To answer the question of what the 18650 format battery is used for or what it is also called - 168A, let's study its characteristics and capabilities, as well as examples of use in domestic conditions.
This type of battery is currently quite popular for a number of reasons, but the main ones are the voltage of 3.7-4.3 volts and good capacity (running time) up to 3600 mAh, as well as a fairly compact size.
They are similar in shape to AA-sized “finger” batteries and AAA-sized “pinky” batteries, but larger in size. As mentioned above, the output voltage of these batteries is 3.7 - 4.3V. Capacity is 2200-3400 mAh.
AA and AAA AA batteries have a voltage of 1.5V
At Ni-MH ( nickel-metal hydride) batteries of AA and AAA format - 1.2V.
Schematic device of a Li-ion battery
Li-ion battery capacity 18650
Energy capacity is the amount of energy that is stored in the battery. Battery capacity is often expressed in watt-hours (Wh), kilowatt-hours (kWh) or ampere-hours (Ah). The most common measure of battery capacity is Ah, defined as the number of hours that the battery can supply a current equal to the discharge rate at the battery's rated voltage. A watt hour is the voltage (V) that the battery provides multiplied by the amount of current (amps) the battery can provide for some time (usually in hours). Voltage*Ampere*hours = Wh. Since the voltage is highly dependent on the battery type due to its internal chemistry (alkaline, lithium, lead acid, etc.), often the battery side only displays amp hour data expressed in Ah or mAh (1000 mAh = 1 Ah). To get Wh, multiply Ah by the rated voltage. For example, suppose we have a nominal 3 V battery with a capacity of 1 Ah or 1000 mA*h, its power will be 3 W.
1 A*h means that theoretically we can use 1 ampere of current for one hour or 0.1A for 10 hours or 0.01A (10 mA) for 100 hours.
IMPORTANT! At the time of writing, there are NO batteries with a capacity higher than 3600 mAh in the 18650 size!!!
Battery size 18650
Decoding the digital designations of the 18650 battery:
the first two digits (18) – diameter;
the next pair of numbers (65) is the length;
the last digit (0) indicates the shape of the battery, in this case a cylinder.
As we can see after measurements, the length of the cheapest Chinese battery brand UltraFire (manufacturer of cheap Chinese flashlights) 18650 format is 66.5mm, and the diameter is 18mm.
Let's compare the sizes with other types of batteries:
AAA: 44.5 x 10.5 mm
AA: 50.5 x 14.5 mm
14500: 53 x 14.5 mm
18650: 65.5 x 18 mm (unprotected)
18650: 67.5 x 18 mm (protected)
26650: 67.5 x 26.1 mm
A visual comparison of AA, AAA and 18650 batteries.
And although the 18650 format battery resembles finger and little finger batteries, it will be larger in size.
What is a protected battery
18650 batteries come with and without protection - if the 18650 battery does not have protection, then there are no additional inscriptions on it, or the inscription “Unprotected” is present. The length of the unprotected one (without a protection board against complete discharge or overcharge) is 66.5 mm.
If the battery description contains the words “With Re/Discharging Protection Circuit” (protection from complete discharge/overcharge), “Protected”, “With protective PCB”, “Protection Circuit”, etc., then the battery has a protection board on board. A small thickening (usually a 1mm plate) near the contact is the battery protection board.
For reliable operation and to avoid damage, complete discharge or overcharging and overheating, Li-Ion batteries must operate within a voltage range of 4.2-2.5V.
One of the weak points Li-ion batteries is that they are in the process of overcharging and/or overheating, as well as when they are completely discharged, they are susceptible to failure. After which it will be problematic to restore or charge the battery or it will lose its initial capacity. If handled carelessly, lithium-ion batteries can fail more often than other types of batteries.
This problem is solved, as noted above, by installing an electronic protection circuit that prevents excessive overcharging and/or overheating as a result of exceeding the permissible current during charging, and also interrupts the circuit when the charge is low, protecting the battery from deep discharge during operation. This protection board not only ensures that the battery operates within the safe voltage range, but also prevents overcurrent and short circuits. The protection board is spot welded using a steel conductor to the corresponding battery contacts. In reality, it looks like this: an electronic protection board with a thickness of 1-3mm and the diameter of the battery is installed on the negative contact of an unprotected Li-Ion battery (“cell”).
The length of such a battery is slightly longer - on average 67.5-70mm versus 65-66mm for an unprotected one. When the battery voltage rises above 4.25V, the protection board blocks further charging of the battery to prevent it from being damaged by overcharging and overheating. The same thing happens when the voltage is less than 2.75V - the protection board blocks further discharge of the battery below the specified threshold.
Typically, large Li-Ion battery manufacturers do not produce batteries with built-in protection. They only produce unprotected batteries. As a rule, there are no protected Li-Ion batteries of the SAMSUNG or Panasonic brand, which would be released specifically by “Panasonic in Japan” or “Samsung in Korea”, and those who prove the opposite are intentionally or unintentionally trying to mislead you misleading.
Protected batteries are assembled from conventional Li-Ion batteries (cells) followed by installation of a protection board.
The assembly process can occur in different ways: as a rule, the battery assembly with protection is carried out at enterprises in China. But China can be different - there are both outright counterfeits and amateurishness on the part of little-known battery manufacturers (with imaginary capacities from 3800 mAh to infinity) and very high-quality products from famous brands.
Protected batteries are assembled and sold by completely different brands that are not related to the manufacturer of the batteries themselves. A factory-assembled battery with protection is covered with a thermal shell with the brand name and an indication of the capacity (sometimes real and sometimes absolutely fantastic).
Due to the fact that a protected 18650 battery is 1-3 millimeters longer than its unprotected counterparts and sometimes 0.5 mm thicker in diameter.
Extended batteries with protection may have a standard size of 18700, and size always matters - such a battery may not fit into the battery compartment of some consumer devices. Therefore, when choosing a protected battery, you should think about whether it is the right length, for example, for your LED flashlight, charger, etc.
Mechanical - internal protection of Li-ion batteries
In addition to protection using a charge controller board, the battery can use an internal mechanical protection system for the battery. The internal protection function is to trigger a special mechanical switch as a result of the temperature threshold (overcharge/heating) and pressure inside the battery increasing to critical values, which can lead to an explosion. The battery is disconnected by mechanically breaking the circuit by the internal protection of the power source. If this does not help and the temperature and pressure continue to rise further, then the pressure relief valve is activated, which releases gases and electrolyte outside.
