Test/review of Samsung INR21700-30T 3000mAh (Gray)

HKJ

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[SIZE=+3]Samsung INR21700-30T 3000mAh (Gray)[/SIZE]

DSC_8691.jpg


Official specifications:
  • Standard discharge capacity: min. 3000mAh (1.5A charge 0.1A cut-off, 0.6A discharge, 2.5V cut-off)
  • Rated discharge capacity: min. 2650mAh (4A charge 0.1A cut-off, 10A discharge, 2.5V cut-off)
  • Nominal voltage: 3.6V
  • Charge voltage: 4.2V
  • Standard charge: 1.5A charge 0.1A cut-off
  • Rated charge: 4A charge 0.1A cut-off
  • Max. continuoys discharge: 35A at 25°C
  • Discharge cut-off voltage: 2.5V
  • Cycle life: 250 cycles to 60% at 35A discharge.
  • Cell weight: 69.0g max
  • Cell dimension: Height: Max: 70.40mm, Diamter: max. 21.22mm
  • Operating temperature (surface): Charge 0°C ~ 50°C (Recommended <45°C), Discharge -20C° ~ 80°C (Recommended <60°C)
  • Storage temperature: 1 month: -20°C ~ 60°C, 3 months: -20°C ~ 45°C, 1 year: -20°C ~ 25°C

Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-info.png


This is the new battery size that is slightly larger than 18650 cells. This cell is a high current cell with moderate capacity.

DSC_8690.jpg


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DSC_8693.jpg


DSC_8694.jpg

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Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-Capacity.png


This battery can easily handle 30A and more with constant capacity and perfect tracking between the cells.
I did try a 50A discharge, but my battery holder melted before I was finished with the first trace.

Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-Temp-20.0.png


Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-Temp-30.0.png


The battery gets warm at 30A, but not too warm.

Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-Temp-40.0.png


In this discharge the battery is in free air, i.e. it has better cooling.

Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-CapacityTimeHours.png


Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-CapacityTime.png


Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-Energy.png


Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-PowerLoadTime.png


Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-TripCurrent.png


Samsung%20INR21700-30T%203000mAh%20(Gray)-Charge.png




[SIZE=+3]Conclusion[/SIZE]

This battery is a very good battery and the best high current cell I have tested to date. At lower current there is no reason to use this cell, only when the current is above 10A is this cell interesting.



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

The batteries was supplied by ENERDan for review.

My test stations is only equipped to handle up to 30A, this means higher current must be done on other equipment.

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
Compare to 26650 and other batteries
 
Last edited:

Gauss163

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Also the 30A discharge curves appear to be a bit different - esp. in the first half. It would be interesting to superimpose them. Possibly they are still tweaking the chemistry.
 

SubLGT

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Some temperature data from the test of the blue INR21700-30T at dampfakkus.de

Temperatures at end of discharge test:

20A: 53 degC
30A: 68 degC
35A: 75 degC
 

psychbeat

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Wow... only a matter of time til the 2170 format takes over :)
Thanks much as always for the awesome service you provide HKJ !!

Some of my Solarforce hosts are so over bored that I may be able to shave a bit more out of them to fit one of these :)
 

HKJ

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Wow... only a matter of time til the 2170 format takes over :)

Due to the larger volume the 21700 format will be better than 18650 in performance, but some people do not have performance as top priority, size and weight may be more important!
Me? I have a large pile of 18650 flashlights and a few 26650, but if I find some interesting 21700 lights I will probably try them.
 

SubLGT

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The 26650 size seems to be topped out at 5200mAh, with apparently no one working on improving capacity further. Samsung allegedly has a 5300mAh mid-power 21700-53G cell planned for future production, which could make the 26650 an oversized and obsolete form factor.
 

HKJ

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The 26650 size seems to be topped out at 5200mAh, with apparently no one working on improving capacity further. Samsung allegedly has a 5300mAh mid-power 21700-53G cell planned for future production, which could make the 26650 an oversized and obsolete form factor.

The size is not topped out, but because no first tier manufacturer do a top of the line cell in that form factor, you do not get the best cells in that size.

And my comment about a melted battery holder in the review, before and after 50A test:
DSC_8960.jpg
DSC_8961.jpg


The before is a original battery holder, before I use them I replace the wires.
 

Gauss163

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Worth emphasis: the increase in current handling ability has little to do with the small increase in volume. Rather, it has to do with improvements that could also have been made in 18650 cells too if there had been sufficient market demand for such at the time.

For example, one of the major improvements is in tab design - which can greatly decrease internal resistance. The tabs are what connect the terminals to the current collectors. Most 18650 cells use only one (or two) tabs per terminal. Newer high-current cells use many more tabs whose number, thickness and layout are carefully optimized using sophisticated modeling software, e.g. see Spotnitz et al, Design and Simulation of Spirally-Wound, Lithium-Ion Cells

The details are of course proprietary, but one get a general idea from perusing patents, e.g. below is excerpted from A123's patent
Battery tab location design and method of construction US 8084158 B2


A123 said:
The internally active material of the cell includes two electrodes, a cathode and an anode. One contributor to the impedance of a battery cell is the lack of current carrying paths between the active cell materials (anode and cathode) and the external cell terminals. It has been surprisingly discovered that overall cell impedance can be significantly lowered by using more current carriers, or "tabs", than conventional cylindrical (wound assembly) cells, whose designs call for one or two tabs per electrode. In one or more embodiments of the invention, a plurality of tabs are joined at a larger current collector on either side of the cell called an extension tab, which then makes the connection with each of the battery terminals of the cell. In one or more embodiments, the electrode can include about 4 to about 12 tabs, and for example, may include four tabs. In other embodiments, the electrode includes one tab per 200 cm2 ​area of electrode. High power battery cells will require a higher density of tabs than low power cells [...]

