Test/Review of Nitecore 16340 NL166 650mAh (Black-yellow)

HKJ · Jan 17, 2016

[size=+3]Nitecore 16340 NL166 650mAh (Black-yellow)[/size]

Official specifications:

Battery Capacity (Mfg Rated): 650 mAh
Battery Form Factor: 16340
Battery Rated Voltage: 3.7 V
Charge cycles: >500
Max. output current: 4A
Charge current: Max. 650mA, recommended 300mA
Weight: 17.8g
Size: Diameter: 16.6mm, Length: 34.8mm

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-info.png

This cell is Nitecores substitute for a CR123 cell, but voltage is higher and capacity less (This is not Nitecores fault).

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-Capacity.png

The cells do not track very well at higher current.

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-CapacityTimeHours.png

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-CapacityTime.png

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-Energy.png

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-PowerLoadTime.png

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-TripCurrent.png

Nitecore%2016340%20NL166%20650mAh%20(Black-yellow)-Charge.png

[size=+3]Conclusion[/size]

I do not like it when cell are different, this means it is best not to use them in series.
But looking at the available selection of 16340 batteries this cell is not bad and fairly short for a protected cell.

[size=+3]Notes and links[/size]

This cell will not always replace a CR123 cell, see here for more info

How is the test done and how to read the charts
How is a protected LiIon battery constructed
More about button top and flat top batteries
Comparison to other LiIon batteries

sidecross · Jan 17, 2016

Thank you for this test and you are very right the choice for this size battery is on a short list. I use the 16340 KeepPower 700mAh ICR16340 'Protected Button Top' because it fits my standard CR123a Delrin battery capsule. :thumbsup:

kreisl · Jan 17, 2016

Thanks for the review!

I have this battery too. I got a couple, some of them still blister package sealed. I was shocked how fast this cell degrades cycle after cycle: loss of capacity, increase of internal resistance, and non-usability in strong LED lamps like Armytek Tiara C1. They're not holding up well at all and therefore i won't buy them ever again.

On the 16340 market there is indeed not much choice. Panasonic, Sanyo, LG, Samsung don't make 16340 nor 18350. hkequipment, the retailer with the widest selection of brand name flashlights on the WWW, has afaik only 2 models in the catalog: Olight 16340 and this Nitecore 16340. No more Trustfire or Ultrafire 16340. Thousands of flashlight models and LiIon batteries but only 2 16340 battery models, crazy. It says a lot about how popular the demand for this battery size is, doesn't it. Which notable brands are left which produce 16340's? Not many. Off the top of my head Eagtac, Keeppower, AW. That's about it. Not even Efest 16340 is easily found. I would buy 18350 instead.

If users of this product are happy with it and don't have problems of fast degradation or don't want to hear/read/believe my claims, then fine, never mind. It is NOT my task, NOT my job to prove and convince other shoppers about that downside of the product. Shoppers if you don't believe me, then buy it and accept the quality fwiw, it's your money i don't care. The Nitecore Germany exclusive importer KTL-Store sells them for 9.50€/pc plus shipping, go ahead.

I certainly cannot recommend NL166. So far my Keeppower and Eagtac 16340 cells have been holding up much better, are still usable in strong LED lamps.

sidecross · Jan 17, 2016

kreisl said:
Thanks for the review!

I have this battery too. I got a couple, some of them still blister package sealed. I was shocked how fast this cell degrades cycle after cycle: loss of capacity, increase of internal resistance, and non-usability in strong LED lamps like Armytek Tiara C1. They're not holding up well at all and therefore i won't buy them ever again.

On the 16340 market there is indeed not much choice. Panasonic, Sanyo, LG, Samsung don't make 16340 nor 18350. hkequipment, the retailer with the widest selection of brand name flashlights on the WWW, has afaik only 2 models in the catalog: Olight 16340 and this Nitecore 16340. No more Trustfire or Ultrafire 16340. Thousands of flashlight models and LiIon batteries but only 2 16340 battery models, crazy. It says a lot about how popular the demand for this battery size is, doesn't it. Which notable brands are left which produce 16340's? Not many. Off the top of my head Eagtac, Keeppower, AW. That's about it. Not even Efest 16340 is easily found. I would buy 18350 instead.

If users of this product are happy with it and don't have problems of fast degradation or don't want to hear/read/believe my claims, then fine, never mind. It is NOT my task, NOT my job to prove and convince other shoppers about the downsides of this product. Shoppers if you don't believe me, then buy it and accept the quality fwiw, it's your money i don't care. The Nitecore Germany exclusive importer KTL-Store sells them for 9.50€/pc plus shipping, go ahead.

I certainly cannot recommend NL166. So far my Keeppower and Eagtac 16340 cells have been holding up much better, are still usable in strong LED lamps.

I have only four Keeppower 16340 cells and do not plan on replacing them. When their ability to be recharged adequately diminishes I will go back to my use of CR123a batteries which for my use offer better results.

Even Illumination Supply's Keeppower 16340's at $5.99 is not a bargain for me.

TerranM · Feb 18, 2017

Let me first say thanks for all your work reviewing cells and chargers; I'm impressed and appreciative.

I got worse performance from my NL166 cells than you did. In late 2016, I bought a pair from batteryjunction. One of them failed outright after about 4 uses, getting very hot while charging; I'm glad a caught it before it exploded. The other has an actual capacity of less than 500 mAH (see graph below). I don't have a programmable load, so I discharged it into a 5 ohm power resistor, measuring the voltage and current with a pair of Fluke 189s.

By comparison, an Olight 163CO5 (nominal capacity of 550 mAH) tested at 554 on the same setup.

hiflo · May 31, 2018

HKJ thank you for your test keep on thanks again

Test/Review of Nitecore 16340 NL166 650mAh (Black-yellow)

HKJ

Flashaholic

sidecross

Flashlight Enthusiast

kreisl

Flashlight Enthusiast

sidecross

Flashlight Enthusiast

TerranM

Newly Enlightened

hiflo

Newly Enlightened

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