18650 batteries are rechargeable cells that power high-performance electronics, such as laser pointers and vaporizers. These are our recommended 18650 batteries:
- EBL 3.7V Li-ion Rechargeable Batteries — 3000 mAh
- Kiminors 3.7V 18650 Rechargeable Battery — 3200 mAh
Our recommended 18650 battery charger: XTAR VC2
About 18650 Batteries
What are the advantages of 18650 batteries? They are 3.7-volt lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged and are compatible with a wide range of electronics, including laptops, digital cameras, flashlights, and even electric car batteries.
Panasonic, Sanyo, Samsung, and LG are the top level 18650 cell manufacturers, making long lasting cells in a standard size (18 mm by 65 mm) that fits all 18650 compatible devices. Chinese knockoffs are available for cheaper but are prone to shorter lifespans and aren’t always uniform in size. As a rule, be wary of “protected” 18650 batteries, which have small circuit boards at the bottom that do not fit some electronics, such as flashlights.
High-drain batteries are safer and designed for high current devices, such as vaporizers. They are also less wasteful, meaning they have a longer life cycle and can last for more recharges.
18650 Battery Chargers
The best part about 18650 batteries is that they can be recharged. That means you will need a reliable charger to keep them energized and in working order. I like the XTAR VC2 charger because it has an informative LCD screen display.
The LCD screen tells you the real mAh capacity of your batteries, so you can make sure they are getting the advertised amount of fill or identify when they are losing efficiency.
Wow, I had no idea 18650 batteries had so many advantages and were compatible with such a wide range of electronics! Thanks for sharing this informative article and shedding light on the benefits of using high-quality 18650 batteries from trusted manufacturers like Panasonic, Sanyo, Samsung, and LG. Your advice on being wary of knockoffs and “protected” batteries is also very helpful.
There are actually the best from my experience and practice.
I think High Drain Battery can prove to be a good option for Samsung INR 18650-30Q. Because these batteries are designed to be safe as well as work with high current equipment. This battery performs quite well at 20A.
I am amazed with the power of high drain batteries. I have also done some research and found high drain battery from Sony are also very good.
Yes, you are right. I think the fire extinguisher should be somewhere everyone in the house knows about.
Tesla Motors uses a customised 21700 cell made by Panasonic-Sanyo. The rated capacity is higher than 3000mAh.
Well, nice one. High-drain batteries are very good.
Wao! This is amazing to see so much “should know” info about batteries!. Really I got to know so many things. And the discussions are also having quality information on batteries. Thanks I got here.
Boult Audio AirBass FX1Battery is very good.
I agree from the guy above…the Fenix batteries seem to be legit and have a warranty
Nice article but I want to add some more info
Typically, the advantages of a lithium-ion are its high power density, lack of what’s called the memory effect (when batteries become harder to charge over time), and their significantly lower cost than lithium-polymer
I think high drain batteries are the best and you must opt for Samsung INR 18650-30Q high drain battery because as you mention that these batteries are safer and designed to work with high current devices. This battery performs reasonably well at 20 A.
Hello everybody, I’m looking for the best place to get 18650 high drain batterys for mechanical mods (vape) they just to dear I would like about 20 if at right price and could possibly want more can anyone help me please
Thanks
this will put an end to all phony batteries out there check this religiously:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMZuHMlRw_0
Thats actually a really good guide. Thanks.
in the same post you’ve said the Panasonic cells have a capacity of 3400mAh then also said no 18650 cell has a capacity higher than 3000mAh
what does this mean
Are you talking about the article? I don’t see where that appears.
I think high drain batteries are the best and you must opt Samsung INR 18650-30Q high drain battery because as you mention that these batteries are safer and designed to work with high current devices. This battery performs reasonably well at 20 A.
The orbtronic was my favorite also – I’m not sure why, but suddenly they’ve disappeared completely from Amazon. I’m currently buying Fenix brand, direct from them. ARB-L18-3500U Built-in USB Rechargeable Battery.
https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/arb-l18-3500u-built-in-usb-rechargeable-battery/
3500mAh, built in micro USB port for charging (or use your standard 18650 chargers). Initial tests show they were absorbing milliamps well into the advertised range. These are relatively new to me, so I don’t have exact mAh ratings yet.
These do have protection circuits, so are a couple of millimeters longer than ones without. Spring tension devices such as flashlights they fit great.
Pingback: IQ Vaporizer Review – Dry Herb Vaporizer – Dry Herb Vaporizer Reviews
hey, there have many e-cigarette/vape users, so I introduce a professional vape mod battery brand here, the Cigfun battery.
All Cigfun battery is high capacity and high amp, high CDR, they have 18650, 26650,20700,21700 types of battery.
