Test/Review of Orbtronic 18650 3600mAh (Black)

[size=+3]Orbtronic 18650 3600mAh (Black)[/size]


Official specifications:

• Capacity (Ah): 3.6 Ah (3600mAh)
• Energy (Wh): 13 Wh
• Nominal Voltage (V): 3.6V - 3.7V
• Charging Voltage (V): 4.2 V
• Weight (g): 47 g
• Diameter (mm): 18.6 mm (+/- 0.03mm)
• Height (mm): 68.9 mm (+/- 0.03mm)
• Max. Discharge rate: 2C (7.2A)
• Chemical Composition: Li-ion (Lithium-Ion)
• Protection ICs: Made in Japan (Design by Seiko)
• Bare Cell: Made by Panasonic, Made in Japan
• Button Top: Yes
• External Resettable Protection: Yes
• Overcharge Protection: Activated at 4.35V
• Overdischarge Protection: Activated at 2.5V
• Overcurrent Protection: Activated at 7.5A-8.5A
• Overheating, and dual short circuit protection (External, and Internal).

This is the next increase in battery capacity, from 3400mAh to 3600mAh, this is not a huge increase.
With my test conditions (Discharge to 2.8 volt), I do not get 200mAh more capacity, more like 100mAh.
The cell used can be discharged down to 2.5 volt, in my test I only discharges to 2.8 volt, i.e. I do not measure the full capacity. But then, not all lights will be able to use the full capacity.



Orbtronic uses a very nice packing for this battery.









Due to the protection the battery cannot deliver 7A continuous.















[size=+3]Conclusion[/size]

When comparing this battery to the 3400mAh cell, the new battery has slight higher voltage and slightly higher capacity, this is not a revolution in any way, just a small improvement.
Being based on a Panasonic cell the battery is, of course, a very good battery.


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

The battery was supplied by Orbtronic for 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

Thanks!
Could you remove orbitronic's cover and take a photo of panasonic's cell?
Could you make measurements of ncr18650g without protection board?

1mT said:

Thanks!
Could you remove orbitronic's cover and take a photo of panasonic's cell?
Could you make measurements of ncr18650g without protection board?

Click to expand...

No, but when I can get my hands on some unprotected 3600mAh, I will test and photo them.

1mT said:

Thanks!
Could you remove orbitronic's cover and take a photo of panasonic's cell?
Could you make measurements of ncr18650g without protection board?

Click to expand...

How about you buy some ncr18650g, and send to HKJ to test. Contribute to community before you demand anything.

THANK YOU HKJ for contributing to safer, and better flashlight community.

Knowledge is the real power.

These look pretty good!
I might not need to get a 4.3v set up after all when I buy more cells

In a couple of months the raw dog version should be pretty affordable.

Thanks for the test!!!

Thanks for the test!

Looks like I'll have to wait for a review of the unprotected one, as the protection circuit looks to be causing lots of voltage sag at 5 amps.

-Jamie M.

psychbeat said:

In a couple of months the raw dog version should be pretty affordable.

Thanks for the test!!!

Click to expand...

Because of this new cell the 3400mAh version (which actually has up to 100mAh less in real life) became much cheaper and even more affordable.

It seems that 3600mAh holding voltage much better than 3400mAh.
You have to actually compare protected vs protected.

See below:3400mAh is the newest EagleTac cell vs Orbtronic 3600mAh (blue line) @ 5A

^^ exactly!!
& the unprotected should be a tad better even

psychbeat said:

^^ exactly!!
& the unprotected should be a tad better even

Click to expand...

Unprotected will always be better in discharge tests, because of lower internal resistance.
That is correct.

space-cowboy said:

Unprotected will always be better in discharge tests, because of lower internal resistance.
That is correct.

Click to expand...

A protection chip often need 0.1 volt to trip, i.e. a protected battery will have about 0.1 volt lower output voltage at the protection limit.
For this battery we can see that the protection trips at 7A continuous load, i.e. the output voltage will probably be 0.07 volt lower than a unprotected battery.

The 0.1 volt depends on protection chips, you can get chips with 0.05 volt trip voltage. If the protection uses that type of chip it would mean only 0.035 volt lower voltage at 5A.

HKJ said:

A protection chip often need 0.1 volt to trip, i.e. a protected battery will have about 0.1 volt lower output voltage at the protection limit.
For this battery we can see that the protection trips at 7A continuous load, i.e. the output voltage will probably be 0.07 volt lower than a unprotected battery.

The 0.1 volt depends on protection chips, you can get chips with 0.05 volt trip voltage. If the protection uses that type of chip it would mean only 0.035 volt lower voltage at 5A.

Click to expand...

That is true too. It also depends on how many chips are used.

I think this cell is priced very good, having in mind that its is the first 3600mAh cell on the market.
I do not even see NCR18650G for sale anywhere.

space-cowboy said:

That is true too. It also depends on how many chips are used.

Click to expand...

The voltage drop at the protection trip current does not depend on the number of transistors (chips). The actual protection trip current will vary with number and type of transistors, this means that good (Defined as low Rdson) transistors or many transistors will give at lower voltage drop at a specific current.

How is it that Orbtronic is acquiring and rewrapping the G cell before ANYONE else has it available for sale, even bare?

I assume it can't be a deal with Pana, because as far as I know, this type of use of a loose Li-ion cell is not regarded as officially OK, supported or catered to by any Li-ion manufacturer including Panasonic. Has that changed? Are "protectors" and loose cell vendors going official now and buying directly from the cell companies?

Thanks again...


Sent from my phone with camera with flash and internet on it...

Excellent test review. HKJ!

Thanks a lot for your continuous valuable tests. :thumbsup:

Thanks again, HKJ, for the great review and contribution to the community!

Excellent and informative review, as usual! Now I just have to decide if the extra little bit of juice is worth it, instead of just replacing the 3400mAh Orbtronic cell that I lost...

HKJ, thanks for another fine test.

space-cowboy said:

It seems that 3600mAh holding voltage much better than 3400mAh.
You have to actually compare protected vs protected.

Click to expand...

I disagree; it is quite similar some protected 3400mAh cells:

Disciple said:

I disagree; it is quite similar some protected 3400mAh cells:

Click to expand...

When comparing protected batteries at high currents, you have to look at the protection trip current. The reason the 3400mAh looks as good is because the protection trips at 12A and the 3600mAh already trips at 7.8A.
I.e. the different protection circuits is masking the real difference between the two cells.