The mechanical switch itself is quite common as a primary or additional safety measure in many batteries, functioning in conjunction with or without a charge controller (board). It is worth noting that the presence of internal protection will not necessarily be mentioned on the case or in the description of the technical characteristics of the product. As a rule, well-known manufacturing companies will not neglect internal mechanical protection their power sources with an unstable chemical composition, with the possible exception of the cheapest and little-known Chinese brands. Therefore, regardless of whether any power supply has or does not have an electronic protection board, it must have built-in physical protection.
Use of protected and unprotected Li-ion batteries
18650 batteries are usually used where long periods of time are required. battery life with a compact size.
Both unprotected and protected batteries can be used in any devices or devices designed to work with Li-Ion power sources, the only difference is that if the device or device do not have a built-in charge-discharge controller, then this disadvantage can be compensated for by a protected power supply.
The main devices that use Li-Ion batteries today are LED flashlights and lamps, since these batteries have sufficient power and capacity to ensure long-term and uninterrupted operation of powerful LEDs last generations in these devices.
In our particular example, these are LED lights with diodes of the latest generations XM-L/L2, XP-L/L2, etc. (Convoy s2+, Convoy c8).
This flashlight contains AAA battery
This flashlight runs on AA battery
And these lights are equipped with the latest generations of LEDs CREE XM-L2, XP-L2. They require a lot of power to operate. That is why these flashlights are powered by an 18650 battery and are made for it, as it is ideal for these purposes.
Some flashlights from cheap Chinese brands such as UltraFire are designed in such a way that the 18650 battery can be replaced with 3 AA batteries through a special adapter. In this case, the voltage is almost the same: 3.7V and 4.5V (= 1.25V*3 or 1.5V*3).
In most cases for simple Chinese LED lights UltraFire type, requires a protected battery.
It happens that some batteries have too sensitive current protection and operate at less than permissible values. In this regard, flashlights using powerful LEDs of the latest generations XM-L/L2, XP-L/L2 do not function properly. When you turn on the flashlight, an overcurrent occurs - the battery protection is triggered, the flashlight may blink and no longer show signs of life. If you change the battery to an identical one, the same thing can happen; the protection is triggered instantly. There are two options - either remove the protection board and use the battery without it, or replace the battery with another one from a time-tested brand.
As mentioned above, battery protection definitely increases the length of the battery by 1-2 mm, or even more. If the Li-Ion battery with protection reaches a length of 7 cm, for some compact flashlights designed to install a Li-Ion battery it is impossible to screw the back cover and you have to look for the battery without protection or remove it again. The longer the battery, the greater the force of the springs on it in the battery compartment; it happens that they push through the negative contact of the Li-Ion battery. Most often this happens when the flashlight is used as an under-barrel flashlight during recoil during a shot. And it’s not very pleasant to push such a battery into the battery compartment of the flashlight by forcefully twisting the lid, scratching and damaging the battery contact with the spring.
But no matter what the battery protection is, it does not 100% guarantee the safety of the battery and flashlight from overheating and even explosion.
Usually, the increased pressure in the battery is released through special holes in the battery valve, but in the sealed space of the flashlight they may not help.
In principle, if you know the approximate effective operating time of a Li-Ion battery based on its capacity in a particular consumer, then you can safely use unprotected batteries. Many people do this. This applies to flashlights with a single battery. If several batteries are used, protection must be required.
It happens that the protection board fails. To restore further use of the battery without it, do the following:
Remove the polymer coating (shell);
On the case you can see the positive conductor going to the protection board, which is simultaneously spot welded to the battery case (minus). In case of critical current and voltage values, the protection board breaks this circuit;
The protection board is removed, freeing from spot welding. Remove the conductor;
Remove the sheath around the negative terminal so that the contact is accessible for connection to the final consumer devices;
Instead of the original shell, you can use ordinary adhesive tape or electrical tape or self-adhesive film of any color, cutting a piece out of it to the size of the battery and carefully covering it with it. With such a film, the battery will become unique, especially if you wrap it in carbon film. :-)
After removing the protection board, the battery will lose 1-3 mm in length. And it will become an ordinary battery without protection.
If, for example, you need to repair the battery in a laptop, upgrade the battery in a screwdriver, or you need a prefabricated BATTERY from Li-Ion batteries, then for this you need to use unprotected batteries.
Pros and cons of lithium-ion batteries
Typically a 18650 battery is li-ion-th battery.
The main advantages of Li-ion batteries are:
High energy density;
Higher voltage (compared to NiCd and NiMH batteries);
Low self-discharge 4–6% per month, 10–20% per year;
No “memory effect”, no need for “training” after purchase - there is no need to fully charge and then completely discharge lithium batteries after purchase;
Wide operating temperature range – from -20 to + 50 °C;
Long service life of about 10 years;
Significant reserve of discharge-charge operating cycles of more than 1000;
Ease of maintenance;
Low specific gravity.
A few disadvantages of Li-ion batteries:
Relatively expensive (every day this minus disappears);
Low resistance to overcharge and full discharge therefore smart Li-Ion batteries equipped with built-in automatic shutdown systems;
Unlimited range of operating temperatures (from -20 to + 50 C), deterioration of performance at high temperatures, reduction in capacity when used in cold weather;
Difficulty charging at low temperatures;
Explosion hazard if the housing is damaged, punctured or otherwise sealed;
Dependence of service life on time, and not on the number of discharge and charge cycles, over time there is a gradual loss of capacity
Storing lithium polymer and lithium ion batteries
Lithium polymer and lithium ion batteries lose capacity when charged, unlike nickel and nickel metal hydride batteries. The higher the battery charge and the temperature during its storage, the shorter its service life. Overcharging, like overdischarging, “burns out” the battery capacity.
The optimal storage conditions for Li-ion batteries are:
- 40-50% charge of battery capacity;
- temperature 0-10 degrees Celsius.
At the same time, low temperature is a more important factor for small capacity losses at long-term storage. The average shelf life (service) of a lithium battery is on average 36 months. Lithium batteries age even when not used.
(Wikipedia).