Good performance with load voltage at higher discharge current, even the pulse discharge current can be 40a and temp. is not very hot.
You can send me an email if you would like to try.
Yes I would like to try a couple if your 18650 cells to review on my youtube channel. I will just test the actual MAH and the discharge ratings for overheat. Would give you a great plug if you were to send me a couple, I would gladly help give ylur products some market exposure. My email is tbrady835@gmail.com. Please feel free to email me and we can go from there.
Sincerely,
T. Brady
you are wrong about Samsung INR18650-25R, it is NOT 3400 mah, it is 250 mah, big mistake
The Amazon page lists it as 3400, are you saying it’s mislabeled there?
Yes. Most 18650 batteries claim a high capacity, yet wont come nowhere near their claimed capacity. I believe the record mah 18650 on the market is a panasonic with up to 2200 mah, but even that’s pushing it, and you probably won’t get 2 ah out of it. And don’t be a fool and buy a battery that costs more than $10 at most
Not true. Sony, LG, Panasonic, make 18650 batteries up to 3500mah. It’s better to use 3000mah batteries as they usually can put out 20amps safely and pulse up to 30. I know for a fact the rated capacity is 3000 as my charger tells me exactly how much juice it put back into the battery. I routinely see numbers in the 2980’s after discharging down to 2.7 volts.
Stay away from no-name batteries with the word “fire” in the name. These are rewrapped b grade or old cells pulled from computer battery packs with outlandish capacity numbers of 5500 and up. They rarely will hold more than 1500mah if that and can’t handle even 10amps of draw.
Why would paying more than $10 make someone a fool? You could say that buying one for less makes you a fool. There’s a lot of fakes out there, and even the legit ones aren’t all made the same. The non protected flat tops can be pretty dangerous, especially since most people use crap chargers, and even the nicer 18650 chargers are still sub par for charging a lithium ion type battery.
Got into drone racing/freestyle about 4yrs ago, thought the same thing about lithium ion batteries, “what’s the big deal” got the cheapest lipos I could get and a $20 charger. Charged one wrong and almost burnt basement down, and It was in a (supposed) fire proof lipo safety bag, which melted like a paper bag. I’ve been a firefighter for 25yrs, and I have NEVER seen anything that small, burn so hot, so violently, in such a short amount of time, and keep burning after 3 large glasses of water were poured on it. The dry chem extinguisher my wife finally found was the only thing that finally put it out. Even though my job lets me see a lot of stupid stuff people do, I’m not exactly the safety nazi you would think a firefighter would be, but these batteries are the real deal when it comes to F-ing shit up when things go wrong charging them. Just be careful.
The -25 indicates that it is 2500 mAh, not 250.
hey if you need more info about high quality LCD 18650 charger. you can have a visit:
https://www.facebook.com/WOYUMCharger/videos/554237271670781/
yes we’re manufacturer, if you’re battery charger dealer, distributor or reseller, pls you can kindly contact me :o)
thanks for master to let us sharing here 🙂
Orbtronic is not a manufacturer ,they only rebrand other manufacturer cells usually Panasonic….
Thanks — I updated the article to reflect that info.
Orbtronic uses Panasonic cells, yes, but they add their own protection circuit that has protections for charge and discharge issues.
Pingback: lg vs samsung batteries – My Blog
Hi. I am very new to these kind of battery (18650). However, knowing that they are lithium ion batteries, therefore storage and lifespan must be better than normal car batteries. I’m thinking of building a battery pack consisting of these 18650 batteries to power my household appliances and using solar energy to recharge it. Any idea what mAh 18650 battery should I use to construct it and how many in one pack? I tried buying the ready made lithium ion battery packs but it costs ridiculous price ($26000+ each).
Golisi batteries are the best, hands down
I personally don’t think that I would trust any company that says that they have an 18650 that is rated above 3500 mAh.
You’re seeing the fruits of manufacturing fraud. You can find 18650’s sold as 6000 mAh and even 10000 mAh on eBay.
When people buy and test them, they never perform as well as claimed, or as well as name brand batteries. Look at the reviews that include images of test charge results.
Pingback: Best 18650 Vape Battery – E-Cigarette Coronium
Thanks…
I like the backpack as advertised. But the only thing is the USB port on the right side. Its difficult to plug in an external USB cable into the port. You will need to jiggle it to get it to plug in
Hope this helps,
J. Laparaon
The author says to avoid batteries with built in protection. Most built in protection circuits only allow a pretty low discharge rate before they fry. Many unprotected 18650s can supply 15, 20 or even 30 amps but like all 18650s if they are over discharged, they are damaged or ruined. One job of the protection circuit is to cut off the batteries from the load if the voltage drops to the battery’s minimum safe voltage. The solution is an external protective charge/ discharge circuit that can handle the expected discharge current. All 18650s must be protected, whether internally or externally. If you run an unprotected cell with no protection you will ruin it.
