Test/Review of Efest IMR18650 3500mAh (Purple) 2016

[HKJ]

[size=+3]Efest IMR18650 3500mAh (Purple) 2016[/size]

Official specifications:

• Rated capacity: 3500mAh
• Nominal voltage: 3.7V
• Voltage at end of discharge: 2.5V
• Max. charging current: 4A
• Standard charge: 2A
• Discharge current: 10A
• Pulse discharge current: 20A
• Charging temperature range: 0° ~ 45°C
• Discharge temperature range: -20°C ~ 75°C

This is a high capacity and fairly high current cell.

These cells handles up to 10A fine, but I wonder why they have a difference in capacity.

At 10A the surface temperature of the batteries raises about 50°C, this means they are very close to 80°C.

At 20A the temperature raises to above 85°C fairly fast and I terminated the test. Notice the dark red curve, it do not jump up, but down, this means the battery terminated that discharge, not me (i.e. the battery blew an internal fuse and is dead).

[size=+3]Conclusion[/size]

The cells are supposed to be fairly good cells, but I do not like the difference between them and they are not 20A cells.



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

The batteries was supplied by Efest for a review.

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

 

[CelticCross74]

damn!! HKJ FTW again! Thank you very much for this critical review!

 

[SAMongoose]

Oh boy. Not good. Thanks HKJ!!!! ANOTHER GREAT REVIEW

 

[Ladd]

Thanks for the review. Factual data for informed buying.

 

[newbie66]

Thx for the review! That was dangerous!

 

[SubLGT]

Hmmmmm, I do not see this battery listed in the HKJ Comparator Tool. I see 2500, 2600, and 3000 mAh Efest batteries tested in 2016, but no 3500 mAh.

 

[MAD777]

Surprisingly poor results, especially compared to the stellar performance of the Efest IMR18650 3000mAh.

 

[CuriousOne]

Usual junk/relabel/false claims, so typical for Efest...

 

[SAMongoose]

Nah. It could be a bad small batch from OEM. Efest NORMALLY use brand name and the factory does OBM for them

 

[CuriousOne]

Yes yes, especially their le-labeled NCR18650BE, which is rated for 6.4A max current, and being sold by efest as 20 max/40a pulse ones....

 

[SAMongoose]

Ok. I did say NORMALLY
😨 ... There are Efest batteries that have been tested that shows quality. There are people who use the brand and are happy. I dont have one re-labeled battery. I buy the major manufactured batteries in the heartland of the factories

 

[SAMongoose]

Well I just got 1 re labeled yesterday😅 Acebeam

 

[Gauss163]

Nah. It could be a bad small batch from OEM. Efest NORMALLY use brand name and the factory does OBM for them

No. It seems that you are not aware that Efest's fraudulent marketing has recently been widely exposed in the vaping world, e.g. see here. They are rewrapping various cells and fraudulently claiming that the cells can handle 2 to 3 times the manufacturer's current rating. Numerous independent tests prove that Efest's current ratings are highly exaggerated. This poses great danger to users who believe these false claims and use them at high-current (e.g. vapers).

Moreover, if you follow the link you will find that Efest is well-aware of these issues and they have responded by attempting to wage a smear campaign against one of the most widely respected Li-ion cell reviewers in the vaping world.

 

[SAMongoose]

Think a bit. Does this company REALY go out with the intention to fool people. With the net and social media THEY KNOW they will not get away with it and loose a lot of money AND never recover OR spend a LOT of $$ on a NEW Brand to get back. Does not make sense to me. IF it is so...they are not clever aka stupid. As I said...NORMALLY...

 

[SAMongoose]

Just another thing. DONT BUY RE-LABELLED
easy... very easy

 

[Gauss163]

Think a bit. Does this company REALY go out with the intention to fool people...

Try following the provided links to learn the truth. That will be much more constructive than making wild guesses about the intentions of shysters.

 

[SAMongoose]

It does not effect me ... as I dont buy or sell re labelled. Time will tell if a Vape King will sink a company

 

[Gauss163]

It does not effect me ... as I dont buy or sell re labelled. Time will tell if a Vape King will sink a company

fyi: the "it doesn't affect me" argument was also discussed in the linked thread. The matter has to do with trust - which affects every Efest buyer.

 

[SAMongoose]

I trust OEM ---》Market. Thats the chain. Included are wholesaler and distributor between OEM and Market. Proven OBM and ODM. Efest was/is (supposed to be) OBM.

 

[stjong]

Just bought a few of this batteries not long ago.