These tests below only note my personal ESTIMATED ratings for the batteries I tested at the time I tested them. Any battery that is not a genuine Samsung, Sony, Murata, LG, Panasonic, Molicel, or Sanyo can change at any time! This can be one of the hazards of using “rewrapped” or batteries from other manufacturers so carefully research any battery you are considering using before purchasing.
Misusing or mishandling lithium-ion batteries can pose a SERIOUS RISK of property damage, personal injury, or even death. Never use them outside of a fully protected battery pack and you use them at your own risk. Never exceed the battery’s true continuous discharge rating (CDR), never let it get colder than 0°C or hotter than 60°C, and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition. Never use a battery that is physically damaged in any way.
Testing batteries at their limits is dangerous and should never be attempted by anyone who has not thoroughly studied the dangers involved, understands the risks, has the proper equipment, and takes all appropriate safety precautions.
If the battery has only one current rating number, or if it only says "max", then I have to assume the battery is rated at that current level for any type of discharge, including continuous.
Test Results
It’s been over a year since I tested the pre-production P45B’s and I wanted to test the latest production cells to see if there was any difference in performance.
The 2022-dated cells I tested (“M” in the date code) performed essentially the same as the 2021-dated pre-production cells. Occasionally a manufacturer can slightly improve performance before production but sometimes they just tweak cycle life. I do not know if these cells have improved cycle life though (versus pre-production cells).
The Molicel P45B is still the overall best performing round “power” cells we can buy and even runs for longer at lower power levels than some 5000mAh “energy” cells. Check the Ratings and E-Scores Table (link below) for more information.
The cells I tested delivered 4375mAh and 4401mAh. One cell was slightly below the 4400mAh minimum capacity rating and the other was just over it. I’m rating them at 4400mAh since differences in my equipment and Molicel’s could easily explain my slightly lower capacity measurements.
The one-page datasheet for these cells lists a 50A rating but it is not a continuous rating! It is temperature-limited to 80°C so when the cell gets that hot you must stop. Since the Molicel P45B reaches about 80°C at between 35A and 40A (down to 2.5V) I will be giving it an estimated 35A continuous and a 45A temperature-limited rating. At 50A the voltage sag is pretty large and operation at this level will quickly age the cell. Never let the cell go over 80°C. for any use!
18650 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
20700/21700 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs
Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic
I want to work for the community full time! If you feel what I do is worth a couple dollars a month and you would like early access to battery availability, battery testing and news, and a say in what I test, then please consider becoming a patron and supporting my testing efforts: Battery Mooch | creating battery and device tests | Patreon.
To see how other cells have tested check out this link: Links To All 21700, 26650, 18350, 18500 Battery Tests
Misusing or mishandling lithium-ion batteries can pose a SERIOUS RISK of property damage, personal injury, or even death. Never use them outside of a fully protected battery pack and you use them at your own risk. Never exceed the battery’s true continuous discharge rating (CDR), never let it get colder than 0°C or hotter than 60°C, and keep the plastic wrap and top insulating ring in perfect condition. Never use a battery that is physically damaged in any way.
Testing batteries at their limits is dangerous and should never be attempted by anyone who has not thoroughly studied the dangers involved, understands the risks, has the proper equipment, and takes all appropriate safety precautions.
If the battery has only one current rating number, or if it only says "max", then I have to assume the battery is rated at that current level for any type of discharge, including continuous.
Test Results
It’s been over a year since I tested the pre-production P45B’s and I wanted to test the latest production cells to see if there was any difference in performance.
The 2022-dated cells I tested (“M” in the date code) performed essentially the same as the 2021-dated pre-production cells. Occasionally a manufacturer can slightly improve performance before production but sometimes they just tweak cycle life. I do not know if these cells have improved cycle life though (versus pre-production cells).
The Molicel P45B is still the overall best performing round “power” cells we can buy and even runs for longer at lower power levels than some 5000mAh “energy” cells. Check the Ratings and E-Scores Table (link below) for more information.
The cells I tested delivered 4375mAh and 4401mAh. One cell was slightly below the 4400mAh minimum capacity rating and the other was just over it. I’m rating them at 4400mAh since differences in my equipment and Molicel’s could easily explain my slightly lower capacity measurements.
The one-page datasheet for these cells lists a 50A rating but it is not a continuous rating! It is temperature-limited to 80°C so when the cell gets that hot you must stop. Since the Molicel P45B reaches about 80°C at between 35A and 40A (down to 2.5V) I will be giving it an estimated 35A continuous and a 45A temperature-limited rating. At 50A the voltage sag is pretty large and operation at this level will quickly age the cell. Never let the cell go over 80°C. for any use!
18650 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
18650 Battery Ratings and Performance Table
You are responsible for your own safety! These batteries are designed, manufactured, and sold only for use in a battery pack with the proper protection circuitry and battery management system. They were not designed for vaping (electronic...
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
20700/21700 Ratings and E-Scores Table:
20700 + 21700 Battery Ratings and Performance Table
You are responsible for your own safety! These batteries are designed, manufactured, and sold only for use in a battery pack with the proper protection circuitry and battery management system. They were not designed for vaping (electronic...
www.e-cigarette-forum.com
Continuous Current Discharge Graphs
Ratings and Performance Specs Graphic
I want to work for the community full time! If you feel what I do is worth a couple dollars a month and you would like early access to battery availability, battery testing and news, and a say in what I test, then please consider becoming a patron and supporting my testing efforts: Battery Mooch | creating battery and device tests | Patreon.
To see how other cells have tested check out this link: Links To All 21700, 26650, 18350, 18500 Battery Tests
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