I am vapor. I use Panasonic‘. They are worth the money.
I agree
This article is full of dangerous information.
You need to be very careful when using 18650, especially in high powered devices as there is no regulation or consistency around device and cell power limits. You need to very carefully select the right cell for the right application.
With 18650, the capacity is only half the story. You need to pay close attention to the CDR or Continuous Discharge Rating, which is the amount of current (in Amps) that can be pulled from the battery continuously without overheating the cell. Batteries are designed in a way to compromise between capacity and CDR, so to find the best cell for your application you need to know how many amps you device will draw from the cell and then find the highest capacity cell that meets those demands.
The NCR18650B is not suitable for vaping except for very low power devices. It can only handle 5A discharge current, which equates to about 20w per cell. If you run 2 of these cells in a modern dual battery mod and try and run the mod at 100w, it will be drawing more than twice the amps the batteries can handle. The cells will get very hot, they will have a very short life span and worse case, they will go into thermal runaway and explode.
For 18650s I recommend Sony VTC6 for dual battery regulated mods and Sony VTC5A for single battery devices.
Lithium ion cells can be used safely but they must be respected as they are not designed to be used outside of sealed battery packs (such as cordless drill batteries, laptop batteries, cordless vacuum cleaner batteries etc). Learn about how to handle them, how to charge them and how to maintain the protective wraps on them.
Be safe people!
Thanks for the heads up Nick.You(so far) are the only one to explain about the discharge rate.That’s a good thing to know as I usually use 3AAA Duracells and am looking into the(possibly dangerous) Lithium Ions as an alternative.
bla bla bla. How 3400mAh could be the biggest amount then exists 3500mAh and 3600mAh with Panasonic inside?
For example Nitecore 3600mAh , or Obtronic
Minde your an idiot. have you tested the batteries ? or do you just read “everything ” people put on their websites and think”oh my , it must be true! “
Your article is not worthy of my trust. Anyone with even a basic knowledge of Lithium-ion batteries knows that it is a volatile chemical that will ignite if over charged or if to great a current is used during charging. Therefore, telling readers to “beware” of protected batteries is both irresponsible and idiotic. Unprotected LI-ion batteries are single use only batteries. To recharge a LI-ion battery it must be protected and that battery must be recharged in a smart charger.
No device can use an 18650 battery (protected or not) unless it was a) designed to be used with an 18650 battery or b) has a battery compartment big enough to accept an 18650 adapter.
Good point.
Are you dumb? All I use are unprotected cells and they are not single use, and all that is required is a little more care using them v.s a protected cell. And the author is obviously talking about devices that can accept an 18650 by design. Your review is not worthy of my trust, sir.
Anon being an idiot again, no surprise. Any lithium battery labeled as rechargable is just that, regardless of any protection circuit on it. There are single use lithium cells, but those are rare and usually in very small packages where you need a decent amount of long lasting power. Lithium cells in flat square or rectangular packages for use inside consumer electronics are usually protected. This is where its easy and safe to hook up protection circuitry as there are two tabs on the same side of the battery to connect to the protection circuit,usually only low to moderate power draw rated batteries have them anyway. High power draw devices will almost always not have protection circuitry as it would do no good when you expect to draw 40A from a battery the size of your index finger. Also, how are you supposed to put protection circuitry on a tube style battery? You put the circuit board on one end and you have either the positive, or negative, not both, how does the circuitry protect the battery only having access to one terminal and no way to power itself or read battery voltage? You’d have to run a wire or sleeve along the whole battery, which is way more unsafe than you are making lithium batteries out to be.
My comment is for everyone. As it seems everyone has their own opinion, as do I. Now ive been vaping about 8 years, i smoked 2 packs a day for 31 years and stopped instantly the moment i bought my first mod. Single 18650 pink Samsung because it was the most expensive battery they had. I believe you get what you pay for with batteries. Believe it or not I still have them along with every 18650 battery i have bought over the 8 years I’ve been vaping. I jumped in knee deep 6 months into vaping and kicked the little pussy single battery mods to the curb. And went straight to 3 battery mods and never vaped less than 120 watts. I had 6 pink Samsung and then heard about the quality of these brown LG‘s they were awesome! So now its 8 years later and I have 6 LG’s and the first 6 Samsung and every single one of them work just fine and are still in my daily rotation. I havent bought a battery in over 3 years. I attribute this to
1) top quality batteries to start with
2) top quality chargers and
3) discharge them down as far as you safely can everytime then charge them as slowly as possible 0.5A every time.