To extend the life of your lithium battery and improve its performance, you need to follow simple recommendations:
Avoid completely discharging the battery, recharge it regularly when the charge level drops to 20%;
do not allow the battery to overheat or expose it to direct sunlight;
Do not use the battery in severe frost; insulate it for use in winter;
store lithium ion battery with a 50% charge level, at a temperature of 0 C;
protect the battery from shock, damage and strong vibration; when installing it on electric vehicles, use a soft layer
Deciphering markings and inscriptions on batteries
In mass production, three classes of Li-ion batteries are used (based on the cathode material, the second letter in the marking):
1) lithium-cobalt LiCoO2 (the most common, the highest capacity among Li-Ion)
2) lithium-manganese LiMnO2, LiMn2O4, LiNiMnCoO2 (better known as high-current (INR), capable of delivering currents of 5-7C to the load, which are usually inferior in capacity to the former)
3) lithium ferrophosphate LiFePO4 (excellent batteries undervalued by the market, in all respects they undoubtedly outperform the first two types, except for operating voltage and capacity, it is even lower than that of INR)
As they say, all three classes are tailored to perform specific tasks and have their pros and cons.
Because common standards There is no battery labeling; all manufacturers label it differently. But ideally it should be something like this:
1) the first letter is the manufacturing technology (I - lithium-ion technology)
2) second letter - type of chemistry, cathode material (C/M/F - cobalt/manganese/iron phosphate chemistry)
3) third letter R - battery (rechargeable)
4) five digits - form factor (the first two digits are diameter, the next two are length, the last digit is the shape of the acca (0 - cylindrical))
- 10440 (everyone’s familiar “little fingers”)
- 14500 (everyone’s familiar “fingers”),
- 16340 (size like a CR123 battery),
- 17335 (not common)
- 18500 (also not very common)
- 18650 (the most common form factor on the market),
- 18700 (unofficially, 18650 battery + protection board, i.e. protected battery),
- 26650 (enlarged, came to the market from the company A123 Systems, which produces lithium ferrophosphate batteries)
- 32650 (absolutely monsters, only for stationary devices, weight almost 150g)
- plus unofficial f/f with protection boards, for example 18670...
5) letters/numbers - specific marking of the container (different for all manufacturers)
An example of marking, but as a rule, it is different for all manufacturers:
- Samsung ICR18650-26F (lithium-ion battery with the usual cobalt chemistry, f/f 18650 with a capacity of 2600mah)
- Samsung INR18650-20R (lithium-ion battery with manganese chemistry, i.e. high-current, f/f 18650 with a capacity of 2000mah)
Own designations:
Panasonic NCR18650PF (NCR is a type of cobalt chemistry, something between the first and second classes, i.e., in simple words, LiNiCoO2 chemistry, without the use of maranz. Although it does not fit a certain class, a kind of symbiosis has turned out. The advantage is high energy density with low thresholds up to 2.5-2.75V). This battery uses LiNiMnCoO2 chemistry, that is, it is already IMR high-current based on manganese, but the manufacturer left the old markings.
Sanyo UR18650FM – the information may not be accurate, but I came across information that Sanyo does not produce batteries for retail sale, and therefore does not bother with labeling. It produces cans for large electronics manufacturers, so the labeling is purely “for itself.” Perhaps, according to the company’s internal designations, UR and F(M) mean type, chemistry and capacity, at least there is no information in the datasheets (only that this is the model marking). And this is a lithium-ion battery with the usual cobalt chemistry, f/f 18650 with a capacity of 2600mah.
Selecting a 18650 battery
Now, after we have studied the main characteristics of batteries, let’s try to figure out how not to make a mistake when buying a battery and what type to choose for specific tasks. Many of us use flashlights and lamps with 18650 batteries, and some also have power banks for these types of batteries.
You should never take the word for the inscriptions on batteries of unknown, little-known or cheap brands.
A clear example of a battery with fantastic capacity
A person who doesn’t understand will immediately fall for it - that’s a fact. Be carefull!
Choosing a 18650 battery. Questions and Answers
If you need simple advice - which 18650 battery is better to buy without delving headlong into the technical component, “so that it just works normally”, we will answer this:
The most affordable in terms of price/quality ratio is the Samsung ICR18650-26F (or H) with a capacity of 2600mAh; most of your devices and flashlights will work on it without problems.
If you increase the cost budget for purchasing a battery by one and a half to two times, you can purchase an almost maximum capacity battery LG18650MJ1 (30% more):
Its analogues are Sanyo (NCR18650GA) and Samsung (INR18650-35E), and Samsung is noticeably cheaper.
If you need a record holder for capacity and quality, then this is definitely what we think this moment Panasonic NCR18650G 3600mAh
Protected and/or unprotected 18650 battery?
Attention! All items on this list are required!
We are talking about electronic protection against overcharge, overdischarge and short circuit. Details with pictures.
Batteries with protection must
- The lantern consists of two or more sequentially installed batteries. "Lantern-baton", like this.
- You are using a simple charger without an overcharge protection circuit and/or from little-known Chinese manufacturers.
- The flashlight is equipped with mechanical protection against polarity reversal of an incorrectly installed battery. For this, a battery with protection with a protruding positive contact is usually used (exceptions are possible, of course).
- The flashlight does not provide information or shutdown protection when the battery is significantly discharged - below 2.6 V, and you don’t want to bother with this (you can simply forget to turn it off).
- The flashlight may fall into the temporary use of forgetful and/or inexperienced people, as well as into the hands of your children and they will torture it until they lose their “pulse”).
Batteries with protection Can
- For flashlights powered by 18650 size batteries, if the protected battery fits freely into it in length (there are no problems with screwing the battery compartment cover) and in diameter (does not rest against the walls during installation).
- Powerful flashlight with parallel connecting two or more batteries. In our opinion, this is a controversial decision.
Unprotected batteries must used in the following cases:
- The battery compartment is too narrow or short in a flashlight designed for one 18650 battery(important!) (impossibility of installing a protected battery that is 2-3mm longer and 0.5mm wider).
- As a rule, a modern flashlight with powerful LEDs (xm-l2 xp-l2) powered by one The battery consumes a lot of current at maximum brightness (3 amps or more). And many protected batteries may simply shut down when turned on due to overcurrent.
Unprotected batteries Can use in the following cases:
- The flashlight is designed for one battery or it runs on two or more parallel installed batteries.
- A smart charger is used (smooth reduction of the battery charging current and the function of automatically turning off the battery after charging, selection of charging current, other functions) from trusted brands (liitokala, nitecore)
- You will never forget to turn off the flashlight after use and/or will not leave it on for long periods of time unattended (unless it has built-in low battery protection).
- Children do not have access to the Lantern and/or you do not trust others to use it without your presence.
- You store batteries in a special box and do not throw them anywhere, due to which they can be accidentally shorted by metal objects or random current conductors.
Branded and/or Chinese battery size 18650?
Previously, purchasing a cheap Chinese (from a true Chinese brand) 18650 battery was justified. Several years ago, such batteries were much cheaper than branded ones, and in terms of characteristics they were close to their branded counterparts.
