These cells were purchased by me for testing using donations made for that purpose. 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 continuously.
Bottom Line
This mustard-colored version of the HB4 is a great 30A continuous, 1600mAh battery that outperforms the brown HB4 in voltage and capacity. It exceeds the VTC4's starting pulse voltage and equals the Aspire 1800's voltage.
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 of, the battery if there is a malfunction or accidental pressing of your mechanical mod's button.
Comparison between the brown HB4 and the mustard HB4
Comments
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
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 continuously.
Bottom Line
This mustard-colored version of the HB4 is a great 30A continuous, 1600mAh battery that outperforms the brown HB4 in voltage and capacity. It exceeds the VTC4's starting pulse voltage and equals the Aspire 1800's voltage.
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 of, the battery if there is a malfunction or accidental pressing of your mechanical mod's button.
Comparison between the brown HB4 and the mustard HB4
Comments
- At 10A continuous it reached over 1450mAh. This is too high for a 1500mAh-rated cell operating at 10A so I am rating this cell at 1600mAh.
- At 15A continuous the temperature rose to 59°C. This is significantly below the average temperature for a cell operating at its continuous discharge rating (CDR).
- At 20A continuous the temperature rose to 66°C. This is still a lot below the average temperature for a cell operating at its CDR.
- At 25A continuous the temperature rose to 77°C. This is just below the average temperature for a cell operating at its CDR, indicating that we're discharging near the cell's rating.
- At 30A continuous the temperature rose to 83°C. This is at the upper limit for the average temperature for a cell operating at its CDR and is a typical temperature for an LG cell at its CDR.
- At 35A continuous the temperature rose to 96°C. This is way to high a temperature to set this current level as the CDR. It is just below my safety limit of 100°C.
- I am setting a CDR of 30A for this cell since at this current level the operating temperature is at the upper limit for a cell operating at its CDR and is typical for a LG cell at its CDR. While operating any cell near its rated maximum current level causes damage to the cell, I would expect decent cycle life from this cell at 30A continuous.
- 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.
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
Last edited by a moderator: