NCR18650B or NCR18650PD or???

[apuck]

Hello all,

I'm in need of some new batteries for various APV's, and I'm looking at the Panasonic's because I loved the CGR18650CH so much. What are the thoughts on the NCR18650B and NCR18650PD? I'm not doing any of the sub-ohm stuff, just using my devices with the Vivi Nova, Itaste 30, T3s, etc.

I've seen a lot of suggestions for the AW IMR18650 also, which I am considering, but I really want to know what else out there is a solid performer. I'd like to have a few options to shop around and try to save a couple of bucks without blowing myself up or burning down my house.

 

[Vapeman12]

I have the NCR18650PD and they seem to be working great, i never could get a straight answer on what he difference between those and the CGR were i didn't know they had a NCR18650B also.

 

[Fury83]

Simple answer is that the NCR18650PD and CGR18650CH are designed and rated as high drain batteries. They can handle 10 amps continuous discharge if I recall correctly. The NCR18650B is not rated as high drain, there were similar versions in the CGR series as well. The difference between the CGR's and the NCR's in general is battery chemistry and capacity. So your NCR18650PD is 2900mah instead of 2250mah for the CGR18650CH.

AW IMR's are great batteries and have been used for a long time by both mod users as well as those into high end flashlights. They come in 1600mah and 2000mah. The 1600mah version is one of the best performing 18650's around.

There's more but it's not something you practically need to know unless you are planning on making a youtube video with a 0.3 ohm coil.

 

[Baditude]

The below batteries are all high quality, name brand batteries that I'd highly recommend. I personally use AW just because of their reputation for quality, consistancy, performance, and are easy to find for sale. I have a couple of AW 2000 mAh that are 1.5 years old and still nearly as good as the newer ones in my rotation.

AW IMR
18650 2000mah 10Amp CDR
18650 1600mah 24A

Panasonic ​or Orbtronic hybrid
CGR18650CH (IMR/Li Ion hybrid) 2250mAh 10A
NCR18650PD (high drain-high capacity) 2900mAh 10A

Samsung hybrid (LiNiCoMnP)
INR18650-20R 2000mah 22A

MNKE IMR
IMR18650 1500mah 20A

Sony IMR
us18650v3 IMR 2250mAh 10A

EFEST IMR
18650 2000mah 10A​

 

[Vapeman12]

Well I hope this info is helpful to the OP I know its helpful to me, thanks guys

 

[Thrasher]

what they said about the chemistry.
as for as personal use. i use the pd's now in most of my mods mechanical and regulated.

as far as the B - this is not a high drain battery the amp limit is 6.8 amps. I use these in a mechanical with .8-.9 ohms to keep the power draw low. good battery, BUT I would never try to use them in a regulated mod, if your looking for good batteries without buying different ones for different mods just stick to the PD as the cgh keeps getting harder and harder to find.

 

[WattWick]

Don't want to make a new thread so just sneaking one in here...

Are the NCR18650PD considered "safe" chemistry like IMRs? Looking to replace some 18650s I gave away a while back and would like the highest capacity possible in a non-exploding battery. Will be used in mech mods at ~0.8 ohms.

 

[Thrasher]

The pd is a mixed chemistry battery, while not strictly IMR they arent straight ICR batteries either.

no battery is perfectly safe, but according to panasonic all of their lithium cells are designed with a multi stage venting process to keep runaway batteries from getting out of hand. so far i push them pretty hard and dont even feel them getting warm.

It is also notable that panasonic just redesigned the PD - the new model will be PF i believe. and it was designed to run even cooler with high amperage drain while making the discharge curve a little more even as well as a little bit more Mah's.
I think with the popularity of AW and Orbronics wrapped panny's increasing sales for them, they are listening to what we need and trying to get them to us.

 

[bluecat]

From what I could tell from reading almost everything I could about the PDs prior to purchasing them is that they are a hybrid IMR ICR battery. Something about a nickel coating of the cobalt that would provide an extra layer of safety to the battery for the inside protection. Supposedly Panasonic doesn't release much on their batteries for fear of reproduction. Of course I have also read AW just repackages the best Pannys he can find after testings.

Lotsa confusing info out there. I do not mind being told I am wrong. The battery issue is confusing to me and reading up on it seems more confusing.

I hope you are right Thrasher. I do not mind paying extra for good batteries.

