Samsung 20R 22A 2000mAah 18650 Bench Retest Results...a good 20A battery that never overheated

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Mooch

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  • May 13, 2015
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    Tested at 10A-40A constant current and 30A-70A pulsed. These cells were donated for the purposes of testing thanks to the wonderful donations from so many of you. 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. My safety precautions are the ones I have elected to take and you should not assume they will protect you if you attempt to do any testing. Do the research and create your own testing methods and safety precautions.

    image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg


    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. Otherwise they would have listed the current rating with two numbers as other companies have done. Or they would have labeled the rating on the wrap as "pulse" or "burst". Battery buyers should not have to hunt down what the number on the wrap means. I will be testing batteries at the rating listed on the wrap and pointing out when they fail to meet that listed rating.


    Bottom Line
    In my opinion this is a good, accurately rated 22A 2000mAh battery. While its voltage sag is the same as the 25R at the start, its lower capacity means it delivers about 30% less vaping time down to 3.2V at 20A. For mechanical mod users its voltage when pulsed is a bit lower than the HE2, VTC4/5, and HB2/4/6.


    Continuous-Current Test Results
    image.png


    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.
    image.png image.png


    Comments
    • At 10A it reached a bit over 1900mAh. This is fantastic performance for a 2000mAh-rated cell operating at 10A. I am rating this cell at 2000mAh.
    • Its temperature at 15A was 65°C, way below the average for a cell operating at its CDR.
    • At 20A the temperature rose to 75°C. This is a a bit below the average for a cell operating at its CDR.
    • At 25A the temperature rose to 83°C. This is the upper limit for a cell operating at its CDR.
    • At 30A the temperature rose to 89°C. This is too high a temperature for a cell operating at its CDR. There is significant voltage sag indicating that it's operating way beyond its rating.
    • At 35A the temperature rose to 90°C. This is too high a temperature for a cell operating at its CDR. There is significant voltage sag indicating that it's operating way beyond its rating. The loss in capacity was significant.
    • At 40A the voltage quickly dropped to a useless level. The temperature peaked only at 66°C due to the very short run time.
    • I am setting a CDR of 22A for this cell since at this current level its operating temperature is at the average for a cell operating at its CDR. While operating any cell near its rated maximum current causes damage to the cell, I would expect decent cycle life from this cell at 22A.
    • 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 Safety Grades -- Picking a Safe Battery to Vape With | E-Cigarette Forum

    26650 Safety Grades and Pulse Performance Data | E-Cigarette Forum
     
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