Category: Recent News

This cell runs a bit cooler at its 24A rating than other 21700’s at their ratings and appears to be the same China-manufactured cell as the “40A” 3750mAh S35 from Golisi that I rated at 30A. Seems that Vapcell has decided to rate this cell conservatively. I applaud this decision and wish that more companies were willing to do this instead of exaggerating ratings to increase sales.

Our relentless desire for higher current ratings has caused the huge glut of batteries with exaggerated ratings being released as those companies try to tap into our desires. Rating a battery more conservatively not only gives us more realistic expectations for the capabilities of our batteries but increases safety and the overall life of the battery. The battery also operates more efficiently and this wastes less power inside the battery as heat. All good things.

The Vapcells tested out to a lower capacity than the Golisi cells I tested earlier but there isn’t much of a difference down to 3.2V, about the lowest we go. The differences only became really noticeable as the discharge approached my 2.5V testing cutoff voltage.

China-manufactured cells do have more variation in capacity than the ones from Samsung, Sony, LG, and Panasonic/Sanyo so this difference between the Vapcells and Golisi might not be present in all of their cells.

I am rating this cell at 24A and 3500mAh. I won’t recommend using a battery at above the manufacturer’s/wrapper’s rating but this Vapcell runs cooler at its rating than the Golisi does at its 30A rating and they appear to be the same cell.

Two cells were donated for the purposes of testing by Vapcell (www.vapcelltech.com). Thank you!

Ratings graphic: https://imgur.com/a/HA02V

Test results: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/threads/bench-test-results-vapcell-purple-24a-3750ma-21700-conservatively-rated-seems-same-as-golisi-s35.847073/

These tests only note the estimated ratings for these batteries at the time I tested them. Any battery that is not a genuine Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, or Sanyo can change at any time! This is one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” batteries 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 personal injury or property damage. They are not meant to be used outside of a protected battery pack. Never exceed the battery’s continuous current rating and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition.

Any rating in the tables can change at any time as different grade cells appear on the market or we get swamped with fakes. Please, never assume that the ratings in the table are permanent and will never change! Always download the latest version before considering any cell purchase.

To see how other cells have tested check out this link: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

The Smoker’s Show premieres tomorrow night, Tuesday 1/16 at 9PM EST.

What is the “Smoker’s Show”?

A web show designed to assist people in making the transition from smoking to vaping hosted by myself, Phil Busardo, and Dimitris Agrafiotis.

We’re going to go over the basics, answer questions, talk about myths, offer assistance, take a look at starter kits, have special guest, and MORE! Not to mention have some fun along the way!

If you have friends, family members, or other loved ones who are still smoking and interested in vaping, please direct them here!

Click either banner to be taken to the show!

(since this is our first show, I’m sure technical hilarity will ensue. 🙂 )

Our first sponsor:

This is a retest of the popular Samsung 30Q. The four cells I tested, two from IMRBatteries and two from Illumn, showed the expected great consistency in performance.

The Samsung 30Q datasheet (Section 7.9) mentions operation at 20A. Operation at that level can be done as long as we don’t let the battery get above 75°C, its maximum rated operating temperature.

But this is not a high performance “power” cell, designed for high current. It is a high capacity “energy” cell designed for low to moderate power levels and long running time. At higher current levels the voltage sag and power loss in the cell are huge. Do not exceed 20A.

I am giving this cell a continuous current rating of 15A (about 45W using 3.7V) and a temperature-limited rating of 20A (about 60W if using 3.7V) as long as the cell is never allowed to reach 75°C.

This is not a “pulse rating”! There is no pulse length, time between pulses, or criteria used for setting such a rating being defined. The 20A rating is any type of discharge as long as the 75°C limit is not reached.

The 18650 rating table has been updated with the 15A/20A rating for this cell.

A “shootout” of the HG2, 30Q, and VTC6, directly comparing their performance, will be posted in a few days.

