Test/review of LiitoKala INR26650-50A 5000mAh (Black)

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T14:17:38.000Z

After nearly 2 months, four blue 5100mAh “LiitoKala” 26650s arrived today.

These are different then the blue 5000mAh cells HKJ tested and probably different than the Black and Gold cells HKJ reviewed in this thread. The Black and Golds are sold by a different LiitoKala. liitokala.com.cn and liitokalahongkong.aliexpress < shrug >

The label on the blue wrap includes a link to the liitokala.aliexpress 133859 store I bought them from. Are they fake? Looks likely. Are they junk? The wrap and labels are sloppy. (see photo)

I’m analysing one now in my ISDT C4. It will take a few days to cycle through all four.

Barkuti · 2018-11-06T11:40:44.000Z

Andrew_Debbie:

After nearly 2 months, four blue 5100mAh “LiitoKala” 26650s arrived today.

These are different then the blue 5000mAh cells HKJ tested and probably different than the Black and Gold cells HKJ reviewed in this thread. …

The originally rewrapped cells are known to be a little bit wider (≈∅26.7mm) than other 26650s. Measure them, carefully remove those stickers to see what's going on underside and take a shoot at the wrap markings. If willing to, unwrap them. Make a nice close up shot of their positive poles. If you are able measure their DC internal resistance, should be no higher than 28mΩ.

Cheers :-)

JasonWW · 2018-11-06T12:21:11.000Z

Andrew_Debbie:

The label on the blue wrap includes a link to the liitokala.aliexpress 133859 store I bought them from. Are they fake? Looks likely. Are they junk? The wrap and labels are sloppy.

I don’t think “fake” is the correct word. How can a new, original product be fake? It can’t be.

I think you mean you suspect the capacity to be incorrect or the cells to not be very good. Do you suspect they are not actually Liitokala brand?

I’m very curious about your tests. I wish you had a light with a FET driver, xhp70.2 that used 2 of these cells to see how many amps it’s pulls. Do you already have an idea of its internal resistance?

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T13:49:41.000Z

The cell that is undergoing analysis read out 85mΩ at the start of the discharge cycle. It is currently at –1.5A, 3.42V, –4116mAh and 107mΩ.

I measured the three that aren’t in the C4.

∅26.65 - 26.67mm
≈L 52.30 - 52.58mm

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T13:48:39.000Z

Here is a look at the top

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T13:53:43.000Z

JasonWW · 2018-11-06T14:11:15.000Z

It’s odd they are still identifying this cell as the Lii-50A. It should be the Lii-51A.

I see one spec showing it’s 15A continous. I never saw this before, but it’s been a few months since I looked.

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T14:19:05.000Z

JasonWW:

I don’t think “fake” is the correct word. How can a new, original product be fake? It can’t be.

I used to say exactly the same thing. I’m not so sure anymore.

www.liito-kala.com has a link to store 133859, LiitoKala Official Flagship Store ( liitokala.aliexpress.com ). Store 133859 sells the blue 26650s pictured above.

http://liitokala.com.cn links to AliExpress store 217753, liitokala Official Store ( liitokalahongkong.aliexpress.com ) Store 217753 sells the black and gold 26650 Lii-50A tested at the top of this thread.

Are these storefronts for the same company? Is 133859 selling LiitoKala knock-offs? I don’t know. Store 217753 used to sell fake name brand batteries but now gives them names like 100% original LiitoKala for LG HE4.

The stickers on 18650s from store 217753 have a url that leads back to store 217753

The sticker on the pink 21700s from store 133859 has links for both LiitoKala websites. < shrug >

I wish you had a light with a FET driver, xhp70.2 that used 2 of these cells to see how many amps it’s pulls. Do you already have an idea of its internal resistance?

So do I. My L6 has the stock driver.

teacher · 2018-11-06T14:23:54.000Z

Good reading & info Andrew_Debbie, thanks for posting. :+1:

Looking forward to more.

Barkuti · 2018-11-06T14:25:07.000Z

Andrew_Debbie:

The cell that is undergoing analysis read out 85mΩ at the start of the discharge cycle. It is currently at -1.5A, 3.42V, -4116mAh and 107mΩ.

…

When I said DC internal resistance I mean direct current, not the usually dulled and mostly useless 1KHz AC reading analyzing chargers obtain. Also, the reading at the start of discharge is invalid because the charger measures AC voltage variation injecting AC current into the cell, and I guess it cannot go above maximum cell voltage (and it's there).

