AW batteries 18650 "old" version vs "new" version

[JeffInChi]

Recently I was looking at lighthound.com and I realized he has two different types of protected 18650's for sale, a 2200 mAh for 12.99 and a 2600 mAh for 15.99. Both are 3.6 -3.7 nominal volts.

My question is, has anybody here noticed a significant difference between the two batteries that justifies the $3 increase? How much does 400 mAh change things? Are there additional safety features on this battery? Just wondering what you thought.

 

[Oddjob]

I suppose it would be an 18% increase in runtime.

 

[Kestrel]

There are some runtime graphs around here somewhere that show a 60% increase in real-world runtime. The AW2600 just crushes the AW2200.

Edit: Here's the thread you want:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=234419

 

[LuxLuthor]

There are some runtime graphs around here somewhere that show a 60% increase in real-world runtime. The AW2600 just crushes the AW2200.

Edit: Here's the thread you want:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=234419

Sorry, but that's not right. Going from 2200mAh to 2600mAh cannot give a 60% increase. Do the math, at most it would be 18% more. If there is a run time graph showing 60%, I guarantee they didn't control the testing.

 

[Kestrel]

Do the math

Heck, I'm not going to do the math. Take it up in the test report thread I cited. Last time I checked, test data beats speculation most days of the week.

If there is a run time graph showing 60%, I guarantee they didn't control the testing.

"If"?

So you're saying you didn't even bother looking at the runtime graph data before posting? What are you even contributing here then?

 

[Black Rose]

So you're saying you didn't even bother looking at the runtime graph data before posting?

I'm assuming you are referring to Mev's thread on light-reviews.com.

The light-reviews forum is down for maintenance.

 

[Patriot]

It doesn't matter much anyway since the link in that thread isn't working at the moment. I'd be highly skeptical of any 60% gain. Test data is of course helpful only if the test itself isn't flawed. Rather than to except a 60% gain as real data, I'll take the speculation based on what the numbers say and what I've experienced myself. On high drain applications I've seen close to 15% improvement, mainly based on run-times with the 1185.

 

[Black Rose]

When testing the AW 2200 mAh 18650 against the 2400 mAh Black Trustfire cells in the same light (on high), I get 18 more minutes runtime with the Black Trustfire cell.
I would expect to see a similar gain with the AW 2600.

 

[LuxLuthor]

Heck, I'm not going to do the math. Take it up in the test report thread I cited. Last time I checked, test data beats speculation most days of the week.

"If"?

So you're saying you didn't even bother looking at the runtime graph data before posting? What are you even contributing here then?

I'm contributing that most elusive of commodities, namely common sense.

The site is down, but 160% of 2200mAh would be 3520mAH. Said another way...if testing of the 2600mAh cell resulted in that actual result, then the 2200mAh cell would have only had 1600mAh to get a 60% lower reading (160% x 1600mAh = 2,560mAh). I have used and tested the 2200mAh cell, and I know it is very close to 2200mAh.

That is why I am 100% certain anyone claiming a 60% increase from 2200 to 2600mAh is wrong. Test data doesn't beat anything if it is faulty.

Obvious sources of fault can be using an ancient 2200mAh cell that through charge cycles and/or age is on its death bed, or was defective from the start. Other causes of faulty testing are: Inadequately charging 2200 cell; Defective discharge procedures (insecure lead contact, dirty/oxidized contact surfaces, etc.), etc. etc.

Anyone who got such an illogical result should have first gone back to basics and reconfirmed.

 

[mdocod]

The new AW lacks a button top and won't work in all lights as a result...

In fact, Many new high capacity cells (2.4AH+) are incompatible with various lights for various reasons, usually over-sized length or diameter, usually length.

The new AW2600s are the current "champions" of voltage maintenance and run-time of all the "high cap" cells tested, but the difference between the top contenders isn't dramatic...

I like the EagleTac 2400 price point/name/claims/results I have been seeing.

Before going any route, do some research to make sure that the cell wil fit your application and make electrical contact in your application..

 

[easilyled]

The new AW lacks a button top and won't work in all lights as a result...

In fact, Many new high capacity cells (2.4AH+) are incompatible with various lights for various reasons, usually over-sized length or diameter, usually length ...

This is very true.

Some of my Aleph-style lights have been made-to-measure for AW 18650 2200ma cells.

The 2600ma cells, if I recall correctly, are about 1mm higher and this would leave a gap between the head and the cell-body.

Also as mdocod says, the flat-top 18650 2600ma cells don't always work in applications that the the button-top 18650 2200ma are used for.

 

[JeffInChi]

The new AW lacks a button top and won't work in all lights as a result...

Why is this? Obviously a con to the flat top button is that it won't work in some lights, but what are the pros? Why no button top?

 

[lctorana]

And, of course, the extra length and wide flat top makes for more solid and reliable contact in many torches.

:goodjob: