The best 18650???

DavidEF · 2018-12-18T23:21:21.000Z

For future reference, you can compare different cells at HKJ’s site HERE. There are also links to individual test results for each cell from that page. There’s just too much to consider in choosing a “best” cell. It will depend on your application.

KawiBoy1428 · 2018-12-19T00:18:27.000Z

The hardest hitting 18650 is the Vapcell INR 18650 Black/Gold 2000mAh beats the VTC5A/D also the Samsung 25S and most others in my high amp lights 15+ amps on up……if your looking for a heavy hitter

My TN42 XHP70.2 P2 1A is making over 9500lms, 9564 to be exact……

Jerommel · 2018-12-19T00:26:32.000Z

There are several 18650 with around 3500mAh capacity and 10A maximum continuous discharge current.
Those are the best all rounders i.m.o.
But if you want higher currents you’ll find 3000mAh 20 A cells.
As mentioned above, there are some serious current pushers out there too.
But they have smaller capacity (less mAh)

What light do you want to use them for?

Flashem · 2018-12-19T00:58:04.000Z

I can go on and on about different 18650s I’ve had and have seen tested beyond its ratings…The BEST, the good, the decent, and the garbage…! If your looking for unprotected cells there are many to choose from Sony, Panasonic, Samsung etc, they are always good cells to choose… However, If your looking for the BEST performing 18650 that’s a protected high drain button top cell… You wanna get the “TENERGY T35P”…!! I can assure you these batteries are NO joke and a steel at around $22 dollars a pair! There worth every penny…!

mgracia85 · 2018-12-19T03:45:47.000Z

KawiBoy1428:

The hardest hitting 18650 is the Vapcell INR 18650 Black/Gold 2000mAh beats the VTC5A/D also the Samsung 25S and most others in my high amp lights 15+ amps on up……if your looking for a heavy hitter

My TN42 XHP70.2 P2 1A is making over 9500lms, 9564 to be exact……

Where can I get these?

mgracia85 · 2018-12-19T03:46:24.000Z

Jerommel:

There are several 18650 with around 3500mAh capacity and 10A maximum continuous discharge current.
Those are the best all rounders i.m.o.
But if you want higher currents you’ll find 3000mAh 20 A cells.
As mentioned above, there are some serious current pushers out there too.
But they have smaller capacity (less mAh)

What light do you want to use them for?

I want get the most out of my BLF GT 70

BlueSwordM · 2018-12-19T03:47:14.000Z

I would get the Samsung 30Qs then:

illumn.com

18650 Samsung 3000mAh INR18650-30Q High Discharge Button Top

[Samsung INR18650-30Q 3000] 18650 Samsung 3000mAh INR18650-30Q High Discharge Button Top

Price: USD 7.5

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: