Test/Review of LG 18650 MJ1 3500mAh (Green)

[size=+3]LG 18650 MJ1 3500mAh (Green)[/size]


Official specifications:

• Nominal Capacity: 3500mAh
• Minimum Capacity: 3400mAh
• Nominal voltage: 3.635V
• Standard charge: 0.5C (1700mA) 4.2V, cut-off 50mA
• Max. charge voltage: 4.2V +/- 0.05V
• Max. charge current: 1C (3400mA)
• Standard discharge: 0.2C (680mA), cut-off 2.5V
• Max. discharge current: 10A
• Weight: Max. 49.0g
• Cycle life : 400 cycles, charge 1.5A, discharge 4A (80%)
• Operating temperature: Charge: 0° ~ 45°C, Discharge: -20°C ~ 60°C
• Storage temperature: 1 month: -20°C ~ 60°C, 3 months: -20°C ~ 45°C, 1 year: -20°C ~ 20°C

This is the newest high capacity cell from LG, it can also deliver some current.










Nice discharge curves. The 10A and 15A I terminated early due to temperature.
The tail on the curves is how much voltage they recovered when the load was removed.
If I had discharged to the rated 2.5V I would have got more capacity.





The cell temperature is 75°C when I stop the discharge.



Doing a 15A discharge on a 10A rated cell is not supposed to work, the cell raches 77°C after I stop the discharge.















[size=+3]Conclusion[/size]

This is a very good cell with high capacity and good current capability, but it gets hot at full load. This is one of the top cells when you need both capacity and current.



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

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

Great review and thanks as always:thumbsup: I have 4 of these babies currently residing in a tn36vn

Thanks a lot for your another excellent test review. HKJ! :thumbsup:

Some protected cells are sold here in my country. The cut-off voltage and cut-off current are 2.8V and 4.1A respectively. In my view, that means you can't use the full performance of the bare cell, but it would be good in terms of the safety. what do you think of it?

candle lamp said:

Some protected cells are sold here in my country. The cut-off voltage and cut-off current are 2.8V and 4.1A respectively. In my view, that means you can't use the full performance of the bare cell, but it would be good in terms of the safety. what do you think of it?

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I agree, but cut-off at 2.8 volt sounds very high.

Thank you HKJ, I have been using this battery in my ZebraLight SC600 Mklll with excellent results. :thumbsup:

HKJ I still have no clue what I am looking at when I see your excellent charts and graphs but have been here long enough to learn to take your word for it. Just got my first unprotected cell for my first light that requires one(ZL MkIII HI Sanyo GA)and am pretty darn pleased with it. So the LG gets too hot eh? Think Ill stick to the GA as the ZL gets hot enough as it already is thank you for the review!

CelticCross74 said:

HKJ I still have no clue what I am looking at when I see your excellent charts and graphs but have been here long enough to learn to take your word for it. Just got my first unprotected cell for my first light that requires one(ZL MkIII HI Sanyo GA)and am pretty darn pleased with it. So the LG gets too hot eh? Think Ill stick to the GA as the ZL gets hot enough as it already is thank you for the review!

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It can be a bit tricky to read the charts.
Generally you want the line as high in the chart as possible (Most brightness) and to stretch as far as possible (Most runtime). For most 18650 flashlights the 3A trace is a good one to compare if you want to use the light at full power.

thank you HKJ that just cleared a lot up for me.

I usually use LG MH1 cyan or Sanyo NCR18650GA

Unfortunately I am left with only 1 Sanyo GA, I have an order in progress but Sanyo GA has ended.
Since I am a happy user of LG MH1 I ordered this LG MJ1 green.

I later read HKJ's review on the web - it worries me that this battery heats up a lot.
I bought these batteries to use on XHP50 lights (Wizard Pro and Viking Pro)
Wizard Pro at maximum power requires 7A, I often use the turbo on these lights.

I can still cancel the order of the batteries and have a refund or change with Samsung30Q (same price but lower capacity) or replace with the classic MH1 that I have been using without problems for a long time.
I bought these MJ1 greens to have a little more autonomy but I'm worried about the heat.
Or maybe my worries are excessive?
Any thoughts on this?
Thanks

Problem solved because the seller has the Sanyo GA available again.
But I would still like to hear some thoughts on the LG MJ1, all the things I read about them are from 2015/2016 then nothing.
Is it a battery not appreciated and with few sales numbers?

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/t...ch-retest-results-an-good-10a-battery.774181/

MJ1:
At 5A continuous it reached a bit over 3150mAh. This is average performance for a 3400mAh cell at 5A so I am rating it at 3400mAh.
At 10A continuous the temperature rose to 73°C. This is a little below the average temperature of a cell operating at its continuous discharge rating (CDR) but typical of high internal resistance cells. This is an indication that we are operating near its true rating. Higher current levels than this cause a lot of voltage sag.
At 15A continuous the voltage quickly dropped to 3.2V and raised its temperarure to 85°C, delivering only 375mAh.
At 20A continuous the voltage almost instantly dropped to 3.2V.

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https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/t...esults-safe-at-10a-but-suffers-damage.686757/

MH1:
This cell has a moderate maximum temperature of 73°C-75°C at its 10A rating. But it suffered some damage from five subsequent 10A discharges. While safe to use at 10A I would recommend not exceeding 7A for decent cycle life.
A 5A discharge run after the 10A discharges showed a drop in voltage and slightly reduced capacity. This indicates that damage was done during the six 10A discharges.
A discharge at 15A brought the cell temperature to 99°C and dropped the voltage considerably. That's way too hot and will significantly speed up the damage being done and risks venting of the cell. Stay under 10A.

Click to expand...

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/t...ch-retest-results-a-great-10a-battery.774493/

GA:
At 5A continuous it reached 3159mAh. This is good performance for a 3300mAh high internal resistance cell at 5A so I am rating it at 3000mAh.
At 10A continuous the temperature rose to 60°C. This is below the average temperature of a cell operating at its continuous discharge rating (CDR) and lower than other high internal resistance cells. This is an indication that we are operating below its true rating.
At 15A continuous the temperature rose to 77°C, just below the average temperature of a cell operating at its CDR. But the voltage is sagging a lot, an indication that we are operating at above its true rating.
At 20A continuous the voltage very quickly dropped to 3.2V and the battery got dangerously hot, 113°C.

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The Sanyo GA runs much cooler at 10A than either of the LG cells.

Thanks, very interesting links.