But time goes by. And starting from 13-14, some well-known brands, in order not to be left out, reduced the price so much that purchasing a “folk” battery from China of dubious quality in order to save money became irrelevant.
In 15-16 years, super-capacious batteries - one might say the flagships Panasonic 3600, due to fierce competition from Korean brands, reduced the price almost to the level of what had become popular at that time - Samsung.
Therefore, to the Chinese brand - manufacturer of 18650 batteries (Even if it is already quite popular) we can say: who are you? let's goodbye.
When choosing a battery, do not forget about this:
- There are only four main manufacturers of 18650 batteries from well-known brands: Panasonic, Sanyo, Samsung and LG. There is also Sony with its exotic models, but the ones mentioned above are the most common.
- All other brands (usually manufacturers of various flashlights) wrap the same Panasonic, Sanyo, Samsung and LG in thermal covers with the names and logos of their brand, well, maybe even providing these batteries with a protection board and/or modified contact pads.
- As a rule, after this they receive a noticeable increase in price, although they are no better in terms of characteristics.
- It’s true that it’s worth noting that sometimes such modified batteries can be better than their donors, since they should work without problems with flashlights from the manufacturer of the same brand (with others there may be problems due to size, contacts and current overloads).
- For some “special” flashlights, you need to purchase batteries that are recommended by the manufacturer or specified in the description/instructions for the flashlight.
Selection of capacity18650 battery
At the time of writing, large capacity according to real measurements has only one type of battery: Panasonic NCR18650G 3600mAh. What is more (there are fantastic inscriptions 4000, 5200, 9800 and even 12000!), and sometimes even quite real ones from little-known/unknown Chinese brands in fact black marketing and blatant lies our Chinese “friends” of underground production. Usually, bright labels and super inscriptions are used to hide the “pig in a poke.” On the fonarevka.ru forum, read the article Horrors of our town. In the best case, you will get working junk with a capacity of 1800-2000 mAh and a lifespan of six months to a year.
But even a branded battery with a really high capacity is not a panacea. It happens. that the operating time of the flashlight does not always increase noticeably with the installation of a high-capacity battery, and there are reasons for this. In everyday living conditions, a Samsung battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh can cope with the tasks at hand. This workhorse at an affordable price for any conditions. If you are still leaning towards batteries of higher capacity (2800, 3200, 3400 and 3600mAh), adhere to the following rules:
- Purchase batteries only from well-known brands and manufacturers.
- Popular Panasonic Li-ion batteries are capable of delivering their full capacity when discharged to 2.5 v. The truth is worth noting. that not all flashlights and powerbanks are capable of working with such low voltage. All “baton flashlights” (with 2-3 18650 batteries installed in series) and flashlights of high-quality Chinese and other brands (Convoy, etc.) running on a single 18650 battery can cope with this.
- If you use high-capacity batteries from LG or Samsung, then they need to be recharged to their operating non-standard voltage of 4.35V (4.2V is considered the standard voltage), most likely using an expensive “smart” charger. An example of such a battery is the LG ICR18650E1 with a capacity of 3200mAh.
- The LG INR18650-MJ1 battery with an announced capacity of 3500mAh is physically capable of working for a long time and quietly delivering high current to the load. Moreover, its operation is carried out in the range of standard voltages of 4.2 - 3.0V Li-ion batteries. Analogues of this battery are: Sanyo (NCR18650GA); Samsung (INR18650-35E).
From all of the above, we can assume that if any of these operating conditions for more capacious and expensive batteries are violated or not met, you will most likely get the same effect from their use and operating time as from the cheaper Samsung 2600. Be that as it may from the most capacious and most expensive ones, in an ideal situation and luck - it will shine only 10-30 percent longer than usual!
The estimated price in Chinese online stores at the time of writing is $2-2.5 for one Samsung 2600mAh can and $4-6 for the most capacious Panasonic 3400mAh - 3600mAh can. Good, high-quality protection will add another 1-3 dollars. You will have to pay a few more dollars for a beautiful wrapper from the lantern manufacturer.
The meaning of the inscriptions in English in the description of the battery 18650
- The battery capacity is designated " mAh". mAh – milli-Ampere-hour translated into Russian, as you may have guessed.
- Batteries with protection are marked " With protective PCB", "Protected", "Protection Circuit" and so on..
- Nothing is indicated about those who are not protected, or in rare cases they are indicated " Unprotected".
- Numbers indicating voltage 3.6V and 3.7V essentially mean absolutely the same thing. Represents the average voltage for a battery that needs to be charged to 4.2V. As a rule, the manufacturer decides for himself whether to indicate one or the other value.
- If the voltage is indicated on the label or in the description 3.8V then this means that the battery should be charged to non-standard 4.3 or 4.35 Volt.
- Voltage value 3.2 V usually denoted Lithium iron phosphate battery . If you haven’t heard of this and don’t know what its purpose is, just forget about it, most likely you won’t need it.
Cases of counterfeit 18650 batteries
There have been almost no cases of counterfeit batteries from the main brands: Samsung, Sanyo, LG and Panasonic. But with other brands you need to be more careful - the situation may be different.
Attention! There have been cases of unscrupulous sellers selling old, worn-out batteries from the dismantling of large batteries from electric cars or electric bicycles.
You can determine the manufacturing date using the manufacturer's code on 18650 batteries using this link:
https://batterybro.com/18650-date
Suitable for:
Samsung
Sony
Panasonic
Sanyo
LG
Signs of such batteries:
- Remnants of removed contact welding on the poles (scratch spots on the ends)
- Remains of sealant (glue) on the battery case
Applications
Table of characteristics for famous brands
|
Marking |
Charge voltage |
final voltage |
discharge current A continuous (maximum) |
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6.4-2C(10-3C) |
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6.4-2C(10-3C) |
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Manufacturer |
Marking |
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Materials used in the article
P.S. I’ll add on my own behalf as a person who has been using this type of battery for a long time - Take Liitokala, Sanyo, LG, Samsung or Panasonic!
DO NOT TAKE UltraFire or worse, especially with a capacity above 3000mAh
Various wireless devices occupy an increasing place in everyday life: portable and easy-to-use cordless drills; laptops that allow you to work for a long time without using an electrical network. All this makes our daily life more convenient and easier. But a special place is occupied by the use of autonomous battery devices not near the house, where you can always charge the device, but far from power sources.
