I've been learning a lot here and I thank all of you...can someone explain this battery to me? I have never heard of it until looking around the forum yesterday...what is so special about it? And does it replace a standard size battery or will a 18650 light only take that battery?
18650 battery question
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dano
Flashlight Enthusiast
You should research the Batteries Forum, here.
Yes, what dano said, but I was in the middle of typing a lengthy reply so...
What's great about the 18650 is its energy density.
AA:
Electrically, max 18650 voltage is 4.2V and max AA voltage is 1.6V, so you have to make sure the driver circuit can handle it.
If you like the idea of 18650 cells, you're best off getting a flashlight specifically designed for them, unless you are really attached to a particular flashlight and are willing to modify it.
What's great about the 18650 is its energy density.
AA:
diam: 14.2mm length: 50mm volume: 7918mm^3
mAh: 2000mAh @ 1.2V = 2.4Wh capacity (ENELOOP)
energy density: 0.30 Wh/cm^3
18650:mAh: 2000mAh @ 1.2V = 2.4Wh capacity (ENELOOP)
energy density: 0.30 Wh/cm^3
diam: 18mm length 66mm volume: 16795mm^3
mAh: 2900mAh @ 3.7V = 10.73Wh capacity (PANASONIC Li-Ion)
energy density: 0.64 Wh/cm^3
Mechanically, an 18650 cell is quite different from any other battery size. You might have to re-bore a flashlight barrel and use a spacer to replace 2x AA cells with a single 18650 for example.mAh: 2900mAh @ 3.7V = 10.73Wh capacity (PANASONIC Li-Ion)
energy density: 0.64 Wh/cm^3
Electrically, max 18650 voltage is 4.2V and max AA voltage is 1.6V, so you have to make sure the driver circuit can handle it.
If you like the idea of 18650 cells, you're best off getting a flashlight specifically designed for them, unless you are really attached to a particular flashlight and are willing to modify it.
Last edited:
old4570
Flashlight Enthusiast
Simple / A single 18650 is safer than dual battery ..
It also has greater capacity = longer run time .
Some of the better 18650 are now up to and over 3000mA capacity
It also has greater capacity = longer run time .
Some of the better 18650 are now up to and over 3000mA capacity
DM51
Flashaholic
Moving this to the correct sub-forum...
HKJ
Flashaholic
The 18650 battery is a very common battery, it is used inside most laptop battery packs.
It has roughly the same length as two CR123 batteries, but the diameter is larger. Some lights are designed to use both 2xCR123 and 1x18650 batteries.
Like all LiIon batteries is has a much higher voltage than the common AAA/AA/C/D batteries, and can not be used instead of one of these batteries, its voltage is more like 3 of them. But to use a 18650 in a AAA/AA/C/D light, you need to do some adaption, to make it fit.
mdocod
Flashaholic
AA=14500
Suddenly, the 18650 doesn't seem so odd eh? It's just a cell size.
18mm diameter by 65mm length. Just so happens, that while the AA cell is the most common "consumer" size cell, the 18650 is the most common li-ion powered portable consumer electronics size cell.
Eric
Suddenly, the 18650 doesn't seem so odd eh? It's just a cell size.
18mm diameter by 65mm length. Just so happens, that while the AA cell is the most common "consumer" size cell, the 18650 is the most common li-ion powered portable consumer electronics size cell.
Eric
Fallingwater
Flashlight Enthusiast
Is this confirmed by testing? I've seen plenty of cells with "3000mAh" printed on their shrinkwrap, but I've never believed them...
mdocod
Flashaholic
3.1AH 18650s from Panasonic:
My guess is, that if they weren't performing close to label claims, they wouldn't be getting that contract.
Wouldn't we all love to have some of THOSE!
hehe.
Fallingwater
Flashlight Enthusiast
WANT!!!
I wonder when the cheapo manufacturers will start making those
I wonder when the cheapo manufacturers will start making those
old4570
Flashlight Enthusiast
Aaaah yes , the cheap nasty chinese two step ...
Better chines cells will offer true 2600mA capacity .. Gets a little hard to work out if they are putting true capacity on the label , or the capacity of a pair of batteries .
And with new brands coming on the market ?? Is it rubbish well packaged ? or a decent product ?
Now , then you have the Japanese cells , and the very latest and greatest have toped 3000ma , [ Did I see a manufacturers data sheet claiming 3200mA ] Anyhow , good luck getting your hands on them , for us , Id dare to say , there just a pipe dream .. Most likely they will go into premium top dollar laptop battery packs ..
Even true , 2800mA Jap cells are hard to get , and very expensive , compared to Chinese 2600mA cells , or the outrageously overrated 2200mA cells
