MXJO Yellow 35A 2500mAh 18650 Bench Retest Results...a ridiculously overrated 20A/2400mAh battery

These cells were purchased with funds donated by the vaping community for the purposes of testing. Thank you! To prevent any confusion with the eGo-type "batteries", I use the term "cell" here to refer to a single 18350, 18650, 26650, etc.

While the test results are hard data, the conclusions and recommendations I make based on these tests are only my personal opinion based on my criteria for setting a rating. Carefully research any cell 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.

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 an overrated and rewrapped cell which I am rating at 20A. At its 35A rating it became hot enough to boil water and only delivered about 100mAh down to 3.2V. Its capacity is 2400mAh which is 100mAh lower than when I tested this cell one year ago. They might be using a slightly lower grade cell now.


The 18650 ratings table has been updated to include this cell.


Continuous-Current Test Results



This version compared to the one I tested last year



Pulse-Current Test Results
Pulse testing was not done since this is an LG HE4 rewrap. The pulse test results for the HE4 are here: LG HE4 20A 2500mAh 18650 Bench Retest Results


Comments

• At 10A continuous it reached just under 2200mAh. This is terrible performance for a 2500mAh cell but is average performance for a 2400mAh cell so I am rating it at 2400mAh.
• At 15A continuous the temperature rose to 71°C. This is below the average temperature of a cell operating at its continuous discharge rating (CDR).
• At 20A continuous the temperature rose to 81°C. This is just above the average temperature of a cell operating at its CDR and is an indication that we are operating near its true rating.
• At 25A continuous the temperature rose to 93°C. This is way above the average temperature of a cell operating at its continuous discharge rating (CDR) and is an indication that we are operating above its true rating.
• At 30A continuous the temperature rose to 100°C. This temperature is ridiculously high and the voltage is sagging a lot.
• At 35A continuous the temperature rose to 108°C. This temperature is ridiculously high and clearly indicates this is not a 35A cell. This is only 2°C below my threshold for declaring this a dangerous cell. It only delivered about 100mAh down to 3.2V.
• I am setting a CDR of 20A for this cell. 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.

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
https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18350-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7566/
https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/18650-safety-grades-picking-a-safe-battery-to-vape-with.7447/
https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blog-entry/26650-safety-grades-and-pulse-performance-data.7554//