On a camping trip, hunting or fishing, the most necessary, and sometimes irreplaceable electrical appliance is a lantern. Modern flashlights equipped with LEDs have a huge number of advantages. But the main characteristic of any electric flashlight, of course, is the duration of its operation. For tourists who go on multi-day trips, it is the duration of the flashlight that is of great importance when choosing. And this characteristic directly depends on the type of battery that comes with the flashlight.
The compactness and lightness of equipment plays an important role for any tourist. That's why important characteristic for batteries are size and weight - the smaller the better. At the same time, the batteries must have a large capacity, which will ensure long and uninterrupted operation of the flashlight, often the main source of light in the dark. Modern technologies make it possible to combine small size and weight with high battery capacity.
One of the most common batteries for LED flashlights are 18650 batteries. These compact batteries with a relatively large capacity are best suited for modern light sources, often used by tourists, fishermen and hunters.
Main features of 18650 batteries
The name itself indicates the dimensions of the battery - 18 millimeters in diameter, 65 millimeters in length. Despite the fact that they look similar in appearance to the AA-size batteries that many are familiar with (the so-called “pen-type” batteries), 18650 batteries are larger in size. Besides, distinctive feature 18650 batteries - the output voltage is 3.7 V, versus 1.5 V for smaller batteries. The capacity of 18650 batteries varies: from 1600 to 3600 mAh. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the capacity of a high-quality battery cannot exceed 3600 mAh. Batteries can be used in flashlights either individually or in a system Power Bank– a device that combines several identical batteries.
One of the main qualities and advantages of batteries is the absence of memory effect and extremely low level of self-discharge. 18650 batteries can withstand up to 1000 charge/discharge cycles, which is a very good indicator for portable batteries. The battery charge life is gradually decreasing, but with the help of special technical devices The capacity can be restored; the only condition for restoration is the absence of mechanical damage to the battery.
It must be taken into account that in order to use the battery resource more rationally, you should not completely discharge it. It is optimal to recharge the battery when the capacity is reduced to 40% of the nominal value. If used properly, the battery will serve reliably for a long time.
To charge 18650 batteries, you will need a special charger that is suitable for all types of batteries of this size. For example, charger, charger or charger.
Types of 18650 batteries
The batteries themselves, while generally similar in technical characteristics, have different contents depending on the type of cathode material. Despite the fact that they are all labeled lithium-ion batteries, there are three types:
1) lithium-cobalt (LiCoO2) - the most common batteries, characterized by the highest capacity among lithium-ion batteries;
2) lithium-manganese (LiMnO2, LiMn2O4, LiNiMnCoO2) - better known as high-current batteries (INR), capable of delivering currents of 5-7C to the load, but usually inferior in capacity to lithium-cobalt batteries;
3) lithium ferrophosphate (LiFePO4) batteries - in all respects they undoubtedly outperform the first two types, except for operating voltage and capacity.
Each of these types has its own advantages and disadvantages and is designed to solve specific problems. They differ mainly in capacity and discharge rate.
When choosing an 18650 battery in a store, all information about it can usually be read on the battery case. The most responsible manufacturers always label their batteries. Therefore, the presence of technical characteristics on the case is a kind of indicator of the quality of the product. There is no universal or single labeling system. However, the following principle is most often used.
Latin letters are used in markings in different combinations. For example: the letter I - indicates that the battery is lithium-ion, with all the characteristics inherent in such batteries. The letter R means that you have a battery in your hands that can be recharged if necessary. The letters C/M/F indicate the cathode material - cobalt, manganese or iron phosphate, respectively. Combinations of letters can be arbitrary, but at the same time, the standard size 18650 (length and diameter) and the capacity in ampere hours are always indicated - from 1000 to 3600.
Rules for using 18650 batteries
Despite their many advantages, 18650 batteries have one drawback associated with their design. Batteries often fail quickly if they are overcharged or overheated. Overcharging causes the battery to heat up, causing the battery to catch fire or explode. Manufacturers have provided an option to protect batteries from overheating. When using 18650 batteries in a Power Bank, when connected in series, an electronic board is installed in the circuit, which limits the charge of the entire device to a given capacity.
For 18650 batteries, used, for example, in flashlights, an individual system of protection against overcharging and subsequent overheating is used. The protection is a small electronic protective board that is installed on the negative terminal of an unprotected lithium-ion battery and welded to the case with steel tape. This prevents not only overheating, but also a short circuit, which can damage not only the battery, but also the charger. The entire structure is packed in thermal film.
Protected and unprotected 18650 batteries also have their own markings, for example: protected, with protected PCB, protection circuit - on protected batteries, unprotected - on unprotected ones. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that large manufacturers do not produce protected batteries, but protection is installed by companies that modify them. Thus, protected batteries are produced under various brands, the number of which is very large.
It should be noted that after installing the protection, the length of the 18650 battery increases by about 3-4 mm, which can cause its own difficulties. Often, a longer battery does not fit into the regular place both in the flashlight and in the charger. It is necessary to take into account that the contact spring of the flashlight or charger presses on the battery of increased length with greater force, and this can lead to pushing through the negative contact and breakdown of the battery. Therefore, when purchasing 18650 batteries, you need to check whether they fit your flashlight or charger. However, there are also flashlights and chargers whose manufacturers immediately provide for an increased battery size. In this case, there are no problems with installation and operation, but unprotected batteries are not suitable for such devices.
Batteries that have protection can be used in any devices operating on lithium-ion power sources that do not have a built-in charge-discharge controller. It is, of course, possible to use unprotected batteries, but in this case it is necessary to control the charge level when recharging.
A special place in the operation of 18650 batteries is played by their proper storage. Batteries should be stored in a case or box and not come into contact with metal products during storage. The optimal storage temperature is from +5 to +15 degrees Celsius. Proper storage will increase the life of batteries, but the best guarantee of their longevity is constant operation. Lithium-ion batteries gradually lose capacity and, accordingly, service life during long-term storage.
Devices powered by 18650 batteries
18650 size batteries are widely used in everyday life.
Nowadays, one of the most common devices powered by 18650 batteries are high-power LED lights. These batteries are capable of powering high-power LEDs. High capacity batteries allows the flashlight to work for a long time without recharging. This is especially important on long hikes. The LED flashlight will require a battery equipped with a protection board. When using an unprotected battery, constant monitoring of its operation is necessary.
Another large group of devices that use these batteries are hand-held cordless drills, which for short are called screwdrivers. These essential tools for construction and repair are often equipped with 18650 batteries combined into a Power Bank. The undoubted advantage of such batteries is the high starting current, which allows the tool to operate with a high power load. The large capacity of the batteries allows you to continuously use the tool for several hours. If the battery begins to discharge, you can safely charge it without fear of the memory effect inherent in other types of batteries. Batteries of size 18650 are the most optimal option for a screwdriver due to their small dimensions, high capacity and relative charging speed.
