In the previous part, we talked about 18650 batteries and how to differentiate between real batteries with a rating of over 30A and fake ratings. In this part four, let's talk about the real rating of batteries and whether batteries with fake ratings are really safe.
So what is the real norm?
The amperage rating is something we need to look at to decide if the battery we are using is a good choice for our vaping style (compare it with other batteries to know more). But often manufacturers do not let us find this information, some companies print this index right on the packaging, some companies force us to go to their website to check, some companies do not print it anywhere.
If they don't say what the battery rating is, assume it's the amp rating. Many companies just put a number on the battery and hope you think it's the amperage rating.
- There are two important things you must remember when trying to find out whether the true rating of a battery is real or not…
+ Currently there is no 18650 battery with a current rating above 30A. I also have not found a 26650 battery with a current rating above 30A.
+ No 18650 battery with a capacity of 3000mAh or more has a rating above 20A.
So if you see any 18650 battery with a rating above 30A on the case, you know it is a meaningless surge rating. If you see a 3000mAh (or more) 18650 battery with a rating above 20A, it is a surge rating.
Currently no 18650 battery has passed 40, these numbers are just virtual indexes
“Don't assume that the stores selling them know the real rating of the batteries they are selling.”
Most of them just use the rating that the company gives them, because they don't have time to test all the batteries they sell.
Check the battery company website, look for test results online, check discussion forums, you may find the actual rating of the battery somewhere. If not, assume they are 15-20A rated until you find the correct result. Most of the overrated batteries I have tested are rated at 15-20A.
So are batteries with such "virtual" indexes safe to use?
Can batteries rated at 35A or higher handle high voltage? In theory, yes. Most high current ratings are just pulse ratings mistaken for current ratings. But this means that those batteries can only be used at that current for a short period of time. You might think that doesn’t matter much since we’re only vaping for a few seconds, but it’s just not always safe to use them.
Since most companies (not the Big 4) overstate battery ratings or refer to the pulse rating as the amperage rating, we don’t know if we can safely run those batteries continuously. And this can be a big problem if we have a regulated device that turns on automatically or a mech mod and its power button gets stuck or accidentally pressed while it’s in its case. Not knowing the true rating of a battery can lead to the battery releasing toxic and hot fumes inside your device, and that’s not a good thing.
If you don't care about this, you can still use batteries with "virtual" numbers up to their voltage rating… if that rating is real.
“A lot of the batteries I tested didn't even reach their true voltage rating.”
Most of these batteries with a current rating of 15-20A can reach pulses of up to 40A without any problems. What you need to remember is that before using these batteries, you must maintain the device carefully and check the resistance of the coil .
So what if we already have some batteries with “fake” ratings? In my opinion, it is best to replace them with Samsung, Sony, LG batteries as soon as possible. In my testing, most of the batteries with false ratings have a minimum rating of 15A, the rest are mostly 20A. Just keep this in mind when preparing coils for mech mods or choosing modes for regular devices and you will be fine.
How long do batteries with this magnification last?
Unfortunately, it depends. Some batteries can handle the pulses without any problems, while others can overheat before they reach that point. It also depends a lot on how you vape . Do you vape continuously with deep puffs? That will overheat your battery faster than someone who takes occasional puffs.
Let the temperature of the battery be your guide and try something below the given rating. If you have a 40A battery, try using a wattage or coil resistance that doesn’t pull more than 30A and see how hot the battery gets. If you can’t hold it in your hand for 30 seconds, it’s too hot. If not, go up to 35A. Keep going until you reach the wattage you want to vape or the battery gets too hot.
But you also have to remember, if you vape continuously at a discharge rate higher than the battery current, it will discharge hot gas even if your device has no problem.
Are there any real 30A batteries?
Up to this point, there have only been 4…
- LG HB2 1500mAh
- LG HB6 1500mAh
- Sony VTC 3 1500mAh
- Sony VTC 4 2100mAh
Sony VTC4 has a real 30A index
Compare these 4 batteries to other batteries like LG HG2 which has 20A/3000mAh and you can see the difference between battery capacity and current rating. So if you want high capacity then there is no high current rating and vice versa. Each type requires internal structure and chemistry in the battery. You can not have both in the same 18650 battery.
If you see a battery that has both a high current rating and a high capacity, check the test results or the description before buying. Most likely one of the two numbers is exaggerated.
What will our future hold?
Will there be 35A, 40A rated 18650 batteries in the future? Or even 30A/3000mAh 18650 batteries? I hope so!
Although battery technology is constantly improving, we will still have to wait a long time. The market for high-capacity batteries is smaller than low-capacity batteries, high-capacity batteries for laptops, medical devices, etc. But I will continue to experiment and hope to soon find a new step forward in battery performance for vapers .
So vape safely and be careful with batteries rated higher than 30A.
Find yourself a good charger
Get yourself a multi-port charger for your e-cigarette batteries. Chargers like the Nitecore I2, I4 or the Digi D2 or D4.
Choose reputable battery stores
Buying batteries from reputable stores is extremely important, because there are many fake batteries floating on the market, these batteries are of poor quality and extremely dangerous to use. You should make sure the place you buy is a reputable store, specializing in selling genuine batteries.
Source: Vaping360
Author: Mooch
Translator: The Vape Club
