The best 18650???

Enderman · 2018-12-19T04:18:36.000Z

Best performance depends on how much current you’re drawing from the battery.
Some 18650s have very long runtime at low currents. Other 18650s give higher output at high currents because they have less voltage drop.

Flashem · 2018-12-19T09:11:44.000Z

The Sony US18650VTC6 3000mAh outperforms all of those cells in all categories, it is the best unprotected 18650 period and rated at 30 amps… I have a dozen of them…

Thats a very cool chart but it definitely needs an update… The IMR 18650 TENERGY T35P 3500mAh 3.6V 12.20Wh (HIGH DISCHARGE CURRENT RATE, CHARGE/DISCHARGE PROTECTION) is NOT on the list… Although they are rated at current draw up to 8 amps… We have tested multiple sets of the T35P and have seen these discharge at 15 amps without ever tripping the overload circuit… The only cells that I’ve ever seen do this was unprotected ones but for a shorter amount of time…

Tenergy Power

2-Pk Tenergy T35P 3.6V 3500mAh 8A Protected 18650 Rechargeable Li-ion...

Tenergy T35P 3.6V 3500mAh 8A 18650 Li-Ion cell offers: Ultra High Capacity, High Drain Output, Advanced Protective Circuit, Cell Safety Features, and more.

Average Rating: 5

Price: USD 28.99

mgracia85 · 2018-12-19T15:08:56.000Z

Thanks for all the answers guys will certainly buy several of each. Need to expand my collection anyways also.

wstrachan · 2018-12-19T16:38:35.000Z

I second Flashem on the Sony VTC6. It has been proven to out perform the Samsung 30-Q though only slightly. Beware fakes! Order from Illumn.com or Liionwholesale.com.

chadvone · 2018-12-19T17:15:04.000Z

How old is the BLF 30Q ??

justanotherguy · 2018-12-20T01:29:27.000Z

wstrachan:

I second Flashem on the Sony VTC6. It has been proven to out perform the Samsung 30-Q though only slightly. Beware fakes! Order from Illumn.com or Liionwholesale.com.

I just bought a dozen GA cells (3500mah x 10 amp) from Illumn.com
free shipping over $50

DavidEF · 2018-12-20T01:51:43.000Z

chadvone:

How old is the BLF 30Q ??

Wait. What?

Pete7874 · 2018-12-20T02:23:24.000Z

mgracia85:

will give me the absolute best performance

You should probably start with defining for us what “performance” means to you. Best performance could mean max current delivery or it could mean max capacity. Choose one. Or you could choose neither and pick something in the middle.

Coyotehawk · 2018-12-20T02:35:09.000Z

I would also recommend educating yourself on protected and unprotected cells, as well as button top and flat top so that you can make sure you chose a cell that will in fact work in your light. For instance, I’ve got some flat tops that I run in my zebralight headlamps but those cells are too short for my Olight m3xs and will not power it. So make sure you are buying the right cells for your lights so you don’t waste money.

mgracia85 · 2018-12-20T03:08:29.000Z

Pete7874:

mgracia85:

will give me the absolute best performance

You should probably start with defining for us what “performance” means to you. Best performance could mean max current delivery or it could mean max capacity. Choose one. Or you could choose neither and pick something in the middle.

Max current delivery

Delta_V · 2018-12-20T03:34:40.000Z

Best all-around in my opinion is still the 30Q. The VTC6 slightly outperforms it, and the Samsung 35E and Sanyo NCR18650GA cells have 16.67% more capacity, but they are all considerably more expensive. The 30Qs can easily be found for under $5 a piece, and can be found with both button and flat tops depending on what you need.

So sure, the others might have small performance gains, but they are pretty minimal, and not worth the additional cost per cell in my opinion.

DB_Custom · 2018-12-20T04:24:23.000Z

I just yesterday tested 10 top cells on my 17 emitter 5 driver 458 Ham’r and found the Samsung 25S delivered significantly more Amps than even a Sony VTC5A, a brand new 30Q couldnt compete… the 25S gave 28A from a single cell, bested only by the larger 21700 30T.

4 of these 25S cells in the 458 Ham’r deliver enough Amps to push 25,427 lumens out the front, with an estimated 86.6A.

I have over 300 Li-ion cells, these really surprised me!

DavidEF · 2018-12-20T21:45:40.000Z

DB Custom:

I just yesterday tested 10 top cells on my 17 emitter 5 driver 458 Ham’r and found the Samsung 25S delivered significantly more Amps than even a Sony VTC5A, a brand new 30Q couldnt compete… the 25S gave 28A from a single cell, bested only by the larger 21700 30T.

4 of these 25S cells in the 458 Ham’r deliver enough Amps to push 25,427 lumens out the front, with an estimated 86.6A.

I have over 300 Li-ion cells, these really surprised me!

Now, if you could make it hold that output for three hours, there’s a nice lady that would love to throw money at you. :money_mouth_face:

DB_Custom · 2018-12-20T23:32:03.000Z

Yeah, well, we both know that can’t happen. And said nice lady is looking for something that most probably cannot be done. Ever measure big lumens from an UV emitter? Ever see a bug zapper that was brilliantly bright? Does it need to be? And still, why use our Li-ion’s to run a 3 hour project light, why not a small cart battery or a marine battery? I mean, put it all in a box and dolly it out to the site, doesn’t have to be hand held… And that may be where I actually go with a future light, marine cell with the cajones to last a while.

That is, of course, if I remain capable of making lights at all. Gotta get through all this cold wet yucky season and see where things are…

Bimmber · 2019-01-02T16:52:01.000Z

Sorry for a noob question, but why would you need a 20 amp battery, if you run led chip only at few amps anyway ?

CREEXHP70LED · 2019-01-05T21:32:58.000Z

Hello Bimmber,

You wont need even 10 amp cells for most lights, but there are more and more lights coming out that require high drain (high Amp cells) to reach the highest output.

For me two lights that fit that are the Emisar D4 and The Olight X7. Although there are many, many more. It all depends on your specific light and it’s requirements.

Bimmber · 2019-01-06T19:51:31.000Z

Which led chips would require high drain? XHP70 ?

texas_shooter · 2019-01-06T20:18:02.000Z

Bimmber:

Sorry for a noob question, but why would you need a 20 amp battery, if you run led chip only at few amps anyway ?

Almost all the current lights out there would be well served with Samsung INR18650-35E or Panasonic/Sanyo NCR18650GA. These are good to go up to 10 amps. Need less sag, then Samsung INR18650-30Q for those 15 amp loads. The list of factory and semi-custom lights really needing more amperage than these is very short.

THX · 2019-01-13T15:10:36.000Z

Molicel P26A beats VTC5A+D and 25S

texas_shooter · 2019-01-13T18:43:59.000Z

THX:

Molicel P26A beats VTC5A+D and 25S

That’s a pretty open comment. Size? Total output? Sustained amperage? The ability to take damaging abuse? Price?