 

[apuck]

Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question, and not confuse the hell out of me. It sounds like I may be ordering a couple of the PDs.

 

[Baditude]

what they said about the chemistry.
as for as personal use. i use the pd's now in most of my mods mechanical and regulated.

as far as the B - this is not a high drain battery the amp limit is 6.8 amps. I use these in a mechanical with .8-.9 ohms to keep the power draw low. good battery, BUT I would never try to use them in a regulated mod, if your looking for good batteries without buying different ones for different mods just stick to the PD as the cgh keeps getting harder and harder to find.

Thrasher, what are your thoughts about the Sony Li Ion SE US18650VTC3 1600mAh 30 amp? What applications does it best serve? Can it be used in either mechanical and regulated mods? Sub-ohm?

 

[Baditude]

From what I could tell from reading almost everything I could about the PDs prior to purchasing them is that they are a hybrid IMR ICR battery. Something about a nickel coating of the cobalt that would provide an extra layer of safety to the battery for the inside protection. Supposedly Panasonic doesn't release much on their batteries for fear of reproduction. Of course I have also read AW just repackages the best Pannys he can find after testings.

Lotsa confusing info out there. I do not mind being told I am wrong. The battery issue is confusing to me and reading up on it seems more confusing.

I hope you are right Thrasher. I do not mind paying extra for good batteries.

I have read and found the same info, and lack of info, bluecat. Trying to find and understand the Panasonics' chemistry makeups and recommended applications is like pulling teeth from a blue cat.

 

[Thrasher]

I hope you are right Thrasher. I do not mind paying extra for good batteries.

LOL so do I.

I am also a member over at candlepower forums where AW does direct sales and pops in from time to time. over there they seem pretty impressed with the panny's
I have also talked to a few mod makers and vendors as well as extensively studied much of the literature on panasonics own website regarding their batteries, they way they are designed and the safety measures they put into them.
as it is Im trying to get through to the industrial division now, but either im on hold or they dont have enough time for my rambling.

like I said no battery will ever be completely safe, the post the other day in new members showing a popped AW IMR proves this.
but I feel good with the panny personally, many industries put a lot of trust in them so I will too, heck even Tesla cars use them and If they feel safe letting you sit your .... on 1000 18650's then i thnk ill be willing to try one. LOL!

with all this concern what does scare me is that low drain ICR they put in the evic, dont know if thats changed yet.

Thrasher, what are your thoughts about the Sony Li Ion SE US18650VTC3 1600mAh 30 amp? What applications does it best serve? Can it be used in either mechanical and regulated mods? Sub-ohm?

I havent even looked at these yet, but now that you brought it up i will have to check them out. but I would say if it truely is rated at 30 amp continuous it would be a fine battery, and cant imagine it ever being overdriven under normal applications.

 

[WattWick]

The pd is a mixed chemistry battery, while not strictly IMR they arent straight ICR batteries either.

no battery is perfectly safe, but according to panasonic all of their lithium cells are designed with a multi stage venting process to keep runaway batteries from getting out of hand. so far i push them pretty hard and dont even feel them getting warm.

It is also notable that panasonic just redesigned the PD - the new model will be PF i believe. and it was designed to run even cooler with high amperage drain while making the discharge curve a little more even as well as a little bit more Mah's.
I think with the popularity of AW and Orbronics wrapped panny's increasing sales for them, they are listening to what we need and trying to get them to us.

Thanks man! Not planning to push any limits or anything close. Just trying to stick to something that react the least violently in case of a worst case scenario. Will have to give it some thought if I should get PDs now or wait and see if the PFs show up soon-ish. I'm in no hurry at all.

Edit: Apparently the PFs are already in stock at Fasttech.

 

[jcmios]

Panasonic/Orbtronic hybrid NCR18650B is a Li-ion chemistry and rated at 2900mAh, 3.7 volt and the Panasonic/Orbtronic hybrid NCR18650PD is also a Li-ion chemistry and rated at 2900mAh, 3.7volt. Neither is mixed chemistry, and both are advertised as high drain, however the NCR18650PD is listed at 9.5 amp continuous discharge, on the NCR18650B I can not find this info so I consider it to be less but plenty for e-cig use. I don't know where the confusion on chemistry composition comes from, probably the end sellers advertising but both are true Li-ion however Panasonic engineers these two batteries with advanced cell isolation and improved venting. This is a big reason they do not require an integrated protection circuit.