18650 batteries are used in laptop batteries, also combined into Power Banks. They allow these indispensable gadgets to work autonomously for several hours. Given the fairly high electrical energy consumption of a laptop, batteries are used during operation, which together provide a large capacity. Another advantage is that the battery can be recharged when using the laptop from the network; the only thing that needs to be taken into account is that the power supply from the network must be turned off as soon as the charge indicator on the laptop shows that the batteries are charged. Otherwise, the battery life will gradually decrease. The batteries that come with laptops can often be restored, as they are well protected by the laptop case and, as a rule, do not have mechanical damage.
It should be noted that only unprotected batteries are used in laptop batteries and screwdrivers; this must be taken into account when restoring, repairing or replacing them.
So, let's summarize. A large number of modern high-power LED flashlights use 18650 batteries as a power source. Lightweight and compact, these batteries have sufficient capacity to ensure long-term operation of the flashlight and other devices. Manufacturers are trying to improve the design of batteries as much as possible, and manufacturers of battery-powered devices, in turn, optimize their products for long-term operation with such batteries, both with and without overheating protection.
We hope that this article will help in choosing high-quality and reliable 18650 batteries - necessary for autonomous operation various devices both at home and on a camping trip, hunting or fishing.
The li ion 18650 battery is a cylindrical battery. It is not much different from ordinary AA “finger” batteries, but they have big sizes. They are 66 mm long and 18 mm in diameter.
Contents
Types and types of Li Ion 18650 batteries
All 18650 batteries can be divided into types based on cathode material. The main operational characteristics of batteries depend on this component: capacity and possible discharge current.
The most common are lithium-cobalt batteries. They differ from other batteries in their large capacity. Therefore, they can be used longer.
There is also a group of lithium-manganese batteries. Compared to lithium-cobalt batteries, they have a lower capacity, but at the same time have a higher discharge current.
The last group is lithium ferrophosphate batteries. Although they do not have a large capacity or high voltage, they can be operated for more than 1000 cycles. In addition, until fully charged, you need to keep the batteries in the station for 1 hour.
18650 batteries with protection
Safety requirements for the operation of lithium-ion batteries state that the voltage inside the batteries must be in the range of 2.5-4.2 volts. It is very difficult to control this parameter on your own, so a board with protection was invented specifically for this. This element prevents the voltage from going beyond the specified range.
Manufacturers solder this board to the pins using steel or aluminum tape. Large nutrient factories rarely produce such protections. The devices for which they are manufactured have charge-discharge controllers. These are batteries for laptops, screwdrivers and other complex units.
Most rugged 18650 lithium-ion batteries are produced Chinese manufacturers. A protective board is soldered onto an unprotected battery and wrapped in a special thermal protective material. Their length, due to the use of the board, increases by several millimeters.
It is better to equip all devices that do not have an element for monitoring the battery status with protected batteries. Otherwise, they may fail, discharge to zero or explode. In this case, the protection will not be able to prevent the battery from overheating. It controls the state of tension.
How the marking is deciphered
As an example, consider the ICR18650-26F M lithium-ion battery.
- The first character "I" is used on all elements of this type, which are created using the same technology;
- The second letter allows you to understand what material the cathode is made of. For lithium-ion batteries, this can be cobalt - C, manganese - M, iron phosphate - F;
- The next letter – R – stands for battery;
- The 18650 numbers can be divided into two blocks: 18 and 65. These are the length and diameter, respectively;
- The last digit 0 is the shape, that is, the cylinder.
At the same time, various manufacturers Labeling may vary greatly.
Where are 18650 batteries used?
The scope of batteries and the frequency of their use is much wider than many people think. Due to the fact that they are closed with special protection, they are not always visible.
Installed in the following devices:
- Laptops;
- Flashlights;
- Power Bank;
- Various gadgets.
They are used wherever ordinary AA batteries are unable to cope with the task. Li ion 18650 batteries have a higher capacity and voltage, they can be recharged and reused many times.
How to determine plus and minus
Compared to AA and AAA batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not have such a noticeable external difference between the positive and negative terminals, but it’s quite easy to understand:
- On the “plus” side there are 3-4 small holes.
- The “plus” side sticks out a little.”
- “The minus is completely flat.
General characteristics of 18650
| Capacity (mAh) | Output voltage (V) | Maximum current (A) | Protection board |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | 3.3 | +/- | |
| 1300 | 3.6 | 18 | +/- |
| 1620 | 3,6-3,7 | 20 | +/- |
| 2000 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-30 | +/- |
| 2100 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-30 | +/- |
| 2200 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-30 | +/- |
| 2400 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-30 | +/- |
| 2500 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 2600 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 2800 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 3000 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 3100 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 3200 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 3350 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 3400 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 3500 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
| 3600 | 3,6-3,7 | 20-35 | +/- |
The table shows the most popular batteries.
Dimensions with protection: 66.5*18 mm and 66*18 mm without protection. Weight on average about 40 grams.
Main manufacturers: Samsung, Fenix, Avant, LG, Panasonic, Olight, Camelion, Proconnect, Rombica, SANYO and SONY.
How to choose the right 18650 battery for yourself
Lithium-ion batteries differ from each other in several characteristics. Because of this, it is necessary to pay attention to their type and technical characteristics before making a purchase.
When choosing a li ion 18650 battery, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
- Energy intensity;
- Rated current;
- Voltage
- Tendency to overheat.
If you need to purchase batteries with greater autonomy, then you need to pay attention to the capacity, which is measured in mAh. But, the higher the capacitance indicator, the lower the current will be. Therefore, by sacrificing one, you can gain another. In simple terms, the current strength affects the tendency of the battery to overheat.
Voltage battery depends on the charge. Voltage can be nominal, minimum, maximum and real. The manufacturer indicates the initial voltage on the packaging. It is important that its value does not fall below 2.4 Volts, otherwise the battery will be extremely difficult to revive. If you use batteries that do not withstand high temperatures well, you may experience an explosion.
Battery connection diagrams
You can purchase cases for batteries, with the help of which several elements are combined into one large one. If you connect several of these batteries using cases in parallel, the capacity will increase by as much as the number of batteries that are connected 3600*3=10800 mAh. In this case, the voltage will be equal to the voltage of one battery. The duration of their use depends on the capacity.
