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
I know this is a popular cell but it’s just an average performer with absurd current ratings. If you like this cell and want to use it then go ahead! This report is only my personal opinion based on my test results, to be considered when considering what cell to use.
I last tested these about 6-1/2 years ago and in my opinion they were rewrapped Samsung 30Q’s then. Many of the China wrapping/rewrapping companies have switched over to China-manufactured cells so it was time for a retest.
This cell’s 35A rating is ridiculous, even as a “pulse” rating. At 35A it instantly drops to 3.3V and down to 3.2V a few seconds later. Most devices would reach their low voltage cutoff very quickly.
I stopped the discharge early, when the cell reached 100°C at about 2.85V. This is hot enough to boil water and can start the process that leads to thermal runaway, resulting in a fire and bursting of the cell. This rating is crazy, even as just a “pulsed” rating (which you only find out if you visit the web site).
The 35A “max pulse discharge” rating is also useless because MXJO doesn’t tell us how long this “pulse” can be or how often we can pulse the cell at this level. Since this cell quickly overheats at such a crazy current level this is important information.
On the bottom rear of the cell is tiny printing that says “20A CDC”. You have to go to their web site to find out that CDC means they have given it a 20A Continuous Discharge Current rating. But even at 20A continuous it reaches about 90°C down to 2.5V, which is MUCH too hot.
This is at most a 15A-rated cell. It’s almost identical in appearance to the Sinowatt 30SP, which is rated 15A, differing only by the radius of the curve of the metal at the bottom of the can. This MXJO’s performance is also about the same as the 30SP I tested 1-1/2 years ago. I do not know for sure what cell this is though.
This MXJO’s 35A rating is dangerous since it’s on the front of the wrap and is the rating that’s used by most web sites selling this cell. There’s no indication on the cell that it’s just an undefined “pulse” rating that can easily lead to overheating.
The MXJO web site tells you that the 20A is their claimed (and exaggerated) continuous rating but no one visits the web site and many never notice the CDC rating on the back of the wrap or even know what “CDC” means.
Both the Samsung 30Q and Murata VTC6 perform a little bit better at all power levels. The Molicel P26A equals this cell at 5A and beats it at higher levels. The Molicel P28A easily outperforms this MXJO at all power levels.
The two cells I tested delivered 3029mAh and 3062mAh. This is not good consistency. At most this cell has a 15A rating, about 45W. I recommend staying below that to reduce the risk and help extend overall cell life.
If you need a high capacity cell for moderate power levels , up to 45W, and low cost is the priority then try the Sinowatt 30SP since they perform the same. If you want a better performing, longer running cell then try the Molicel P28A. If not available try the Molicel P26A or the Samsung 30Q or Murata VTC6 if you are sure they are genuine. For me personally though, the MXJO’s are not worth using even for free.
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs
Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic
18650 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
20700/21700 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
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: Battery Mooch | 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
I know this is a popular cell but it’s just an average performer with absurd current ratings. If you like this cell and want to use it then go ahead! This report is only my personal opinion based on my test results, to be considered when considering what cell to use.
I last tested these about 6-1/2 years ago and in my opinion they were rewrapped Samsung 30Q’s then. Many of the China wrapping/rewrapping companies have switched over to China-manufactured cells so it was time for a retest.
This cell’s 35A rating is ridiculous, even as a “pulse” rating. At 35A it instantly drops to 3.3V and down to 3.2V a few seconds later. Most devices would reach their low voltage cutoff very quickly.
I stopped the discharge early, when the cell reached 100°C at about 2.85V. This is hot enough to boil water and can start the process that leads to thermal runaway, resulting in a fire and bursting of the cell. This rating is crazy, even as just a “pulsed” rating (which you only find out if you visit the web site).
The 35A “max pulse discharge” rating is also useless because MXJO doesn’t tell us how long this “pulse” can be or how often we can pulse the cell at this level. Since this cell quickly overheats at such a crazy current level this is important information.
On the bottom rear of the cell is tiny printing that says “20A CDC”. You have to go to their web site to find out that CDC means they have given it a 20A Continuous Discharge Current rating. But even at 20A continuous it reaches about 90°C down to 2.5V, which is MUCH too hot.
This is at most a 15A-rated cell. It’s almost identical in appearance to the Sinowatt 30SP, which is rated 15A, differing only by the radius of the curve of the metal at the bottom of the can. This MXJO’s performance is also about the same as the 30SP I tested 1-1/2 years ago. I do not know for sure what cell this is though.
This MXJO’s 35A rating is dangerous since it’s on the front of the wrap and is the rating that’s used by most web sites selling this cell. There’s no indication on the cell that it’s just an undefined “pulse” rating that can easily lead to overheating.
The MXJO web site tells you that the 20A is their claimed (and exaggerated) continuous rating but no one visits the web site and many never notice the CDC rating on the back of the wrap or even know what “CDC” means.
Both the Samsung 30Q and Murata VTC6 perform a little bit better at all power levels. The Molicel P26A equals this cell at 5A and beats it at higher levels. The Molicel P28A easily outperforms this MXJO at all power levels.
The two cells I tested delivered 3029mAh and 3062mAh. This is not good consistency. At most this cell has a 15A rating, about 45W. I recommend staying below that to reduce the risk and help extend overall cell life.
If you need a high capacity cell for moderate power levels , up to 45W, and low cost is the priority then try the Sinowatt 30SP since they perform the same. If you want a better performing, longer running cell then try the Molicel P28A. If not available try the Molicel P26A or the Samsung 30Q or Murata VTC6 if you are sure they are genuine. For me personally though, the MXJO’s are not worth using even for free.
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs
Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic
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:
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
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: Battery Mooch | Patreon.
To see how other cells have tested check out this link: Links To All 21700, 26650, 18350, 18500 Battery Tests
