MXJO Yellow 20A 3500mAh 18650 Bench Retest Results...ridiculously overrated, ruined at 20A!

[Mooch]

#6 in the MXJO series...shameful.

These cells were purchased with funds donated by the vaping community for the purposes of testing. Thank you! To prevent any confusion with the eGo-type "batteries", I use the term "cell" here to refer to a single 18350, 18650, 26650, etc.

While the test results are hard data, the conclusions and recommendations I make based on these tests are only my personal opinion based on my criteria for setting a rating. Carefully research any cell 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.

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 rewrapped cell has exaggerated current and capacity ratings. When discharged continuously at its claimed 20A rating an internal protection device is triggered at around 100°C, permanently disabling the cell. This protects it from venting but it renders the cell useless. I am rating it at 10A/3300mAh. These MXJO's are identical in appearance and performance to the 10A/3300mAh Panasonic NCR18650GA.

The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.


Continuous-Current Test Results



Pulse-Current Test Results



Comments

• At 5A continuous it reached about 3000mAh. This is lousy performance for a 3500mAh cell but about average for a 3300mAh high internal resistance cell at 5A so I am rating it at 3300mAh.
• At 10A continuous the temperature rose to 70°C. This is a few degrees below the average temperature of a cell operating at its continuous discharge rating (CDR) and is an indication that we are near its true rating.
• At 15A continuous the temperature rose to 95°C. This is incredibly hot and clearly shows that we are operating at above the cell's CDR.
• At 20A continuous both cells shut off at around 100°C. While a voltage could be read from both after they shut off they would not accept a charge and instantly plunged down to a fraction of a volt even if discharged at 1A. They were both rendered useless by a single discharge at the cell's 20A claimed rating.

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
https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/f...afety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7566/
https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/f...des-picking-a-safe-battery-to-vape-with.7447/
https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/f...safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7554

 

[sonicbomb]

Shameful indeed, one of the worst to date.

 

[Joergl100]

3500mAh@20A...no way. As 26650...ok.