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 continuously.
Bottom Line
This is a great 20A continuous battery that exceeds its 2500mAh rated capacity, meeting its nominal capacity of 2600mAh. They were purchased from www.illumn.com and are are identical in appearance and performance to genuine VTC5's. The VTC5 hits as hard as the Samsung 25R5 and runs a bit cooler. Due to its higher capacity the VTC5 runs a bit longer than the 25R before needing recharging.
Sony VTC5 Capacity Ratings
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
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
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 is a great 20A continuous battery that exceeds its 2500mAh rated capacity, meeting its nominal capacity of 2600mAh. They were purchased from www.illumn.com and are are identical in appearance and performance to genuine VTC5's. The VTC5 hits as hard as the Samsung 25R5 and runs a bit cooler. Due to its higher capacity the VTC5 runs a bit longer than the 25R before needing recharging.
Sony VTC5 Capacity Ratings
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 2480mAh. This is fantastic performance for a 2500mAh-rated cell operating at 10A so I am rating this cell at 2600mAh. This is the nominal capacity rating for the VTC5 so my results are typically what you will get.
- Its temperature at 15A continuous was 68°C, significantly below the average for a cell operating at its continuous discharge rating (CDR).
- At 20A continuous the temperature rose to 82°C. This is at the upper limit of the average for a cell operating at its CDR.
- At 25A continuous the temperature rose to 96°C. This is significantly above the average for a cell operating at its CDR.
- At 30A continuous the temperature rose to 107°C. This is much, much too high a temperature to set this current level as the CDR and exceeds my 100°C safety limit.
- At the 35A continuous the temperature rose to 116°C, significantly exceeding my safety limit of 100°C.
- I am setting a CDR of 20A for this cell since at this current level its operating temperature is at the upper limit of the average for a cell operating 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 20A 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.
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
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