Follow the links to learn more. It would be very interesting to teardown one of the above cells to observe the tab design employed. Volunteers?
 

SubLGT

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HKJ, have you been able to find and purchase a Sanyo NCR20700A (30A and 3.1Ah)? That cell would be interesting to compare to the 30T.
 

maukka

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Any significance to the wrapper color? Your batteries have a grey wrapper, and the one from the "other" test (purchased from enercig.com) has a blue wrapper.

http://www.dampfakkus.de/akkutest.php?id=673

If you have a wide gamut monitor (wider than srgb), those pictures do look indeed bluish in a non color space aware software such as a browser, but opening them in Photoshop reveals that they are in fact grey, albeit with a slightly too cool white balance.

fWIInx7.jpg
 
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Nichia!

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I think I will stick with Sanyo the best batteries makers on the planet! I don't need a time bomb in my pocket!;)
 

StorminMatt

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I think I will stick with Sanyo the best batteries makers on the planet! I don't need a time bomb in my pocket!;)

Sanyo certainly makes good cells. But I don't know that they are the best on the planet. And that certainly doesn't make Samsung cells (or any other top tier offerings) 'time bombs in your pocket'. The fact is that ALL Sanyo/Panasonic, Samsung, LG, and Sony cells are of good quality. Some makes might produce a better variant of certain cells than others (like Sanyo seems to make the best 3500mAH cell, LG the best 3000mAH 4.35V cell, Sony the best 3000mAH high current cell, etc). But all of the top tier cells are of good quality, and there is certainly nothing to fear from a Samsung cell.
 

ven

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Thanks for the detailed review as always HKJ, always above and beyond for our benefit:)

I kind of have mixed feelings, so many 18650 lights so i dont want that fuel type going anywhere soon! (not that they will). I do wonder around a nice 21700 host, if anything the benefits to vapers may be more appreciated(size/performance). I would be tempted for a 21700 fed ecig variable voltage mod for sure...........

I also can not help think of the benefits of 8 of these cells in a handle, feeding a crazy v54 project:D Suddenly that 100k lm becomes a little more and for longer!! Its all progress, little steps add up to a large step after a while:cool:
 

StorminMatt

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I kind of have mixed feelings, so many 18650 lights so i dont want that fuel type going anywhere soon! (not that they will). I do wonder around a nice 21700 host, if anything the benefits to vapers may be more appreciated(size/performance). I would be tempted for a 21700 fed ecig variable voltage mod for sure...........

I see what you are saying about 18650 lights. But I certainly welcome 21700 lights. Let's face it. 18650s have ALWAYS been short on capacity, particularly when it comes to sustained high power operation. Your typical 18650 light can't even muster two hours of opertion in the 700 lumen range. This means that, if you start with fresh batteries, you can't get through much of a night hike unless you run your light at relatively low output. A high capacity 21700 would be most up to the task while also being able to provide more current. Plus, a 21700 light wouldn't be too much larger than an 18650 light.
 

ven

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Those are good points, not too sure how long we will be off for readily available 21700 cells with(for me it would have to be) over 4000mah. Even then for me, the extra 500 or so mah is not critical for my uses. Very rare do i see a cell bellow 3.5v in a day of on/off use in work as an example. Not high output as not needed(sub 300lm usually closer to 150lm). When i need 700+lm i tend to go BIG, simply because of heat and run time available with multi cell lights. However it is not always convenient to wield a big light..........If i am out for a walk/explore/fun then size restrictions are n/a for me. Thats why i like options/variety............call it having a light for every occasion.

I am interested in a 21700 host, that way if p60 compatible it is only a case of host and cell. The expensive part(variable) is in the engine, so a nice 21700 host would be welcomed by me:D..................i may be on my own there :whistle:

For still a compact light, the 26650 fed lights work for me, if anything i actually prefer the form factor over 18650 fed ones. Just more natural/comfy in hand for me, also 5000mah in the tank is not to be sniffed at. These 21700 kind of fit in between the said.................so that is why i have mixed feelings with flashlight use. I am not sure right now if it is worth it(personal opinion).
 

BringerOfLight

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Your typical 18650 light can't even muster two hours of opertion in the 700 lumen range. This means that, if you start with fresh batteries, you can't get through much of a night hike unless you run your light at relatively low output.
IMO, for a headlamp, a Zebralight H600 running at 350 lumen for 4 hours is just about perfect. I wouldn't want any more weight for comfort reasons and brightness is more than enough. These 21700s are a lot heavier and the flashlight will be heavier as well.
 

psychbeat

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I just hope 18650 tech keeps improving slightly :)

Some of my cheap18650 p60 hosts feel like they're already bored to 20mm.
So a bit sandpaper n drill could get me to 21 in a few mins.

For my headlamps I agree that weight considerations would keep me choosing 18650 :)

Cool times ahead!
 
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