Four cells were purchased for the purposes of testing by me.

Ratings graphic: https://imgur.com/a/Iasun

Test results: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/threads/bench-retest-results-samsung-30q-3000mah-18650…a-great-15a-20-battery.846955/

These tests only note the estimated ratings for these batteries at the time I tested them. Any battery that is not a genuine Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, or Sanyo can change at any time! This is one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” batteries 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 personal injury or property damage. They are not meant to be used outside of a protected battery pack. Never exceed the battery’s continuous current rating and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition.

Any rating in the tables can change at any time as different grade cells appear on the market or we get swamped with fakes. Please, never assume that the ratings in the table are permanent and will never change! Always download the latest version before considering any cell purchase.

To see how other cells have tested check out this link: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

To make the 18650 ratings table more consistent and prevent some of the confusion I was seeing I recently changed my continuous current rating for the Samsung 30Q from 20A down to the manufacturer’s rating of 15A.

This has its own problems as the rating in my table no long reflected this cell’s great performance. After reviewing the datasheet I have decided to extend the 30Q’s rating back up to 20A…conditionally.

The Samsung 30Q datasheet (Section 7.9) mentions operation at 20A. Operation at that level can be done as long as we don’t let the battery get above 75°C, its maximum rated operating temperature.

https://imgur.com/a/VOxh5

This keeps the ratings to what the manufacturer sets but allows operation at up to 20A, which was what my rating previously did. This is not a perfect solution but it’s the one I have now. Sorry for the confusion all this has caused. The tables will always be works-in-progress and I will continue to try to keep them useful tools for vapers.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to reflect the 15A/20A rating this cell now has, along with the Sony VTC6. The LG is still rated at 20A continuous.

I will be posting a “shootout”, directly comparing the performance of these three cells, within a few days.

This is a retest of the great performing VTC6. Rating this battery, and the Samsung 30Q, for these retests has been tough.

Sony gives this cell a continuous current rating of 15A but allows for temperature-limited operation at a level above that. You can run it at above 15A but only until you reach a certain temperature, 80°C, and then the discharge must stop.

But this is not a high performance “power” cell, designed for high current. It is a high capacity “energy” cell designed for low to moderate power levels and long running time. At higher current levels the voltage sag and power loss in the cell are huge. Do not exceed 20A.

The four cells I tested, two from Illumn and two from Liion Wholesale, showed the expected great cell-to-cell consistency in performance.

I am giving this cell a continuous current rating of 15A (about 45W using 3.7V) and a temperature-limited rating of 20A (about 60W if using 3.7V) as long as the cell is never allowed to reach 80°C.

This is not a “pulse rating”! There is no pulse length, time between pulses, or criteria used for setting such a rating being defined. The 20A rating is any type of discharge as long as the 80°C limit is not reached. The Samsung 30Q’s rating will be addressed again in a post soon.

The 18650 rating table has been updated with the 15A/20A rating for this cell.

A “shootout” of the HG2, 30Q, and VTC6, directly comparing their performance, will be posted in a few days.

Four cells were purchased for the purposes of testing by me.

Ratings graphic: https://imgur.com/a/2bfgj

Test results: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/threads/bench-retest-results-sony-vtc6-15a-3000mah-18650…a-fantastic-15a-20a-battery.846895/

These tests only note the estimated ratings for these batteries at the time I tested them. Any battery that is not a genuine Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, or Sanyo can change at any time! This is one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” batteries 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 personal injury or property damage. They are not meant to be used outside of a protected battery pack. Never exceed the battery’s continuous current rating and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition.

Any rating in the tables can change at any time as different grade cells appear on the market or we get swamped with fakes. Please, never assume that the ratings in the table are permanent and will never change! Always download the latest version before considering any cell purchase.

