so which is better high drain or the one above mentioned ... I understand the 18650 above is protected and has a nice 2600 mah but how does it compare to a high drain 18650?
The one pictured is fine and will handle all our applications (reg and low resistance) with room to spare. Problems occur when we start to stack
batteries. Although stacking batteries has been used for ions in the flashlight world, the current draw of the light bulb doesn't even come close to the extra exertion we vapers place on them. Read the current draw C or Amps required to push the load in 3 columns 3.7V, 6V and 7V:
- 1.5 Ohms = 2.5A, 4A and 4.7A
- 2.2 Ohms = 1.7A, 2.7A and 3.2A
- 3.5 Ohms = 1.1A, 1.7A and 2A
Folks are using batts with regards to heat generated or watts produced, going after the higher number. Hey higher number equates to more vapour right? Wrong! It does but at a great cost. Reduction in flavour and a greatly reduced battery and atty life.
- 1.5 Ohms = 9.1W
- 2.2 Ohms = 6W, 16W
- 3.5 Ohms = 3.9W, 10.3W and 14W
- 4.5 Ohms = 3W, 8W and 10.8W
- 5.2 Ohms= 2.6W, 6.8W, 9.3W
If the sweet spot is said to be between 6-12 Watts, then using the proper atty for the battery application will not only extend atty life, it will also extend the battery life by not stressing it.
I'm a 510 user. I use a 3.5 for 6V and a 5.2 for 7V. Most folks are now finding that the really sweet spot is around 4.5-5V, funny isn't it (5V data):
- 2.2 Ohms = 11.1W and 2.3A
- 3.5 Ohms = 7.1W and 1.4A
- 4.5 Ohms = 5.5W and 1.1A
- 5.2 Ohms = 4.7W and 0.9A
Most LI Ion batteries below 16340 have a maximum continuous discharge rate of 1.5C or 1.5A. This is where IMRs become useful because above that, the LI Ions meet our load demands. This is where battery longevity between recharges is more important.
- IMR 18650 1600mAh = 10C
- LI Ion 18650 2600mAh = 5.2C
LI Ion have more than enough capacity to handle our loads.
What stresses a battery is using it outside of its design characteristics, like using a 10440 for LR applications. It was never designed for that in mind. It has a continuous discharge capability of 0.5-1A (too lazy to find it again) and yet we use it for vaping, and that is why folks say the 10440 suck.
Addendum: Stacking batteries doesn't dble the carrying capacity of the battery. e.g turn a 1C batt into a 2C batt, only the voltage is dbled. That being said batteries in parallel can stand a greater load because they share the load, and their longevity between recharges nearly dbled and, you could run a LR atty on a 14500 (1C) batt, at the cost of battery length between recharges, but the parallel set can withstand the load. But that only produces 3.7V? <------ most folks will not use batts in this fashion. We want more power Ug.
16340 is the fence IMHO. It used to be 14500, but I have since learned for LR applications, to throw in the 16340 as well. So in summation if you are or intend to use a LR atty (read 1.5 Ohms) then go with IMRs for all application using a 16340 or lower and LI Ion for the bigger batts, and of course my vote goes to AW anything.