Parallel connection of 18650 batteries They can be connected in series. In this case, the voltage will add up, and the capacity will remain equal to one battery. This can be done using a special case. By connecting 3 3.7 V batteries we get an 11.1 volt 3600 mAh battery.
Series connection of 18650 batteries How to check battery capacity
There are several effective ways to find out the capacity of any battery. Some of them do not require special expenses or special equipment, but only simple mathematical calculations.
The accuracy of such methods is not as high as when using special devices, but they allow you to find out the approximate capacity. For many this will be enough.
So, to calculate the capacitance using the free method, you need to use a known current. The battery specifications contain information about the current. A battery with a capacity of 3600 is charged for 36 hours with a current of 100 mAh. This means that the final result is obtained by multiplying two components: time and current. Therefore, knowing how much is required for a full charge, you can find out the capacity.
To measure capacity in another way, you will need to spend money. There are many smart chargers that can quickly measure capacity. They can be purchased at a specialty store or on aliexpress. They are used to measure various indicators, not just capacity.
A device that measures real capacitance To implement the third method, you will need such parts as a battery, a watch, an ammeter with a flashlight. You need to insert the battery into the flashlight and turn it on at maximum power. An ammeter is needed to measure current. If the flashlight shines for 20 hours with a current consumption of 100 mA, then we get 20 * 100 = 2000 mAh.
How to charge and with what current
Lithium-ion cells can be charged at various stations. The main thing is that the voltage value is 5 V, and the current is from 0.5 to 1 of the nominal battery capacity. The lithium cell, which has a capacity of 2600 mAh, is charged with a current of 1.3 to 2.6 amperes.
The entire charging period can be divided into several stages. First, the unit, using a current of 0.2 of the capacity, charges for an hour. In this case, the voltage value varies between 4.1-4.2 volts. Then the tension increases.
In order not to bother yourself, you should just buy a charger for AA batteries.
How to restore a 18650 battery
An 18650 battery can only be restored if it is not completely discharged. Sometimes it is difficult to revive a battery that is not completely discharged. But there is one far from well-known option with disabling the board.
It is done like this:
- The protection in the form of a board is removed.
- The tester measures the voltage at the outputs. Its value should be in the range of 2 -2.5 V.
- Using a charger with current regulation, you need to connect it to the battery, setting it to 100 mA and 4.2V.
If the battery starts charging, it means it is still alive and can be restored.
There are still questions about 18650 batteries or have something to add? Then write to us about it in the comments, this will make the material more useful, complete and accurate.
- Lithium batteries better than nickel ones in many respects: higher current output and lower voltage drop under load - the screwdriver turns equally well both when fully charged and when already discharged. Lithium batteries do not have a memory effect - they can be recharged without compromising their capacity (unlike nickel batteries). The self-discharge of lithium batteries is several times less than that of nickel ones; the screwdriver will last quietly for six months and lose only a couple of tens of percent of its charge, while the nickel one will be completely discharged.
- Voltage assembly depends on the number of lithium “cans”. In a fully charged state, one bank has a voltage of 4.2 Volts, while the operating voltage is around 3.7 Volts (in this section the discharge graph is almost horizontal)
- Number of cans for the battery is selected as follows: look at your old nickel battery. What voltage is indicated on it? Select the number of lithium cans so that their total voltage is close to the nickel assembly, or slightly higher than this value. The voltage of a lithium can in the calculation is taken to be 3.7 Volts: 2 cans – 7.4 V, 3 cans – 11.1 V, 4 cans – 14.8 V, 5 cans – 18.5 V. You can also count at the maximum - look at the output voltage of the charger for a nickel battery, this will be voltage of a fully charged screwdriver. We count lithium cans as 4.2 Volts per can: 2 cans – 8.4 V, 3 cans – 12.6 V, 4 cans – 16.8 V, 5 cans – 21 V. Don’t be afraid to assemble a battery that is a volt or two more than the old one: it will turn the motor a little faster This WILL NOT BURN. Unless, of course, you clamp it in a vice and give it full throttle.
- Protection board (BMS) performs several functions at once: protects the battery from overdischarge (lithium does not like this) and protects against short circuits, saving you from exploding cans. In both cases, the BMS simply disconnects the assembly from the load until the causes of the trip are eliminated. Some BMS models do not leave protection until you apply charging voltage to the board. BMS models with cell balancing additionally perform a very important task: they balance the voltage of the cells in the battery during charging, charging them to the same voltage, which ensures maximum efficiency and safe use batteries.
- Charge the battery lithium batteries require a special charger that provides required voltage and limiting current, such chargers have “CC CV” in their name, which means constant current constant voltage - the law of charging lithium batteries. ATTENTION! BMS board is not charger! The lithium assembly must be charged with a separate special charger, the voltage of which is equal to the maximum voltage of the assembly: 2 cans – 8.4 V, 3 cans – 12.6 V, 4 cans – 16.8 V, 5 cans – 21 V. I will leave links to Chinese charging power supplies below. These chargers automatically turn off the battery when charging is complete. It is very convenient to put a standard 5.5x2.1 mm socket on the battery, because such a plug is on all charging power supplies.
- Indicator The battery charge is a little bit, but it drains the battery (LEDs are lit), so you can’t just connect it to the assembly; you need to do this through a button or switch. You can also connect it directly to the screwdriver motor, but preferably through a diode. Thus, by pressing “full forward” you will see the battery charge on the indicator!
- What to buy for assembling a lithium battery for a screwdriver?
High-current batteries, I wrote above how to count the number of cans. You will find links to different batteries below; here I recommend powerful and capacious SONY VTC6 batteries. With welded strips for easy assembly. And ordinary cans for independent welding/soldering. Slightly cheaper and not as powerful HG2, link one, link two. You can buy such batteries in vape shops.
Protection board (BMS) according to the number of selected cans. There are links to powerful BMS with balancing with connection diagrams. I’ll duplicate it here: 3 cans, 3 cans, 4 cans, 4 cans, 5 cans, 5 cans. For particularly powerful screwdrivers, use powerful BMS. The seller has them for different numbers of cans
Charger for the appropriate number of cans, links are below, I will duplicate them here: 3 cans 1 ampere, 3 cans 2 ampere, 4 cans, 5 cans
5.5x2.1mm socket for convenient charging, link 1, link 2
Charge indicator for the corresponding number of cans: link 1, link 2.
- Safety precautions plays an extremely important role when working with lithium batteries! Lithium batteries are powerful and very dangerous if used incorrectly. lithium battery may bang/catch fire. This can happen for three main reasons: too much load, overheating and voltage exceeding limits. Special cases:
- Overheat– do not leave batteries in the sun!