Just buy quality name brand batteries and chargers and take care of them properly these batteries will shut themselves off if your device is demanding more than they can handle. Everyone is making this more complicated than it really is.
In a nutt shell,…DONT BY CHEAP SHIT, and that one guy who said “if it has the word “fire” (look a quotation in a quotation lol) in it, do not buy or use it” well hes dead on correct! Stay away! Well thats just my two cents worth, carry on!
Pingback: 6 Things To Consider When Choosing a Torch For Exploration | The Nomadic Family World Travel Blog
sales2_gebattery@163.com
Hi,
Which are the most useful 18650 batteries for flashlight?
I have some from 1000 lumens to 3000 lumens .
And what about DIY power banks? What kind of batts?
Thank you.
At what current, or over what time, and from/to what voltage, are the capacity figures measured? Do all the reputable manufacturers use the same test parameters? Has anyone tested the capacity of a selection of 18650s from different manufacturers?
The NCR18650GA cylindrical cells, with LiNiCoAlO2 chemistry, are manufactured by Panasonic Industrial Corporation. Having a high energy density (specific energy up to 259Wh/kg) it’s the best solution state-of-art to powering the UAVs.
https://uavfpvbattery.com/
Battery pack technical specifications.
Configuration: 6S6P
Cell count: 36
Cell type: Li-ion Panasonic NCR18650GA 3.5Ah 10A
Battery pack capacity: 21Ah
Voltage (nominal) 22.2V
Maximum voltage: 25.2V
Power: 529Wh (calculated on 100% SoC / at maximum voltage)
Maximum continuous discharge current: 60A (In accordance with cell manufacturer’s specifications)
Pulse (10sec): > 80A / 1770W – Burst discharge generates overheating of cells and if is not actively cooled may affect the lifespan of these.
Maximum recommended charge voltage (CV): 24.7V (for lifespan)
Maximum allowable charge voltage (CV): 25.2V
Lower-limit voltage (recommended): 18.6V
Maximum charging current (CC): 10A (for maximum energy storage)
Weight: +/- 1800g (including wiring harnesses, connectors & covering)
Physical dimensions: 13,5 x 13 x 5,5 cm
Discharge connector (custom on order): XT-90 / XT-90S / XT-150 / EC5 / CASTLE 6.5
Discharge wire type: Flexible silicone insulated copper 12AWG
Discharge wire length (pack to connector end) +/- 100mm
Balance plug: JST-XH 7-pin
Balance wire length (pack to connector end): 40mm.
Is this the best choice for my The Reuleaux RX200 designed by JayBo MOD: LG MJ1 3500mAh 18650 the newest High Drain, High Capacity Li-ion rechargeable battery
LG INR18650-MJ1 10 Amp continuous 3500mAh rated capacity li-ion rechargeable flat top cell.
LG INR 18650 MJ1 Specs:
Capacity (Ah): 3.5 Ah ( 3500mAh )
Charging Voltage (V): 4.2 V
Max Charging Current: 2 A
Nominal Voltage (V): 3.6V-3.7V
Weight max. (g): 49 g
Diameter (mm): 18.05 mm (+/- 0.03 mm)
Height max. (mm): 65.2 mm (+/- 0.03 mm)
Max. Continuous Discharge rate: 10A ( 10000 mA)
Top (positive side): Flat top
Model: INR18650-MJ1
Made by LG Chem
Color: Green ?
Your thoughts on replacing 4 cr123 with 2 18650. Manufacture states any replacement must have 3 volts and 1500mAH , does that mean 18650 needs 3 volts and 3000mAH?
Stephen, you would have a strong possibility of damaging the product you’re installing those cr123s in. They have different voltage drop characteristics and if put into a device with active circuit to boost cell voltage may over discharge the lithium batteries. Unless you can find an 18650 with a protection circuit, I would not use lithium as a replacement. If you must, I found this.
Depending on the number of cr123 batteries for example, two back to back in a flashlight would user 2 cr123, cameras using 1 cr123 would only be able to use the first one.
1 CR123: The solution with most capacity is protected ICR 16340 batteries and the easiest solution is IFR batteries.
2 CR123: If possible use a xx650 battery, alternate possibility is 2x protected ICR 16340.
3 CR123: If possible use 2x xx500 batteries, alternate possibility is 3x protected ICR 16340.
What amperage do I need to power a 3W Cree LED torch? Is it safe to try button tops in a device that was supplied with a flat top?
Thanks.
The Ultra Fire 3000mAh work fine in my torch light 28000 lumens.
I recently brought Ultra Fire 9800mAh: Pure rubbish, it does not even compete with my 3000mAh, and curiouslly weigh 28 grams, almost half of my 3000mAh who weigh 46 grams…..Is someone chitting….no good for dependable and long term business.
