Author: John Muchow

Bottom Line: This is a 10A 2680mAh-rated battery that will often deliver 100mAh more at low current levels. Due to its very high internal resistance and lower capacity though it is easily outperformed by the Panasonic NCR18650GA, LG MJ1, and other high-capacity 10A batteries. I do not recommend using it over 18W/5A to minimize voltage sag.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/panasonic-ncr18650pf-10a-2680mah-18650-bench-retest-results-an-ok-low-capacity-10a-battery.774091/

Bottom Line: This battery is often shown as a 6.4A 3400mAh battery but it’s not. The datasheet clearly shows its rating is 4.875A and 3200mAh. Due to its very high internal resistance and lower capacity it is easily outperformed by the Panasonic NCR18650GA, LG MJ1, and other high-capacity batteries. I do not recommend using it over 12W/3A to minimize voltage sag.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/panasonic-ncr18650b-4-9a-3200mah-18650-bench-test-results-a-so-so-4-9a-battery.773723/

Bottom Line: This battery has a very high 3500mAh capacity rating but even at just 5A its run time down to 3.2V is a lot shorter than the 3300mAh Panasonic NCR18650GA. Its high internal resistance causes a lot of voltage sag which triggers a regulated mod’s weak battery alert sooner than batteries like the NCR19650GA and MJ1. I am rating it at 8A/3500mAh.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/samsung-35e-3500mah-18650-bench-test-results-a-so-so-8a-battery.773473/

All my test results to date: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

18350/18500 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18350-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7566/

18650 current ratings and safety grades: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18650-safety-grades-picking-a-safe-battery-to-vape-with.7447

26650 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/26650-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7554/

I was wrong!
The Samsung ICR18650-26F does NOT use the same volatile chemistry as LiPo batteries.

In a post in August I said it did. That is incorrect. As the MSDS document for the 26F shows, it uses the same “hybrid” NMC chemistry as that used in the 25R, VTC4/5, HE2/4, and other batteries we consider to be relatively safe to vape with.

NMC chemistry, nickel-manganese-cobalt, is one of multiple chemistries that use the “ICR” manufacturer’s model number prefix. Another one using that prefix is LCO, lithium-cobalt-oxide, which is used in LiPo batteries and is significantly more volatile than the other Li-Ion chemistries.

So while the 26F has a low 5.2A rating, low capacity for an under-10A battery, and I don’t recommend buying it, it is not any more dangerous to use than other batteries with the same chemistry like the 25R, VTC4/5, and HE2/4.

My apologies for any confusion this has caused. Bench test results for the 26F will be posted soon.

https://imgur.com/a/ayuEY

Bottom Line: This cell has a low current rating, 5.2A, but uses the safer “hybrid” NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) chemistry version of “ICR”. It does not use the more volatile LCO (lithium-cobalt oxide) chemistry version of ICR that is also used in LiPo’s. NMC chemistry is used in the 25R, VTC4/5, HE2/4, and other cells we use often and consider to be pretty safe.

It also has a low capacity rating, 2600mAh, compared to several other <10A batteries. There’s very little reason for a vaper to use this battery. If you do use them, stay below 15W to get what you can from these cells without the weak battery warning appearing immediately. The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/samsung-26f-5-2a-2600mah-bench-test-results-just-not-worth-it.773291/

All my test results to date: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

18350/18500 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18350-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7566/

18650 current ratings and safety grades: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18650-safety-grades-picking-a-safe-battery-to-vape-with.7447

26650 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/26650-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7554/

Bottom Line: This cell was sent to me by Phil Busardo…thank you! It is an overrated and rewrapped cell that I am rating at 15A and 2700mAh. If you are vaping with it at its 35A rating and there is a mod malfunction or accidental button press the cell can get hot enough to possibly vent. This is unacceptable and clearly shows that this is not a 35A cell.

Thanks Mooch!  Got this one in France and sent it right to the expert!!  🙂

-Phil Busardo

It appearance is identical to the Samsung 30Q but its performance is lower than the ones I have tested before. It’s probably a lower grade cell.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/energy-vap-35a-3000mah-bench-test-results-a-dangerously-overrated-20a-2700mah-battery.771617/

All my test results to date: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

18350/18500 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18350-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7566/

18650 current ratings and safety grades: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18650-safety-grades-picking-a-safe-battery-to-vape-with.7447

26650 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/26650-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7554/

Bottom Line: This is an extraordinary cell that I am rating at 30A. The two cells I received from EnerCig and the two from Nkon appear to have come from the same batch.

