Test/Review of Sanyo/Panasonic NCR18650GA 3500mAh (Red)

[size=+3]Sanyo/Panasonic NCR18650GA 3500mAh (Red)[/size]



Official specifications:

• Rated capacity: 3300mAh
• Minimum capacity: 3350mAh
• Typical capacity: 3450mAh
• Nominal voltage: 3.6V
• Discharge end voltage: 2.5V
• Charging current (Std.): 1.675A
• Charging voltage: 4.20 +/-0.03V
• Charging time (Std): 4.0 hours
• Continuous discharge current (Max.): 10A
• Internal resistance (AC 1kHz): <38mOhm
• Cycle life: 300 cycles to 70%
• Weight: <49.5g
• Operating temperature: Charge: +10 ~ +45°C, Discharge: -20 ~ +60°C
• Storage conditions: less than 1 month: -20 ~ +50°C, less than 3 months: -20 ~ +40°C, less than 1 year: -20 ~ +20°C (80% capacity left)

A high capacity cell from one of the largest LiIon manufacturer.










As expected these discharge curve is tracking nearly perfectly. The cells are high capacity cell, but can deliver some current.
Because I cut the discharge at 2.8 volt, I do not get the full capacity from the cell.







The cells are rated for 10A and at 15A discharge the batteries gets very hot, on the first cell I terminated discharge at 75°C and the second cell I terminated at 85°C (The maximum allowed cell temperature is 70°C).















[size=+3]Conclusion[/size]

These cell has very good capacity and can also handle current, this makes it one of the current top cells for that.
Being from Panasonic there is no doubt that it is good cells.



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

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
Compare to 18650 and other batteries

Thank HKJ for the review.

I have been using this cell and have been very pleased with it. :thumbsup:

Thanks again for the excellent review HKJ

Thanks! This is ALL I use anymore. I always knew it was a winner, but I've been looking forward to your review just because

HKJ, in some of the curves in the 1st graph, there is a vertical tail. Does a vertical tail always indicate early discharge termination due to excess temperature?

Thanks HKJ for the review of this popular cell!

Thank you for yet another battery review and for keeping us safe!

As I suspected, probably the best cell of its type on the market and confirmed.

Thanks again HKJ.

SubLGT said:

HKJ, in some of the curves in the 1st graph, there is a vertical tail. Does a vertical tail always indicate early discharge termination due to excess temperature?

Click to expand...

No, my curve recording first stops when the battery temperature is below 50°C and temperature termination is at 85°C, this means there is a temperature range where I will get a tail without early termination.

Looks like this cell actually has a little MORE capacity above 2A than the very rare and expensive NCR18650G, not to mention that it holds its voltage better (and goes for a song in comparison to the overpriced NCR18650G). Even below 2A, the capacity advantage of the NCR18650G is virtually nonexistant. Looks like there is no reason to get that cell anymore.

HKJ said:

No, my curve recording first stops when the battery temperature is below 50°C and temperature termination is at 85°C, this means there is a temperature range where I will get a tail without early termination.

Click to expand...

To help readers understand this matter better I recommend that you fill in the blanks below:

In every graph above the exact termination condition I use is ....
The reason the tails appear in some curves and not others is ...
The tails of the curve represent ....

Gauss163 said:

To help readers understand this matter better I recommend that you fill in the blanks below:

In every graph above the exact termination condition I use is ....
The reason the tails appear in some curves and not others is ...
The tails of the curve represent ....

Click to expand...

This kind of stuff is usual explained in the article I link at the bottom. That article has not been updated to include explanation of the tails yet, because I have not decided on exactly what parameters to use.

HKJ said:

This kind of stuff is usual explained in the article I link at the bottom. That article has not been updated to include explanation of the tails yet, because I have not decided on exactly what parameters to use.

Click to expand...

Searching on "termination" in the linked article yields no such explanation. No do I see any explanation of the role that temperature plays in your termination algorithm. These are all essential things to know in order to be able to comprehend the graphs. Why not take a few moments to explain them, e.g. fill in the blanks above?

Gauss163 said:

Searching on "termination" in the linked article yields no such explanation. No do I see any explanation of the role that temperature plays in your termination algorithm. These are all essential things to know in order to be able to comprehend the graphs. Why not take a few moments to explain them, e.g. fill in the blanks above?

Click to expand...

As I wrote above, the tail is new, same with the temperature and I am not going to update any explanation before I have it working perfectly and can add a chart.
Until then explanation may or may not be included in the review (There is some explanation in a few reviews) and will be given when people ask.

HKJ said:

(There is some explanation in a few reviews) and will be given when people ask.

Click to expand...

In case it was not clear, my suggestion was also meant as a request, since I cannot make heads or tails of your prior terse "explanation" (even though I know these matters like the back of my hand).

Gauss163 said:

In case it was not clear, my suggestion was also meant as a request, since I cannot make heads or tails of your prior terse "explanation" (even though I know these matters like the back of my hand).

Click to expand...

Discharger is stopped when voltage is below 2.8 volt or temperature is above 85°C (This limit has been lower in my earlier charts).
I will continue to record voltage and temperature (together with zero current), until the battery temperature is below 50°C. This is what gives the tail in the chart.

Thanks, that is much clearer. That's what I would have guessed, except it wasn't clear how long you kept recording for (hard to guess accurately from the tail). It is always helpful to be explicit about these things since there is no standard.

Apparently, Efest is rewrapping this battery and rating it at 20A continuous! It's temperature at 20A is 111 degC! Yikes!

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/f...ts-just-another-rewrapped-10a-battery.736533/

@SubLGT Thanks for the link, and more kudos to mooch for continuing his crusade to expose such fraud. I confess I am shocked that Efest is so bold/foolish to continue their fraudulant marketing after it has been so widely exposed.

It's nice to see that HKJ and others are also starting to expand their reviews to include more higher current tests along with temperature data - the area that mooch has always concentrated on (since it it crucial for extreme vaping).

The new Olight 3200 and 3600 contain protection only at positive end. Do you know anything about it? Is any element of protection sacrificed in this new configuration? Thanks