Those are worthless
Pingback: fr:lithium_battery_review [Wikilink]
I loved that charger cause it works in the car via USB and does a good job ,
The side that i am more keen on is the way that this research was done. Did you just take manufacturer’s word for it or was some actual research done ?
All that you have written in are the top 5 companies which have production ready cells and which has a brand recall.
I can on top of my head name another 5 companies which have better products on their list.
CATL
BAK
CALB
NEXCON
Amperex.
Battery capacity is never reliable. Best is still the single use, but costly.
AAA and AA rechargeable batteries are hard to find in term of power and durability, even within the same brand. 9 volts batteries the worst, better to stay with the single use, moreespecially if it is for a fire detector.
Now, the 3,7 volts battery is in fashion. This type of battery is easy to find within various capacities. With my led torch, I tested the Ultra fire about 4500mA and GTL 10000mA. No difference, the GTL supposed to last longer die well before the Ultra fire.
My opinion: I think the arrival of low consumers like leds and other devices, has a direct impact on rechargeable battery manufacturers, that spend more efforts in chitting than immroving battery capacity and reliability.
Your Ultra fire 4500mA and GTL 10000mA are both fake. Anything above 3400mA is fake. Unless it is the new Panasonic 3500mA
@carioca I can’t speak to your question, but I can tell you, there is no manufacturing of Li-ion batteries in Canada.
Isn’t that where Prius batteries are manufactured?
Their lipstick (mini) uses a single 13650 (3350mAH in latest, 3200mAH in older models). The PowerCore 5k is significantly bigger than the lipstick. You can see the PowerCore+ series uses 13650s (1 cell = 3350, 3 cells = 10050, 4 cells = 13400, etc.), but it looks like many models in the PowerCore series use custom or nonstandard cells.
3350mAH is possible in a high capacity, low drain 13650. So it is unlikely they are lying.
He meant no 18650 cell has a rating higher than 30 amp, not 3000mah, it was simply a typo on his part
There is no 20A rated cell with a capacity greater than 3000mAh.
The 3400mAh Panasonic might be rated at 10A or 15A.
Hello everybody, what kind of cell do you think Anker uses in its PowerCore 5000? They claims 5000 mAh in a single cell design, I will open one as soon as I have a chance to do it, but maybe someone here already know it.
Thanks
“what kind of cell do you think Anker uses in its PowerCore 5000?”
The fake kind.
They don’t have to be using 18650 batteries. For instance,I have a fairly large capacity power bank (RAV IIRC) that uses a custom Li-Po pack instead of the number of 18650 batteries required for the quoted capacity and is significantly smaller all round than if made from theat number of 18650 batteries. In fact, an unit with identical capacity I have that is made from 18650 batteries is about 2-2.5 cm longer, about 1.5 cm wider and about 0.75 cm thicker as well as being noticeably heavier.
I also have I have a much smaller capacity (6,000 mAH) power bank using a custom battery pack where the case is also noticeably smaller all round than another unit with identical capacity that uses a couple of 18650 batteries. This unit’s custom Li-Ion pack also allows it to be noticeably smaller and lighter than the ‘standard sized’ (‘standard sized’ in the sense that it uses 18650 cells) unit which is roughly the size one would expect of an unit containing two 81650 batteries and a small PCB and display at one end.
26650
Has someone created a “best” price/performance table?
I know there is no one singular best battery for all folks (some need Amps, some need low-cost, some need run-time, etc.)
LG, Samsung, Panasonic are expensive, but are they the “best” for price/performance?
Are there any quality cells that provide 75% of the performance for 50% of the cost?
Hi Patrick I want to change my battery on my car imiev I have 88 of LEV 50 ah 3.7v. I want to change for the LG HG2. 3.7v 3000 mah I check tha n I can fit 70 of LG 3000mah 3.7v instead the 3.7 LEV 50 am . If I do it give me 210 ah 3.7 v = 777 what X by 88 kit battery give me 68 kw Wow 😳 coz now I just have 16 kw on my car I can just go 100 kilomet whit 68 kw I can do 500 kilometer .but I don’t know the battery if it ok for that but I know Tesla doo whit Panasonic what you think ?
If it works I need 6200 LG HG2 3000mah you have special price for me ?
Michel Canada 🇨🇦
I’m looking for the best place to get 18650 high drain batterys for mechanical mods (vape) they just to dear I would like about 20 if at right price and could possibly want more can anyone help me please
Efest 18650 20amp 3500mah and magnese so safer with more power and longer lasting.
I have bought two AEG 18 V drills, one an impact drill the other standard. Each set priced at $A300 came with twin battery packs, one containing 5 cells, the other 10 cells.
