I agree with Beckdg in regards to the fact that the battery manufacturers are not exactly truthful or transparent regarding the specifications of the batteries that look attractive to vapers currently on the market.
There are several factors in play here.
One of the most basic and frequently made misconceptions is that mAh ratings are a standard spec and hold true across the industry.
They are not.
Panasonic rates their batteries with total mAh stats but achieves these specs by discharging cells to 2.5v. This is a full volt lower than any battery used in a mech can be practically used at and most regulated devices will will cease to function at 3.4 to 3.2v.
Using the discharge curves from a reputable, independent testing database Akkudb (
AkkuDB), Panasonic batteries derive their high mAh specs by putting out respectable power well below what a person using a personal vaporizer will use. Most Panasonic's hang on for a long time at low voltages but so not do so well providing high discharge time at voltages from 4.2 to 3.2v. This voltage range is where a typical vaper is going to need strong battery perfomance and not where a Panasonic excels.
The Panasonic NCR18650PF will only provide roughly 11250 mAh to 3.4v discharged @ 5A) as evidenced in this chart:
AkkuDB
The NCR18650BE and the NCR18650B perform even worse regarding mAh in the range we use them in.
Efest is greatly overstating the ratings of the NCR18650BE that they areselling and marketing as a 20A, 3100 mAh battery.
In regards to the Sony VTC5 batteries, they do provide strong performance in the range of voltage that we as vapers run them at, as do the LG 18650HE2 and the Samsung INR18650-25R.
The troubling aspect of the 30a rated sony is that when it is used continuously at a high discharge rate, it will exceed it's maximum temperature spec doing so. This falls well short of the sony really being a 30a max battery and staying within it's specifications without external cooling. (
AkkuDB).
The sony will provide close to 1400 mAh down to 3.4v at 5a (
AkkuDB)
The LG ICR18650HE2 wil provide 1363mAh down to 3.4v @ 5A Pretty close to the Sony.(
AkkuDB)
The Samsung InR18650-25R will provide 1427 mAh to 3.4v @5A (
AkkuDB)
With these tests available, the 20A Samsung and LG batteries will perform well. As well as a Sony in fact.
Also with these tests, The VTC5 shows that it will overheat before the "lesser" 20A (when discharged at 20A) batteries when it used at 2/3 of it's stated ratings yet provide about the same longevity.
Since my lowest builds are above 0.3 Ohms (.55 to .44 ohms), I feel that the LG and the Samsung are perfectly good batteries in my applications and in fact in use by me, seem to perform better than the higher mAh and Max continuous amp rated Sony.
As a bonus, the LG and the Samsung are available for much less money ($8) and are not hard to source nor often counterfeited.
I have a half a dozen VTC5s and 4 VTC4's on hand if I feel the need to sub ohm lower than I usually do and am glad I have them, but, I bought them before the shortage/panic set in, so at least I have some.
I don't feel comfortable calling them 30A batteries however as the testing shows that they will struggle to meet published specifications.
It seems battery specs are fudged quite a bit and am glad independent test results exist to aid me in purchasing the batteries I am interested in.
I do feel like I beat my head against a wall most days when people insist that using batteries beyond the stated max amp limits is ok and acceptable when the current "king" of high discharge batteries fails to live up to its specifications.
. Mine rarely get luke warm unless Im chain vaping, but usually my stupid drip tip is scalding before that. Seriously need to get a better one or just go back to no drip tip.
