Sony VTC3 1500mAh 18650 Retest Results...a hard hitting 28A 1600mAh battery

[Mooch]

These cells were purchased for the purposes of testing with donations made for that purpose. Thank you! To prevent any confusion with the eGo-type "batteries", I use the term "cell" here to refer to a single 18650, 26650, etc.


Disclaimer
The statements, conclusions, and recommendations I make based on these tests are only my personal opinion. Carefully research any battery you are considering using before purchasing.

Testing cells at their limits is dangerous and should never, ever, be attempted by anyone who has not thoroughly studied the dangers involved and how to minimize them.


A note regarding current ratings and my testing
If the cell has only one current rating number on it, or if it says "max discharging current" then I have to assume that the company is stating that the cell can be discharged at that current level in any way, including continuous.




Bottom Line
This is a hard hitting 28A continuous battery that exceeds its 1500mAh rating. The VTC3 runs longer and hits harder than the LG HB series of batteries but it runs hotter.


Continuous-Current Test Results



Pulsed-Current Test Results
These tests are done to show the performance of the cell at higher pulsed current levels. If you are running your mod at these levels be aware that you risk overheating, and possibly venting, the battery if there is a malfunction or accidental pressing of your mechanical mod's button.



Comments

• At 10A continuous it reached about 1475mAh. This is fantastic performance for a 1500mAh-rated cell operating at 10A so I am rating this cell at 1600mAh. This is the nominal capacity rating for the VTC3 so my results are typically what you will get.
• Its temperature at 15A continuous was 61°C, significantly below the average for a cell operating at its CDR.
• At 20A continuous the temperature rose to 70°C. This is several degrees below the average for a cell operating at its CDR.
• At 25A continuous the temperature rose to 80°C. This is a couple degrees above the average for a cell operating at its CDR.
• At 30A continuous the temperature rose to 87°C. This is too high a temperature to set this current level as the CDR.
• I have included pulsed discharges but I haven't set pass/fail standards for pulse testing yet. The discharges were done at 5sec on/30sec off, down to 2.5V. One chart shows the entire discharge at each level. The other chart is zoomed in to show the first 5 minutes to make it easier to see the voltage sag at different current levels.

To see how other cells have tested and how hard you can safely push them, check out these links:
List of Battery Tests | E-Cigarette Forum
18350 Safety Grades and Pulse Performance Data | E-Cigarette Forum
18650 Battery Ratings -- Picking a Safe Battery to Vape With | E-Cigarette Forum
26650 Safety Grades and Pulse Performance Data | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[sonicbomb]

Go Sony! I may have to add this to my shopping list.
Cheers Mooch

 

[StirredStill]

Thanks mooch!!

Apparently here in Canada they have discontinued the battery... I was skeptical because of that fact. Looks like i'll be heading back to said shop to grab their last few!


[emoji709]

 

[Ryedan]

Thanks mooch!!

Apparently here in Canada they have discontinued the battery... I was skeptical because of that fact. Looks like i'll be heading back to said shop to grab their last few!

I've seen some Sony VTC cells become rare worldwide and then available again over the last couple of years. Sony is also rumored to not approve of the use of these cells outside of battery packs that come with extra safety protection. I don't doubt that, but I have never seen anything that is solid confirmation of it either.

I suspect that VTC3 batteries are in really low demand these days due to the low mAh and that's why some suppliers may not be keen on stocking them. Even at 0.23 ohms in a mech mod you're drawing leas than 18A on a full charge and making around 60 watts. The 2500 mAh batteries will handle those amp levels well if you want to go that high with a single cell and they give you more run time on a charge. With a dual cell mod the amps get split between the cells so each one only has to do half the work.

Illumination Supply has the VTC4 for $6 USD ($8 CAD) and their shipping to Canada is very reasonable and quick (about 5 business days in my experience). They also have the Samsung 25R R5 for $5 and probably have some other notables also at good prices. I also trust them to sell me a good battery more than most vape shops I know of here. YMMV on that one though

 

[StirredStill]

I've seen some Sony VTC cells become rare worldwide and then available again over the last couple of years. Sony is also rumored to not approve of the use of these cells outside of battery packs that come with extra safety protection. I don't doubt that, but I have never seen anything that is solid confirmation of it either.

I suspect that VTC3 batteries are in really low demand these days due to the low mAh and that's why some suppliers may not be keen on stocking them. Even at 0.23 ohms in a mech mod you're drawing leas than 18A on a full charge and making around 60 watts. The 2500 mAh batteries will handle those amp levels well if you want to go that high with a single cell and they give you more run time on a charge. With a dual cell mod the amps get split between the cells so each one only has to do half the work.

Illumination Supply has the VTC4 for $6 USD ($8 CAD) and their shipping to Canada is very reasonable and quick (About 5 business days in my experience). They also have the Samsung 25R R5 for $5 and probably have some other notables also at good prices. I also trust them to sell me a good battery more than most vape shops I know of here. YMMV on that one though

Many a thanks on this info!
Definitely going to grab me a couple 25RR5


[emoji709]

 

[sonicbomb]

Sony is also rumored to not approve of the use of these cells outside of battery packs that come with extra safety protection. I don't doubt that, but I have never seen anything that is solid confirmation of it either.

Interesting letter from Sony regarding VTC batteries

 

[Ryedan]

Interesting letter from Sony regarding VTC batteries

sonicbomb, I've seen that letter before and read the files in the two links they referred to.

IMO they are obviously not serious about warning anyone of potential safety issues in using these cells in ecigs and are just covering their butts in what seems to me a very ineffectual way. OTOH I'm not a lawyer and maybe this kind of thing could actually help them if someone gets hurt with one of their cells.

These batteries have proven to be some of the safest options out there for us right now. If Sony were really worried about it a press release explaining things would settle it conclusively. Of course admitting to manufacturing a battery they think may be more dangerous than what the competition is making would probably really hurt their sales

 

[sonicbomb]

Yes it's legal ars3-covering. 18650s are not dangerous, but they can be used dangerously, something that some vapers choose to do.
As a top tier manufacturer it's impossible for them to control what application their cells are used for way down the retail chain. But they know there is a massive ongoing smear campaign against vaping and want to distance themselves from it.

 

[mike910mx]

With a dual cell mod the amps get split between the cells so each one only has to do half the work.

With a dual cell mod that is wired in a parallel circuit, the amps get split between the cells so each one only has to do half the work, and from my understanding those are relatively uncommon when it comes to "dual cell mods" that vapers would buy online or in shops.

EDIT: Maybe you were talking about something else entirely and I missed the point I don't know. It just sounded like a general statement was being made.

 

[Ryedan]

With a dual cell mod that is wired in a parallel circuit, the amps get split between the cells so each one only has to do half the work, and from my understanding those are relatively uncommon when it comes to "dual cell mods" that vapers would buy online or in shops.

EDIT: Maybe you were talking about something else entirely and I missed the point I don't know. It just sounded like a general statement was being made.

It doesn't matter if the cells are in series or parallel, as long as the mod's watt output (power) stays the same, the power is split between each cell.

 

[mike910mx]

It doesn't matter if the cells are in series or parallel, as long as the mod's watt output (power) stays the same, the power is split between each cell.

Yeah sorry about that.