The batteries failed after very little sporadic use. I had one or two replaced by the vendor (Bunnings) but continued using (occasionally) the standard drill until it, too failed recharging in the AEG charger yesterday!
Hence my interest in such batteries – I just opened one of the 5-cell packs and notice the batteries are labelled 18650, stamped Made in Canada – and at local Australian prices $A14 – $A30+ EACH are not a viable proposition.
Can I buy reputable Li-Ion cells with solder tag overseas and have them mailed to me in Oz?
Thanks for any input!
Cheers,
LMH a.k.a. carioca
Hi,
I have the EXACT same drill and my battery packs dies as well. 2 cells dead. I replaced all the cells with Samsung INR18650 25R which increased my pack from 1.5Ah to 2.5Ah. Plenty of power and I got the cells delivered from China to Canberra for just $2.40 each. Go to Alibaba 🙂
Phillip
>Dave May 19, 2016 at 10:33 pm<
You are correct, you should buy protected cells, especially if it uses multiple 18650s. Using unprotected is carrying around a potential pipe bomb. The unprotected ones are sold for making up battery packs for things like laptops where the battery pack contains the protection. They generally emphasize in the description when they are not protected. In any case, make sure the ones you buy are protected. Protection adds slightly to the length, and the connecting strap adds a whisker to the diameter on one side, but I haven't had any problems with the 18650 flashlights that I use them in. A great place to interact with experts and learn about battery technology is candle power forums.
I’ve heard of 4.2AH being the maximum *in the lab*, the cells made with this technology are so experimental that they are only ever used in drones and other low weight aerospace applications. Also they need special care as charging them at standard (2+ A) rates WILL burn them out due to the thinner than normal plates. I think its a gold/copper (tumbago) nanopatterned alloy to get reduced Cu plating under low charge conditions which is why they are heinously expen$ive ($40+ apiece) but the Cu dendrites that do form are kept under control and can’t short the cell even after 1000+ charges.
Also the latest consumer cells are 3700mAh but the chances of encountering one are slim to none.
Hi Dear Adam,
Good day for you! Hope you are well.
Glad to tell you that I have a special offer for you for Samsung 25R, LG HG2/HE2/HE4 and Sony VTC4/VTC5. Hope you will like it.
Price as following:
Samsung INR18650-25R $2.43 (Crazy price!!!) Samsung INR18650-30Q 3000mAh $3.45
Sony US18650VTC5 2600mAh $3.58 (Crazy price!!!) Sony US18650VTC4 2100mAh $2.98
LG-HE2 18650 2500mAh $2.58 (Special promotion price!!!) LG-MJ1 18650 3500mAh $3.72
LG-HE4 18650 2500mAh $2.68 (Special promotion price!!!) LG-HG2 18650 3000mAh $3.63(in stock)
Panasonic NCR18650B 3400mAh $3.05
Nitecore I2 $7.05
Nitecore I4 $9.95
Nitecore D2 $10.99
Nitecore D4 $17.49
Any interested items just feel free to let me know. Hope you can order soon. Thank you!
Hi Jojo,
Where can I buy the cells you listed ?
I am interested in buying some Samsung batteries and test their performance.
My goal is to build a 50 cell, 51 volt battery for an e bike. I will need high current battery.
Grant
where do you sell from. how to order?
We just review batteries, we don’t sell any.
i am looking for a 20 pack of 18650 for the flashlights i ordered that came without. shipped to Miami, FL.
please give em a quote including shipping. thankyou
Hi jojo,
where do you sell from. how to order? do you send it to Portugal??
thanks
Hi Jojo,
I like your batteries and the pricces. But you have nowhere told how to reach you to order the batteries.
Please mention here.
Hi, I’m interested in your batteries,
I need to build some batteries for a led lamp, which works 12 hours a day, these are the characteristics of the battery:
Rating: 3.6V
2 sizes: 8Ah and 16Ah
Chemistry: NiMh (Nikel Metal Hydride)
Connection: Ring terminals
I could put them together but I need to know how many batteries I need for this specification
There are 9800 and 9900mah out now.
9800 mAh = Fake Chinese Cells
How can I buy this kind of battery??
The denser the cell the higher the chance of damage when dropped and explosion. Stick with 3000. It’s safer
Agreed!
source for drop explosion claim? im seeing a few whispers about dendrites connecting from the fall but have yet to find an official source for this statement and even the people talking about it in detail tend to note its theoretical
I am seeing 5000 and 5800 mah li batteries listed on Amazon. What is the difference from what is said in the posts of 3000 mah max??
See the comment below by Battery Bro. He says that 3000 mah is the max for 18650 batteries.