To see how other cells have tested check out this link: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

I am delighted to see the ratings on this cell. It looks and performs the same as the good cell wrapped by Aspire, Golisi, and iJoy for their 4200mAh-4300mAh rated 26650’s (when I tested them) but this Vapcell has its 32A continuous current rating clearly marked on the wrap and no “pulse” or “max” rating. This is fantastic and I hope more companies start doing this.

I estimate this cell’s ratings to be 30A-32A and about 4200mAh. As with many cells that are manufactured in China there is greater cell-cell variation than from Samsung, Sony, LG, and Panasonic/Sanyo. That makes it difficult to pick a single number for the ratings.

Two cells were donated for the purposes of testing by Vapcell (http://www.vapcelltech.com). Thank you!

Ratings graphic: https://imgur.com/a/N6nJG

Test results: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/threads/bench-test-results-vapcell-32a-4200mah-26650…same-as-good-performing-aspire-golisi-ijoy.846691/

These tests only note the estimated ratings for these batteries at the time I tested them. Any battery that is not a genuine Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, or Sanyo can change at any time! This is one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” batteries 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 personal injury or property damage. They are not meant to be used outside of a protected battery pack. Never exceed the battery’s continuous current rating and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition.

Any rating in the tables can change at any time as different grade cells appear on the market or we get swamped with fakes. Please, never assume that the ratings in the table are permanent and will never change! Always download the latest version before considering any cell purchase.

To see how other cells have tested check out this link: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/

Here’s the latest from Brent Stafford at Regulator Watch:

We’re back with our first RegWatch episode of 2018. It’s a bit of a special episode as we embark on a trip we don’t take often enough, a visit to a local vape store.

Incredibly, in over 100 episodes on vaping we’ve only shot at a vape shop a small handle full of times. As our viewers know we focus on the big regulatory issues around vaping.

So, right before Christmas we set out to Lucky 8 Vapes, a popular retailer in the heart of Richmond B.C. We intended to capture the sights and sounds of the holiday bustle, but quickly the topics turned serious and perhaps inevitably it became all about the regs.

Produced by: Brent Stafford
Released January 11, 2018.

My second video is up!

Minding Your mAhs – Episode 2

Topics:

• Thank you!
• Cold weather and batteries
• Are there “best” batteries?
• Calculating battery current – Unregulated/mech mods
• Recommended batteries for unregulated/mech mods

This is a retest of the popular LG HG2, rated at 20A by the manufacturer. The four cells I tested, two from Liion Wholesale and two from Illumn, showed a bit less than expected consistency in performance but all tested as solid 20A cells.

I have seen this cell with and without the laser-written “Caution” on the wrap. I don’t know if this is an option from LG or not but both types have tested as genuine. There are LOTS of fakes of this cell though. Only buy from known, trusted vendors. Check the pinned post on my Mooch Facebook page or my blog at ECF for my list of trusted vendors.

There is also a version of the HG2 with the word “cigarette” misspelled as “cigaratte” in the Caution on the wrap. One theory is that this is an error by a China company that added the caution statement to genuine HG2’s for unknown reasons. This does NOT mean that all HG2’s with the “cigaratte” misspelling are genuine! Only that I haven’t seen any fake ones…yet.

I am rating the LG HG2 at 20A and 3000mAh.

Four cells were purchased for the purposes of testing by me.

These cells have been rated by me before at 20A and 18A. Any rating in the tables can change at any time as different grade cells appear on the market or we get swamped with fakes. Please, never assume that the ratings in the table are permanent and will never change! Always download the latest version before considering any cell purchase.

Ratings graphic: https://imgur.com/a/LTopK

Test results: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/threads/bench-retest-results-lg-hg2-20a-3000mah-18650…a-fantastic-20a-battery.846005/

These tests only note the estimated ratings for these batteries at the time I tested them. Any battery that is not a genuine Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, or Sanyo can change at any time! This is one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” batteries 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 personal injury or property damage. They are not meant to be used outside of a protected battery pack. Never exceed the battery’s continuous current rating and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition.

To see how other cells have tested check out this link: https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/