The datasheet has a “maximum continuous discharge” rating of 70A in the datasheet. But at that temperature, about 85°C, the cell will have a significantly reduced cycle life. This rating is an absolute maximum, not a level you should operate the battery at for every cycle. To allow direct comparison against other batteries I am rating this cell at a level, 30A, which limits the temperature to 60°C to ensure good cycle life. Above this temperature the cell’s aging accelerates significantly. The cell can easily be pulsed at levels above 80A though.

This cell’s lithium-ferrous-phosphate (LFP) chemistry is the safest of the Li-Ion chemistries we use. While this should never be used as an excuse to do so, these A123’s can take a lot of abuse before going into thermal runaway. If they do go into runaway their reaction isn’t as violent as the other chemistries. But this cell requires a 3.6V charger!
The voltage of this cell is very steady for most of the discharge, very similar to LiPo’s. This is great for unregulated/mechanical mod users. The iJoy 4200mAh 26650 is a better choice for vaping at up to about 40A though.

The 26650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/a123-anr26650m1-b-2400mah-3-3v-26650-bench-test-results-an-extraordinary-battery-with-issues.770987/

All my test results to date: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

18350/18500 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18350-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7566/

18650 current ratings and safety grades: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18650-safety-grades-picking-a-safe-battery-to-vape-with.7447

26650 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/26650-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7554/

In preparation for posting the A123 26650 test results I wanted to briefly list how the lithium-ferrous-phosphate chemistry (“LFP”) batteries from A123 Systems, Inc., differ from the batteries we normally use when vaping.

A123 batteries have several advantages:

– Their low internal resistance means they are able to supply more current before overheating and they hold their voltage up better.

– LFP is the safest of the Li-Ion chemistries. It has a higher threshold temperature for thermal runaway and less violent reactions if the battery does go into runaway.

– LFP offers long cycle life, i.e., it is capable of a larger number of charge/discharge cycles than the other Li-Ion chemistries.

A123 batteries have a few disadvantages though:

– The 26650 is only 2400mAh and the 18650 is only 1100mAh.

– They have a nominal voltage of 3.3V versus the 3.6V/3.7V for the li-ion batteries we normally use. At high discharge current levels the voltage can be down close to 2.5V.

I won’t be testing the 18650 as its capacity is so low. For more information about A123 technology, LFP chemistry, A123 battery specifications, and working with A123 batteries:

Overview of A123’s technology:
http://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/6610_1.pdf

ANR26650M1-B Brochure/Specs:
http://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/6610.pdf

APR18650M1-A Brochure/Specs:
http://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/6612.pdf

Cylindrical Battery Pack Design Guide:
http://www.formula-hybrid.org/wp-content/uploads/A123-Pack-Design-Guide-for-Cylindrical-Cells.pdf

https://imgur.com/a/8UefF

Bottom Line: This is an overrated and rewrapped cell which I am rating at 21A. Its capacity is significantly over its rating though, 2100mAh, which makes me wonder if a different cell was originally used. At 30A continuous it reached 94°C, much too hot to be its true rating.

It is identical in appearance and performance to the Sony VTC4, but the cell MXJO uses can change at any time.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/mxjo-yellow-30a-1600mah-18650-bench-test-results-just-a-21a-battery-but-2100mah.768535/

All my test results to date: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

Bottom Line: This is a preposterously overrated and rewrapped cell which I am rating at 20A. At only 35A continuous, well below its rating, it could reach dangerous temperatures and possibly vent if there was a mod malfunction or accidental button press. At 40A and above its voltage quickly collapses. Even if just pulsed at its 50A rating the voltage dropped to just over 3.0V on the first pulse.

Both cells I tested had some dents or handling marks on the bottom of the can, under the wrap. This must have happened during the rewrapping.

It is identical in appearance and performance to the Sony VTC5.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.

Test results, discharge graph, photos: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/awt-red-black-50a-2600man-18650-bench-test-results-a-dangerously-overrated-20a-battery.767819/

All my test results to date: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

18350/18500 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18350-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7566/

18650 current ratings and safety grades: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18650-safety-grades-picking-a-safe-battery-to-vape-with.7447

26650 ratings and pulse performance data: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/26650-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7554/