You’re seeing the fruits of manufacturing fraud. You can find 18650’s sold as 6000 mAh and even 10000 mAh on eBay.
When people buy and test them, they never perform as well as claimed, or as well as name brand batteries. Look at the reviews that include images of test charge results.
China is a huge customer manufacturer of many shop that will customer make according to your specification including labeling, such as low capacity cells (li-ion, NiMH and so on) with private label like “hell-fire” or “PanicSonics” that 50000mAh… Many of those private label are Chinese domestic retail, but also US private label. Depending on your price point, buyer beware. For mission critical application, buy braded cells like Samsung and the like.
Those specs dont exist in single cell 18650’s , nor does any CDC (Continuous discharge) rating over 30amps
Excellent in depth article.
I wish I can see more posts about 18650 batteries and chargers.
Probably most important thing that I would add is safety related.
It is easy to see this I would call “Warning message” when you visit: LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony official battery manufacturing web sites.
Basically what they say “No 18650 battery should be used without electronic protection installed”.
18650 batteries with protection circuit installed are available, and these li-ion batteries are called Protected 18650 batteries.
Anybody using unprotected 18650 batteries should know at least basics about lithium-ion safety.
I would also add one unprotected 18650 battery next to your (very good) LG HG2.
It is Panasonic NCR18650GA 3500mAh 10 A High Capacity – High Drain
With new devices such as vape mods writing a few paragraphs about safety (and dangers) when using lithium-ion batteries is very important.
Sal, 3,500mah for a 18650 battery is past the max of 3,000mah. Which leads me to believe it’s some sort of markup to compensate for the overall performance and durability of the battery, let’s not forget safety; because 10amps is a very low number as far as amperage is concerned. Most vapers stay within 20amps on a regulated device if they are following the guidelines of battery safety and ohms law. Specially if they are using a rda or rta, as far as protected 18650 batteries do not believe the hype…
You actually went to the Panasonic,LG Sony websites interesting since they dont manufacture the batteries it is their subsidiary companies that manufacture the cells lol, Sony is SEDC, LG is LG Chem, Panasonic is PEVE, Samsung is Samsung SDI.
Get a SKY-RC model: MC3000 cylindrical Hobby Charger. Its my baby and it tells fakes quickly while maintaining battery health and even calculating ACTUAL cell capacities and can prepare them for long term storage if you have several dozen VTC 4’s , like I do (That I bought when you could get legit cells, some harvested from laptops strangely enough…not Viao’s…..and not made by Sony Singapore’s VTC’s). True Koriyama or Toghichi plant cells. Will pay good $$$ for more Koriyama or Tochigi plant made cells. send pics to rujjiesutton420@gmail.com and we can talk. I can spot a fake a mile away…most times. Some real meticulous counterfeiters need the analyzer…
But if you sell me cells, I will also analyze any cell you like for free and pay the postage back to you.
Here are some of my sample charts of analyzed 18650’s for quick reference. One if of four VTC4’s and the other of LG HB6’s (LG-HB6 is a 30Amp Continuous Discharge cell, btw)
Again, email me: rujjiesutton420@gmail.com (with clear pictures PLEASE!)
VTC4’s charging(not completely empty) and capacity test(complete discharge and charge at BOTTOM #4
https://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/w441/rujjie_lane_sutton1/VTC4%20Cell%201%20analyze_Cell%202%20Analyze%20Differing%20RU%20Logo%20PlacementNo2%20low_zpsg1mvfszu.png
LGHB6’s -Shows true capacity, and confirms manufactures charge times at 1C and .5C discharge with 30 minute rest periods inbetween cycles for maximum percision.
https://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/w441/rujjie_lane_sutton1/LGHB6%202%20capacity%20test_zpskqonybwu.png
Give me a shout!
“Reggie-The Real ‘Battery Bro’ ” lol…and electrical engineer student!
I love doing this stuff and I’ll send you batteries to use while yours are being tested. I will not send batteries unless we communicate with tracked postage and tracking numbers. Don’t try and be a crook!
Look forward to hearing others who are interested in high powered battery cell components and the engineering feild!
I just bought a ThruNite TN32 CW Tactical flashlight. I was under the impression that I should buy a protected battery. Is that not so? What reasonably priced battery and charger is best for this flashlight?
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for the good article, but I think there are some other important things to mention.
Top 3 categories:
We can categorize the best 18650 batteries by things like high-energy (Wh), high-power (A), or high-capacity (mAh).
Other considerations:
There are also things like safety standards, your application, environment, and so forth which will dictate which cell is best for you.
Availability:
One important factor that people overlook is production availability. Many cells simply are not currently in production so any stock you buy will be old. It’s best to buy whats in production, now.
If we just take a balanced look at cells, here is what I think are the best cells at the moment (posted March 2016).