To obtain a valid DC internal resistance measurement you need to measure cell voltage variation right at its terminals upon DC current shift out of or into the cell. It can be done with a 4-terminal cell holder, precision power supply or discharge rig, and oscilloscope or precision voltmeter. Without 4-terminal cell holder, the aid of an assistant can help; fellow1 needs to proceed with supply current adjustments while fellow2 needs to hold the multimeter probes at the cell terminals without touching the current leads, and at least one of the two needs to memorize the numbers and do the math.

Andrew_Debbie:

…

I measured the three that aren't in the C4.

∅26.65 - 26.67mm
≈L 52.30 - 52.58mm

Diameter is correct as far as I understand. The lenght, however, must be wrong.

Cheers ^:)

Barkuti · 2018-11-06T14:33:06.000Z

Andrew_Debbie:

…

www.liito-kala.com has a link to store 133859, LiitoKala Official Flagship Store ( liitokala.aliexpress.com ). Store 133859 sells the blue 26650s pictured above.

http://liitokala.com.cn links to AliExpress store 217753, liitokala Official Store ( liitokalahongkong.aliexpress.com ) Store 217753 sells the black and gold 26650 Lii-50A tested at the top of this thread.
…

Cheers :-)

JasonWW · 2018-11-06T14:37:36.000Z

So you are thinking some Liitokala blue 5100 are real Liitokala and some might be fake Liitokala 5100? This seems possible.

It is a shame for the company. Their blue and back 26650 were so good. Now we have black 26650 going bad. I don’t think I’ll buy them anymore. The new 5100 seems to have very high internal resistance. Things are not looking good for them.

Only their yellow 21700 4000mah Lishen based cell has a good reputation now.

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T14:52:45.000Z

I don’t have the tools to make precision DC resistance measurements. No room in the budget for new toys.

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T15:00:44.000Z

Barkuti:

The lenght, however, must be wrong.

Cheers :partying_face:

ooops. My dial callipers aren’t metric. Math error. I also have to use sheet of paper to insulate the battery.

2.50669”

~63.67mm - the paper ~63.6mm

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T15:17:32.000Z

JasonWW:

So you are thinking some Liitokala blue 5100 are real Liitokala and some might be fake Liitokala 5100?

Take the sticker off mine and they say INR26650-50A underneath.

There are two “official” LiitoKala stores selling two different 26650s? “Two men say they’re Jesus. One of them must be wrong.”

https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/LiitoKala%20INR26650-50A%205000mAh%20(Cyan)%20UK.html

https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/LiitoKala%20INR26650-50A%205000mAh%20(Black)%20UK.html

Barkuti · 2018-11-06T18:03:15.000Z

Andrew_Debbie:

…

ooops. My dial callipers aren’t metric. Math error. I also have to use sheet of paper to insulate the battery.

2.50669"

~63.67mm - the paper ~63.6mm

You can also use your measurement units imho, let people deal with their own issues in this respect if they need to. There are conversion tools everywhere nowadays. I can even convert most of my usual stuff mentally.

Waaay too short for flat top 26650 cells. They usually measure 65mm or a tiiiny bit more. HKJ measured 65 and 65.1mm for the cyan and black cells, respectively. Mangled caliper?

Cheers :-)

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T18:50:06.000Z

It is possible. I bought them at a Navy surplus store sometime around 1982. Carbon fibre Tajima dial calipers. Need to measure some other batteries.

Results from the first analysis are in.

1.5A discharge. —>. 4651mAh
2.0A charge —> 4905mAh

Not good.

Andrew_Debbie · 2018-11-06T19:06:41.000Z

My Gold and Black cells all test over 5000mAh on the same C4 at the same 1.5A discharge.

(photo of one earlier in this thread)

5100mAh? Maybe under very special test conditions.

I’ll check the other 3 cells when I can.

volchyonok · 2018-11-06T20:18:32.000Z

Barkuti:

Barkuti · 2018-11-06T20:37:35.000Z

Andrew_Debbie:

…

Results from the first analysis are in.

1.5A discharge. -->. 4651mAh
2.0A charge --> 4905mAh

Not good.

Definitively bad stuff. Open dispute and grab all the evidence you're able comparing them to your blacks discharging in the Zanflare C4. Take good photographs. Fight like the Tsar Bomba.

Buying cells from AliExpress, let me say, is maybe even worse than from eBay. At least in eBay you have PayPal which saves your arse. This is not always the case in AliExpress, and raises cost to some extent. AliExpress is great to buy a nice, good fake. :-)

Shockli 5500mAh 26650s with fairly good price at 192led. Can pay with PayPal and shipping is cheap, at least for me. Give it a try if you will, I'm ordering Lii-100 chargers from them already.

Cheers :-)