26650 - am I expecting too much?

yellow

Flashlight Enthusiast
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Oct 31, 2002
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Somehow I seem not to find cells having more than 3500-4000 mAh ...
(and no protected ones)
Plan to use them for driving single-die led, so higher possible current drain is not important for me.

Am I correct to be disappointed, that such a cell - feelingly almost double the size of an 18650 - does not really give the edge over an 18650?
At least it makes the light considerably bigger, for no real gain.

any findings?
 

45/70

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I don't know. 26650 cells are close to twice the capacity. Since they're about twice the volume (roughly), that's not too bad. It may be too that 18650 cells being the primary focus of Li-Ion technology, that the 26650 and other sizes are a bit behind. A similar situation exists with AA cells vs. C and D sizes. AA's are the primary focus of most other chemistry technology, so are much more advanced than the other sizes.

Dave
 

CKOD

Enlightened
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Aug 3, 2010
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Where are you looking at 26650's? Most that I see are either IMR or unspecified chemestry. LiMn (IMR) cells usually have a lower capacity, AW's for example are 1600mAh for the 18650, so 3000-4000mAh for a 26650 doesnt seem too crazy.

Plus as mentioned, all the new shiny tech goes into the 18650's so thats why you see those upto 3000mAh, and all the other cells lacking in capacity/volume comparitively.
 
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