LG Chem HG2
3000mAh, 20A
LG Chem HE2 / HE4
2500mAh, 20A
*Note, the HE4 is better with handling heat, and also only needs to be discharged to 2.5V to reach its maximum capacity, while the HE2 needs 2.0V.
Samsung 25R5
2500mAh, 20A
*Note, the blue 25R is no longer in production, always buy the green 25R5
These cells are primarily high-power cells (amperage).
If you are maximizing for capacity, there are other cells you may consider. I know many people reading this post are e-cigarette / vape users. Actually it is a myth that your battery needs to be “super-amped”. In many situations, especially with dual-battery mods where the amperage is multiplied, you only need 10A cells to product significant “clouds”.
The other nice thing about high-capacity cells, is that generally they have a longer cycle life. You can also put protective circuitry directly on low-amp cells (less than 6 amps generally).
So here are the best high-capacity 18650s:
LG MJ1
3500 mAh, 10A
Samsung 35-E
3500 mAh, 10.5A
Panasonic B
3400 mAh, 4.5A
If you are really interested in high-power cells, with a high maximum continuous discharge rating, then take a look at this cell:
LG HB41500 mAh, 30A
There are many “fake” or counterfeit cells with high amp ratings that exceed 30 amps. That is impossible, no 18650 cell on the market has a rating above 3000mAh.
I hope this helped you find the best cell! All the models I mentioned in this list are currently available and in-production by LG, Panasonic, and Samsung.
Thanks for sharing this information; your research is immensely helpful in making sense of the crowded and dynamic battery market.
Your inputs are helpful.
I need guidance on Batteries for small electric vehicles.
Can you or any forum member help?
manyamdoraXyahooXcom
Replace the X’s above with appropriate symbols @ and . to mail me.
Thanks,
Muraari
“That is impossible, no 18650 cell on the market has a rating above 3000mAh.”
Thats’s not true. Maybe it’s true for “high-power”, but not in general.
Panasonic got 3400 and 3600mAh. I own one of these cells (3400mAh) from KeepPower which uses a Panasonic cell.
See this review: https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Keeppower%2018650%203600mAh%20%28Black%29%202014%20UK.html
How could Tesla get to 90 kWh with only 7104 cells? 3000 mAh for a 3.6V cell is 10.8 Wh. The Tesla battery would therefore be 10.8*7104 = 76.7 kWh. To get to 90 kWh would require 90000/7104/3.6 = 3520 mAh.
Vaughan Pratt, Because an 18650 is 3.7V (nominal) full charge is 4.2V! Redo your math at 4.2V. (12.6×7104=89.5kwh)
Tesla Motors uses a customised 21700 cell made by Panasonic-Sanyo. The rated capacity is higher than 3000mAh.
in the same post you’ve said the Panasonic cells have a capacity of 3400mAh then also said no 18650 cell has a capacity higher than 3000mAh
what does this mean
Interesting article and comments. I’m not a battery expert but am very savvy on safety. Rechargeable battery’s are more dangerous than most things in your home. If you look at the publicity and concern regarding rechargeable battery use, storage, and transport on aircraft you get the message that these things aren’t the safest items to be in a confined environment, especially at 30,000 feet.
I’d like point out some good common sense advice that I don’t think anyone could dispute.
Buy a few high quality A-B-C-and D Fire Extinguishers with decent capacity.
Contact your local fire station and ask if you can bring the entire family for a fire extinguisher lesson and differences in ABC and D fires. I don’t think this is overkill on this subject but a “D” class fire is metal, such as magnesium. As modern battery chemistry change, adding D is important which is why the Fire Fighter that commented previously had such a hard time putting out a battery fire. The fire department will start a fire and show the family how to use the extinguisher to put the fire out. Have them teach the difference between a fire you can use an extinguisher with and a fire to get everyone up and out of the home up and out ASAP.
Practice at home and have an annual home fire drill including sleep time. Batteries will burn with nasty fumes so keep toxic fumes in mind.
Put the extinguishers in the same place around the home so everyone knows where they are. I like under every sink.
As for batteries-I dont trust the things with my families lives no matter what you do. It’s simple, don’t charge them while your asleep or not home. Have charged extras so you can plan to charge when you’ll be home and awake a few hours. Don’t put them or the charger need things that will spread a fire easy or flammables. Have a good quality smoke detector (with working battery) that you’ll hear. If the detector is more than 10 years old it’s done, expired. Get a new one. The best ones sort of “talk to each other”. If one detector hears the signal of another it passes the alarm to the next and next. This way a basement detector could reach an upstairs bedrooms. I like this better than if the detectors are hard wired in series to prevent a fire from burning through detector cables before it goes off.