These tests below only note my personal opinion for the ESTIMATED ratings for the batteries I tested at the time I tested them. Any battery that is not a genuine Samsung, Sony, Murata, LG, Panasonic, Molicel, or Sanyo can change at any time! This can be one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” or batteries from other manufacturers so carefully research any battery you are considering using before purchasing.
Misusing or mishandling lithium-ion batteries can pose a SERIOUS RISK of property damage, personal injury, or even death. Never use them outside of a fully protected battery pack and you use them at your own risk. Never exceed the battery’s true continuous discharge rating (CDR), never let it get colder than 0°C or hotter than 60°C, and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition. Never use a battery that is physically damaged in any way.
Testing batteries at their limits is dangerous and should never be attempted by anyone who has not thoroughly studied the dangers involved, understands the risks, has the proper equipment, and takes all appropriate safety precautions.
If the battery has only one current rating number, or if it only says "max", then I have to assume the battery is rated at that current level for any type of discharge, including continuous.
Test Results
The Molicel P28B is the best performing high power 18650 we can buy now. It performs essentially the same as the P28A at up to about 15A-20A but above that the P28B performs a little better. The P28B performs better than the P26A at all power levels, especially when above 20A. Not a huge difference but it will be noticeable in my opinion.
The P28B also runs up to several degrees cooler than the P26A at higher power levels.
The datasheet only lists a temperature-limited discharge current rating of 40A. According to the datasheet you can run the P28B at 40A but you must keep the cell temperature below 80°C. Since this cell reaches over 110°C when discharged continuously at 40A we cannot use that as a true continuous current rating.
For direct comparisons between cells I rate the P28B at 25A continuous/40A non-continuous (as long as you keep the cell below 80°C).
Molicel is not trying to fool us with their ratings. Their cells are rated for the applications they’re typically used for; electric vacuum cleaners, power tools, and other products that draw lots of power for short periods of time. Molicel’s datasheets are written for the engineers from their large commercial customers who know how these cells are rated.
The two cells I tested delivered 2746mAh and 2760mAh which is fantastic consistency. They easily met their 2650mAh minimum capacity rating but not their 2800mAh “typical” rating. I am rating them at 2700mAh since I cannot have the lowest capacity cells in the batch.
Bottom line…these are fantastic cells and I’m not at all worried about them being a little below the typical capacity rating.
18650 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
20700/21700 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs
Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic
I want to work for the community full time! If you feel what I do is worth a couple dollars a month and you would like early access to battery availability, battery testing and news, and a say in what I test, then please consider becoming a patron and supporting my testing efforts: Patreon.
To see how other cells have tested check out this link: Links To All 21700, 26650, 18350, 18500 Battery Tests
Misusing or mishandling lithium-ion batteries can pose a SERIOUS RISK of property damage, personal injury, or even death. Never use them outside of a fully protected battery pack and you use them at your own risk. Never exceed the battery’s true continuous discharge rating (CDR), never let it get colder than 0°C or hotter than 60°C, and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition. Never use a battery that is physically damaged in any way.
Testing batteries at their limits is dangerous and should never be attempted by anyone who has not thoroughly studied the dangers involved, understands the risks, has the proper equipment, and takes all appropriate safety precautions.
If the battery has only one current rating number, or if it only says "max", then I have to assume the battery is rated at that current level for any type of discharge, including continuous.
Test Results
The Molicel P28B is the best performing high power 18650 we can buy now. It performs essentially the same as the P28A at up to about 15A-20A but above that the P28B performs a little better. The P28B performs better than the P26A at all power levels, especially when above 20A. Not a huge difference but it will be noticeable in my opinion.
The P28B also runs up to several degrees cooler than the P26A at higher power levels.
The datasheet only lists a temperature-limited discharge current rating of 40A. According to the datasheet you can run the P28B at 40A but you must keep the cell temperature below 80°C. Since this cell reaches over 110°C when discharged continuously at 40A we cannot use that as a true continuous current rating.
For direct comparisons between cells I rate the P28B at 25A continuous/40A non-continuous (as long as you keep the cell below 80°C).
Molicel is not trying to fool us with their ratings. Their cells are rated for the applications they’re typically used for; electric vacuum cleaners, power tools, and other products that draw lots of power for short periods of time. Molicel’s datasheets are written for the engineers from their large commercial customers who know how these cells are rated.
The two cells I tested delivered 2746mAh and 2760mAh which is fantastic consistency. They easily met their 2650mAh minimum capacity rating but not their 2800mAh “typical” rating. I am rating them at 2700mAh since I cannot have the lowest capacity cells in the batch.
Bottom line…these are fantastic cells and I’m not at all worried about them being a little below the typical capacity rating.
18650 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
18650 Battery Ratings and Performance Table
You are responsible for your own safety! These batteries are designed, manufactured, and sold only for use in a battery pack with the proper protection circuitry and battery management system. They were not designed for vaping (electronic...
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
20700/21700 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
20700 + 21700 Battery Ratings and Performance Table
You are responsible for your own safety! These batteries are designed, manufactured, and sold only for use in a battery pack with the proper protection circuitry and battery management system. They were not designed for vaping (electronic...
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs
Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic
I want to work for the community full time! If you feel what I do is worth a couple dollars a month and you would like early access to battery availability, battery testing and news, and a say in what I test, then please consider becoming a patron and supporting my testing efforts: Patreon.
To see how other cells have tested check out this link: Links To All 21700, 26650, 18350, 18500 Battery Tests
