3 V18’s with a charger for $40. Each pack has 5 Moli 26700 IMR’s. 3000mAh each. I don’t have measuring equipment, but I have some single cell xml2 lights like the hd2010. The lights are brighter then with unprotected King Kongs. That seems like an indicator of less sag.
EDIT: Oh, I did measure current at the tail of a couple lights. It was higher in each, but I didn’t bother recording or calculating how much an increase it was. Seemed like less than 10%.
Did you order them from FT? I just got four, and all the negative ends are dented in exactly the same. It looks like it might be assembly line damage. They seem fine other than that. Factory seconds?
Yeah FT. You mean the C-shaped dent in the photos on their listing?
I think that is a stamp impression where the cell roll is internally welded to the case. It may be a manufacturing defect, making these seconds, but if it didn’t puncture or severely weaken the case, they should be good to go.
are you using these series or single cell?
ten amp discharge is a lot, what are you up to? because I want a piece of it. Sl3 mod?
Until 10A panasonic pd is the best over this the Samsung 20R is better…Use hkjs comparator to compare a Panasonic pd with some 26650s…
It's for single cell multi-emitter use. I might be getting a light in for review with which I would like to test with a high quality cell (just in case it significantly helps for output). Besides, I'd like to have some good cells anyway :) . I'm thinking to get some Panasonic NCR18650PD's.
-Garry
I couldn't find the Panasonic PD listed in the comparator.
EDIT - Ah! It's these Enerpowers!
EDIT #2 - Using HKJ's Comparator the Efest 26650 IMR's easily beat out the Enerpower/Panasonic 18650 PD's!
-Garry
I hope the 26650 IMRs can beat the 18650 NCRs in a current supply race! 
From a price comparison, now that’s a different story. 
Well I am looking at the ability of the 26650's to hold higher voltage.
And interestingly enough I see the two types of 26650's I already own (TF Flame 26650 & King Kong INR) also hold higher voltage than the Panasonic PD's. I was guessing the PD's might at least beat the TF Flames (well, they are better than "Fake" flames I'm sure).
-Garry
I didn’t even notice that image on the FT website. When I first got them, I took one out of the package and threw it in a new light. I thought the brass spring sleeve had screwed up my new cell. I had the whole ail assembly taken apart before I realized the other three cells were the same.
I have some more coming from DoingOutdoor. I’m curious to see if they are the same.
If 3.2 volts under heavy load are enough, how about LiFePO4:
A123 18650:
A123 26650:
I have both types of batteries and their ability to deliver insane amounts of current is simply incredible!
My PD’s from doing outdoor are the same. I figure they are meant to be like that.
26650s beat 18650s in holding voltage, that’s what they are really good for…I learned that with the BLF A8 which has really nice runtime
The Efest 26650s are really nice if you don’t consider the miserable capacity.
What about paralleling some 18650s?
I tried once to order efest batteries but never got an invoice, I am really confused about their shop.
With these currents the protection circuits are suboptimal as they steal voltage, I have seen some nice tests here from night crawl or so which compares the Panasonic PD with the Samsung20r and the conclusion was that the Panasonic are better(almost same voltage but more capacity) below 7A and from that the samsung is better. So HKJ graph from the enerdan PD is different…
Here it is
But if you can use 26650s than this doesn’t matter anyway…until you go in the 15A field
I thought those Moli IMR 26700’s were considered top notch. You get 5 new for around $35-45 in a Milwaulkee V18 pack on ebay. Why are you all willing to pay $15ish/cell for the ones mentioned above?
I make my living in heavy construction. My company bought in to the Milwaukee V28 li-ions when they first came out 5 or so years ago. As the batteries have died I have been able to harvest on average about 4 cells out of the 7 cell packs. They are Emoli IMR 26700’s and rated for EXTREME withdrawal currents. They are too long for some lights but fit most of mine. I mainly buy 26650 lights nowadays because of this nearly inexhaustible supply of batts for free! Sometimes all 7 cells are flat, other times only 1. Check those discard bins at Lowe’s and Home Depot!
I'm afraid I might run into length issues with the 26700's. I don't have the light in hand yet. About the Efest 26650's, thanks to ecigs I can get these cells from numerous US sellers. I'm afraid to ask to dive into the battery recycling bins! Each battery is also wrapped in a plastic bag (at least at my HD).
-Garry