Every cell in this world is different. Everything is speculation until you test the specific cell you have in front of you. There are gems, and duds for every lot. To put a blanket around one brand, or one type of cell...simply means that you are buying in to the marketing hype. I don't mean this as a stab on ANYONE. It's just a fact.
It doesn't matter who puts their shrink wrap around a raw cell. Physics are physics, and brand loyalty does not change universal truths?
not to ruffle feathers.....but a 25c rating on a 3100mah battery would be equal to 77.5 amps. The only batteries on the market doing this right now are Exotic Li-Poly's. That number is off. The safe limits for a Li-Ion are around 2c. Or at least this is what my testing shows. Safe ratings for an IMR style cell (Lithium Manganese) is MAYBE around 5c (and that is pushing it IMO). Let's do the math.
3100maH 2c = 6.2 amps (I doubt the protection PCB will even allow this kind of draw)
2000maH 5c = 10 amps (no protection PCB to stop you from destroying this cell)
Neither cell will last long under that kind of abuse. An NO pv on the market needs that kind of current anyhow. So the non IMR is a clear winner, because it will outlast the IMR by roughly 1.5 amp hours.
Even the most abusive boost regulation circuitry (like the lava tube) is going to lock out the load well before you hit the limits of either battery. The limit in the lava tube is the inductor, and consequently the Voltage Regulation IC. That is also assuming that all "lava tubes" are the same. They aren't, you can order the exact same thing that Volcano sells as a "lava tube" from more than one offshore manufacturer. Trust me they are different from batch to batch. Just like "ego" devices. They all come off the same production lines, and they use whatever parts happen to be sitting in the bins in front of them.
I am sure this will piss some people off, but it's reality. I'm only chiming in on this because a friend asked. I have a bad feeling I have opened the flood gates for a truly epic sh!tstorm......flame away
the 25 was a typo sorry,,,, It's becoming a tougher choice now for me to use the IMR or these 3100's where I can because of there specs and protection vs the non protection of the IMR though is is a safer chemistry it can still vent.
