Test/review of Vapcell INR14500 950mAh P1409A (Black-red) 2020

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

Vapcell INR14500 950mAh P1409A (Black-red) 2020







Official specifications:

  • Nominal voltage: 3.6V

  • End-of-charge voltage: 4.20V

  • End-of-discharge voltage: 2.50V

  • Typical capacity: 950mAh

  • Minimum capacity: 880mAh

  • Standard charge: 500mA, CCCV, 50mA cut-off

  • Quick charge: 1000mA, CCCV, 100mA cut-off

  • Maximum continuous discharge current: 2000mA

  • USB input power: 5V <0.5A

  • USB charge current: 375mA +/50mA

  • Over charge protection: 4.25V +0.05V/-0V

  • Over discharge protection: 2.50V +0.0V/-0.05V

  • Over current protection: 2.1A ~ 3A



Protected and USB chargeable AA sized LiIon cells and they are not over sized, this looks good.











There is a led behind the white plastic top to show when the cell is charging: red=charge, blue=done.



The two cells are well matched, they are not high current cells, but than still deliver above 6 watt.















The cells can be charged on a normal LiIon charger.





Here I am using the USB input to charge.



Conclusion

A good protected 14500 cell with the added bonus of a USB charge input.



Notes and links

The batteries was supplied by Vapcell 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
Graphical comparison to other LiIon batteries
Table with all tested LiIon batteries
2

Thanks for your review HKJ!
So, this would be a good cell for the max of 2A, right? Meaning, flashlights with really low drain

3

2A is not a low drain for 14500 cells.

4

True :wink: But when we are used to “hot rods” everything below 3A seems low drain :smiley:

5

Thanks HKJ!

6

I understand that “low/mid/high-drain” on batteries are probably relative to the type of battery.

So that for 18650’s, usually 8-10A is “medium-drain”, 5A is “low-drain”, and 15A or higher is “high-drain” (from what I observed)…

For 14500 batteries, I usually see 2.5-3A for the more common 14500 battery types, and 7A for ‘high-drain’ 14500 batteries. So maybe 2.5-3A is considered ‘medium-drain’ for 14500 batteries?

(how about for 21700 batteries, 10A seems to be ‘low-drain’ for them, since 15A is more common for 21700, so probably that’s ‘medium-drain’ 21700, while ‘high-drain’ 21700s could be more than 20A rating?)

7

It is better to look at it compared to capacity.
Below 1C is low drain.
Above 3C is starting on high drain, some cells can go up to 10C.
C is the capacity of the battery, but here read as current.

8

Thanks for the explanation, HKJ.

so giving some samples:
1000mAh 14500:
3C = 3A (I notice many 14500 batteries have 2.5-3A rating, so it seems "common")
5C = 5A (these rating would be a bit rarer for 14500 batteries)

3000mAh 18650:
3C = 9A (I used to think the 3500mAh Samsung 35E / Sanyo NCR18650GA / LG MJ1, rated at 8-10 Amps are just considered "medium-drain')
5C = 15A (now 15A seems to be high-drain for 18650s..)

4000mAh 21700:
3C = 12A (12A seems to be common for 21700 batteries?)
5C = 20A (now 20A would be a good drain rating for 21700)

5000mAh 26650:

3C = 15A

4C = 20A

5C = 25A

maybe 4-5C to consider as high-drain could be better?
anyway, just my random thoughts..

9

I said that high drain is staring at 3C. Originally standard LiIon batteries (ICR) was rated 2C and when you got above that (i.e. 3C) it was high drain. That limit is on the low side for todays batteries as you say.