Bench Test Results: Reliance RH60 - 20A 5850mAh 21700
- By Mooch
- Batteries and Chargers
- 0 Replies
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 genuine and in the original plastic wrap from a known and trusted manufacturer can change at any time! This can be one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” batteries or ones from smaller 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 to help lower the risks and extend cell life, 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, 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
This is one of the best performing moderate-power, high-capacity 21700’s we can buy now. Like the BAK 65E, it sits between the low current energy cell and higher current power cell performance levels. Think of these two cells as the next generation of the Samsung 50S.
***China Compulsory Certification, additional testing now required for all cells made or sold in China after August 1, 2024. The logo and certain information must be put on all cells once they are certified. This typically won’t be done by a manufacturer until the cell is ready to go into full production. A manufacturer can apply for an export-only exemption from CCC testing though if the cells will only be sold outside of China (or for engineering/evaluation samples) so lack of a CCC logo does not guarantee that the cells are pre-production. They could be production-ready cells that were tested and have passed and newer cells will have the new CCC marked wraps.
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs

Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic

18650/21700 Ratings & E-Scores Tables and Recommended Batteries Tables:
The links are in my public Patreon pinned post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/pinned-post-137974946
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: Get more from Battery Mooch on Patreon.
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 to help lower the risks and extend cell life, 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, 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
This is one of the best performing moderate-power, high-capacity 21700’s we can buy now. Like the BAK 65E, it sits between the low current energy cell and higher current power cell performance levels. Think of these two cells as the next generation of the Samsung 50S.
- The latest version of the official datasheet is Version A0-2, dated March 23, 2026. All other versions should be ignored.
- The F3 version of the datasheet, dated Feb 5, 2026 has a 30A temp-limited rating for this cell. THIS IS NOT THE DATASHEET FOR THE PRODUCTION CELL! Do not use it.
- Two batches of RH60’s were tested, date code FCT (Dec 2025 manufacture) donated by DIY500AMP and date code G3H (March 2026) donated by Reliance directly. They performed essentially the same, you will not notice any difference between them, but they have different can configurations (see attached photos).
- Neither batch has CCC*** or CE marks on the plastic wrap but the later dated G3H batch is in the mass production (MP) can configuration having a standard size top contact and the smaller bottom spiral weld line.
- The RH60 performs essentially the same as the Amprius SA112, FEB 21700G (68E), and Vapcell F60/F63.
- The BAK 65E performed a bit better “on paper” than the RH60, which may or may not be noticeable in actual use.
- You’ll need to test any cells you’re most interested in, for size/weight/cost/availability reasons, to see which perform best in your application. Doesn’t matter which batch of RH60 cells you test.
- The RH60 has a single minimum/standard capacity rating of 5850mAh.
- The two cells I tested reached 6018 and 6023mAh which is amazing consistency and above the rating.
- The Ver A0-2 datasheet gives the RH60 a 20A max continuous rating. This seems reasonable since it brought the cell up to about 71°C and it has a 80°C max temp rating.
- Reliance says they can be run at 30A if the temp is never allowed to exceed 80°C and even with that the cycle life will be shortened. You’ll also get a lot of voltage sag. Like the BAK 65E, this just isn’t a cell for high power levels so I strongly recommend staying down at 20A or lower (with 65E too).
- Note that there is no 30A rating of any kind in the datasheet! Please consider this carefully for liability reasons if building packs for someone else.
- Datasheet standard/max charge rate = 3A/6A. Stay at 3A or lower to help extend cell life.
- Datasheet AC IR <= 7mOhms, I measured 5.29 and 5.32mOhms, astounding consistency.
- No datasheet DC IR spec. I measured 9.28 and 9.26mOhms, incredible consistency again.
- Datasheet max weight <= 71.0g, I measured 68.97g max for two cells.
- Datasheet max size <= 21.6mm diameter x 70.9mm long. I measured 21.45mm x 70.77mm max.
- Bottom welding “keep out” area is a centered circle of 4mm dia. The large top contact/larger spiral can configuration (Dec 2025 cells) have a 6mm diameter bottom keepout area.
- Datasheet cycle life is >= 500 cycles at +6A/-12A down to 2.5V before dropping to 80% of original capacity.
***China Compulsory Certification, additional testing now required for all cells made or sold in China after August 1, 2024. The logo and certain information must be put on all cells once they are certified. This typically won’t be done by a manufacturer until the cell is ready to go into full production. A manufacturer can apply for an export-only exemption from CCC testing though if the cells will only be sold outside of China (or for engineering/evaluation samples) so lack of a CCC logo does not guarantee that the cells are pre-production. They could be production-ready cells that were tested and have passed and newer cells will have the new CCC marked wraps.
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs

Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic

18650/21700 Ratings & E-Scores Tables and Recommended Batteries Tables:
The links are in my public Patreon pinned post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/pinned-post-137974946
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: Get more from Battery Mooch on Patreon.


