It is interesting to see the dramatic and emotional overreactions and misunderstandings of my last post. I recommend taking a deep breath, and go back and re-read what I wrote carefully.
First, we are talking about the CGR18650CH Panasonic cells referenced in this thread, not the 3100mAh cells which I indeed have called "CK" cells because they added a PCB, similar to what AW, Redilast, and others have done.
Notice that in my previous post, first sentence answering another question, I said those of us who have been around this forum (& RC Forums) for a while would LEAN FAVORABLY towards these cells BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PANASONIC MAKES QUALITY CELLS. I made it clear that these are not "CK" cells, but are Panasonics with a CK label slapped on the side, and now being called on that website and in this thread as "CK" cells.
I did not say that CK was hiding anything. I said that experienced users would view these favorably BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY ARE PANASONICS. I then went on to point out that to give REAL answers, with specific performance side-by-side evaluations with IMR cells, you need to know the discharge graphs.
Furthermore, it is not adequate to accept discharge graphs ONLY from the manufacturer (even if it is Panasonic), or only from a re-branding retailer, as those may or may not be accurate. That is true if it is AW, Redilast, Wolf Eyes, Pila, Panasonic, Sanyo, LG, Sony, etc. Experienced users assume that the seller will be presenting the most optimistic performance charts possible. If you did some research, you would note that tests I have done, Silverfox, and many others do not show as high of performance graphs as have been posted by AW or Redilast.
A perfect example of what can go on if you take the graphs of a slap-on label reseller are the discharge graphs posted at
www.cheapbatterypacks.com for many of the cells--especially the Elite brand of NiMH cells which give dramatically optimistic results. When Mike (owner) was questioned about how he got such high performance graphs, we found out he solders 12 AWG wire from cell terminals to testing leads, and waits until cells are heated up to their maximum recharge temperature ("too hot to hold"), then does the discharge immediately with a Competition Electronics CE Turbo-35. That is an example of what I would call stacking the deck as much as possible, and not a realistic scenario.
The point is that you need to take the information provided by the manufacturer, reseller, OEM rebrander, etc. with a grain of salt until independently verified by several sources with no vested interest in the outcome.
I am certainly saying that the CK videos of shorting the batteries and recording the start/ending voltage and infrared thermometer readings does not provide us all that useful of information. I said it was not irrelevant information, but it does not answer the questions that experienced battery users need to know when recommending one battery over another. If you are not familiar with how batteries are tested and compared,
you can look through the various "shootout" threads in the pinned topics of interest thread here.
I personally don't give a crap who advertises or pays money to CPF regarding an evaluation of quality, performance, or reliability. In fact I have used Firefox AdBlock Plus to block all ads since they started being used, as I do on most website I visit. The reason many of us have high opinions of AW, Pila, Redilast, Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic, LG, A123, Emoli, etc. is that they have been evaluated by many, and have a long-standing reputation. It is ignorant and incorrect to assume that the experienced users here and at RC Groups forums determine quality by someone being a reseller or supporter at CPF or any other forum. Are there some that make decisions based upon that basis? Perhaps...but they are not who I am speaking for.
Currently, there are many established quality companies striving for better safety while optimizing storage energy, and/or higher current output for certain applications. What I am saying is that these Panasonic cells (with or without a CK sticker) are likely a safer lithium cobalt formulation, and that we would lean towards their being a quality cell that may have some of the features of IMR cells. But until objective discharge tests are done by multiple sources; some reliable information is given about life cycles if 8-10Amps are used regularly; and proper re-charge rates to optimize longevity and performance are provided, we cannot say that these cells will work as is being promoted in this thread.
For example, what if we find out from Panasonic that regularly using these cells to discharge at 9-10 Amp rates only gives 50 cycles before deteriorating significantly? Are they still worth the money compared to a quality IMR? What if the 10 Amp discharge plot shows their voltage drops significantly below a quality IMR cell? Are they worth buying?
We don't have the answers to those and other typical questions that need to be answered before new cell technologies are recommended. All of your other emotional overreactions are unwarranted, and only serve to fuel doubts that some of us have raised about this reseller. I can tell you that with the responses in this thread to objective questions and missing test information, I would not recommend dealing with them. That's not how a new seller (CK) should behave on this or any other forum.
, why do I feel this déjà vu !!!! 