- Short circuit– if you solder cans, do it as carefully as possible!
- Reload– use only lithium chargers!
- Overdischarge– do not force the battery!
- Operating a hot battery
- Mechanical damage to the can
- What to do what if the battery still fails? Tips from firefighter Andrei Delon:
- You can’t extinguish lithium “with just improvised means”; until it burns out, it will create inconvenience and scream loudly about itself.
- If it catches fire, the most ideal thing is to throw it into a pan, etc. To prevent it from smoking too much, cover it with whatever you need (salt, sand, earth, soda).
NEVER extinguish fires with water or foam fire extinguishers. - To extinguish lithium, there are special means, powder mixtures PS-11, PS-12 and PS-13 (regular fire extinguishers do not work!)
- Some powder fire extinguishers can even have the opposite effect, for example with a mixture of PS-2.
A variety of household appliances are most often powered by batteries. The 18650 type battery is most suitable in this case. These are unique products that have a number of advantages. They are often used in electronic cigarettes and LED flashlights. What types there are and their characteristics can be found in this article.
18650 battery: what it is and its types
18650 type battery
The 18650 is a lithium-ion battery, similar in shape and size to a finger-type battery. The capacity of this type ranges from 1600-3600 mAh, the output voltage is 3.7 V. To better understand the features of this battery, you should compare it with a standard AAA or AA battery. Its voltage is 1.2 or 1.5 V.
Batteries of the described type are used to power equipment that requires high-capacity cells. For example, this is an electric bicycle, portable charger for phone, laptop, flashlight and so on.
Note! The battery life is quite long. To prevent the device from deteriorating, its charge must be 50%. It is in this form that the product can remain for about a month. The battery should be stored in a room with a moderate temperature (too high or low readings have a detrimental effect on the device). Optimal are +15 - +17 degrees.
Many people wonder what the numbers 18650 mean. In fact, everything is very simple. The first two digits are the diameter, 65 is the length of the battery in millimeters.
There are the following types of 18650 batteries depending on the chemical indicator:
1. Lithium Manganese Oxide. These include LiMn2O4, IMR, LiNiMnCoO2, NMC, INR, LiMnO2.
2. Lithium Cobalt Oxide. These are NCR, ICR, LiCoO2 batteries.
3. Lithium Iron Phosphate or Ferrophosphate. Here we can name LFP, LiFePO4, IFR.
Owners of household appliances, when it comes time to recharge the battery, are interested in how to do it correctly. It is better to use a special device. The charger starts the process at a set voltage of 0.05 V, gradually increasing it to 4.2. The value should not rise higher, because this harms the performance of the battery.
The current strength allowed for charging should fluctuate around 0.5 - 1 A. These indicators directly affect the charging speed. If you do not need to use the battery urgently, it is better not to speed up the charging process.
It will take about 3 hours to completely replenish the product. After this time, the battery is automatically disconnected from the device. This way you don’t have to worry about the battery overheating and damaging it. If your charger does not have a charging control function, you will have to monitor the process yourself and turn it off when necessary. It is best to listen to specialists and purchase multifunctional devices with a controller. This way the charging process will be the safest.
Currently, purchasing a charger is not a problem. The assortment of stores and retail outlets has a large number of devices from different manufacturers and different price categories. Experts advise not to take price as the basis for your choice, but to pay special attention to the characteristics.
Types of chargers:
- Charging with one socket and a current of no more than 1 A. These are the most inexpensive devices and will be a great help for those users who charge batteries only a few times a year.
- Charging with two sockets creates a voltage of up to 4.2 V. These devices have a special indicator that monitors operating time.
- Universal chargers used for batteries of different chemistry. They can be used not only for lithium, but also for nickel types.
Cost is also an important indicator when choosing a quality battery. Devices of greater cost, as a rule, have relays, controllers and indicators. Those who feel empowered and have certain technical and chemical knowledge can make chargers on their own. In this case, it is important to have knowledge regarding the functioning of the electrical circuit and battery parameters.
Popular 18650 battery models
Among the many options that are on the market, only a few are in good demand. Such products are characterized by a long service life and reliability.
Panasonic NCR18650B batteries
Let's consider the most popular models batteries and their main characteristics:
- Panasonic NCR18650B – has a capacity of 3400mah. Until recently, this battery held a leading position in terms of volume among other lithium types available for free sale. The emergence of medium-current and higher-capacity batteries displaced Panasonic from first place. However, even now there are buyers for this product. As for the design of this battery, inside it there is an anode, rolled into a roll, as well as a cathode. The manufacturer placed a separator between them. All these elements are placed in a cylinder-shaped housing.
- Samsung INR18650-25R. The element capacity is 2500mah. This battery is designed to operate with high current power. If the load is continuous, then the current is 20 A, but if it is periodic, then the figure increases to 100 A. This battery is perfect for an electronic cigarette. Manufacturers recommend using Samsung INR18650-25R batteries in devices that have a built-in protection system, since they themselves do not have this function. Such products are not suitable for flashlights, as they can be over-discharged, which is unfavorable for them.
Battery Samsung INR18650-25R
- LG 18650 HE2, capacity 2500 mAh. This battery is high current. With its capacity, it can withstand a load of 8 C and provides a current of 20 A. Due to such characteristics and performance indicators, the battery model is popular and in demand. In addition, the battery also has a lot of advantages. The most important advanced indicator of the device is the latest chemical composition. It's called NCR or Hybrid IMR. This name speaks for itself: it is a hybrid of ICR and IMR batteries. The battery contains a cobalt cathode and a coating of manganese and nickel. Due to the use of such advanced technology, the battery is discharged to a low voltage, without losing its performance properties.
- Samsung ICR18650 with a capacity of 2600 mAh 26H. Such a battery has an industrial purpose and is characterized by the absence of a protection board. The battery has a high capacity, so it is often used for screwdrivers, laptops and other household appliances. Samsung are often found among repackaging companies that use them to operate their products. An acceptable price and a really large price made them the best seller among 18650 lithium-ion batteries. The positive contact of the battery is slightly recessed.
Battery Samsung ICR18650
- KeepPower, capacity 3500mah. Another high-quality 18650 battery. To create such a product, the Japanese manufacturer used a board designed to protect the battery from short circuits and overcharging. The maximum current is 5 A, voltage is 3.7 V.
It is quite possible to charge batteries without harming them and maintaining their performance properties in the future, knowing the characteristics and permissible voltage and current values. The battery will last longer if you treat it with care.