So what's up with 18500?

Has anyone come up with a capacity higher than 1500 mAh for the 18500 cell? They have been such a loser over the last 10 years, I keep waiting for them to evolve and they don't.

It has gotten to the point where a single 18650 has the capacity of 2x18500 - though not the voltage of course.

would be really nice to have at least 2000 mAh per 18500 cell. Real mAh, not ad'ed.

My battery database shows the highest capacity 18500 to be 2000mAh. Panasonic NCR18500A ($5) or as a Keepower protected rewrap of that ($6.50).

etc said:

Has anyone come up with a capacity higher than 1500 mAh for the 18500 cell?

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Try these.
Not much higher than 1500mAh but still higher.

Tagged for interest; after wearing out one set (or maybe two?) of the classic AW 18500's in my bored C3, that light has been collecting dust for a while now.

My only dropin that /requires/ 2xLiIon voltages is the M90N (purchased long ago from the OP, coincidentally), so the bored SF C3 was a perfect pairing.
And yes, 2x18650 has far more energy certainly, but isn't applicable to.the M90N & C3 combo. And the Malkoff is reasonably efficient, so doesn't need maximum capacity behind it anyway.

will do

parametrek said:

My battery database shows the highest capacity 18500 to be 2000mAh. Panasonic NCR18500A ($5) or as a Keepower protected rewrap of that ($6.50).

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Yes. I have those too and I still really like the 18500 size despite the power and longevity compromise as I consider 18650 just a little too big for my pockets. But they're okay for a jacket pocket, fanny pack, regular day pack, etc. And I use 18650s in my Soshine power pack.

Are they actual 2000 mAh or is this just marketing?

etc said:

Are they actual 2000 mAh or is this just marketing?

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I have a few 2000mAh 18500 in my comparator and I would say that 2000mAh is a fair rating:
https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Panasonic NCR18500A 2040mAh (Green) UK.html
https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Keeppower 18500 2000mAh (Black) 2015 UK.html
https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/EnerPower 18500 2000mAh (Black) UK.html

I see

Its a lot like the 17650 cell. There is not a lot of demand, so the marketing pressure is not there to cause the research staff to work on increasing capacity. And since the 18500 cell's main purpose in life was to replace three CR123A cells in incandescent lights, that need has for the most part passed.

It is an ideal size for an EDC light with a mechanical switch, however the 2000mAh Panasonic is the highest capacity around so far, but only good up to 3-4A range, though that is plenty for me.
Still waiting for an 18500 with the material inside of a LG MJ1 or the 1100mAh Aspires/Keeppowers/Vapcell 18350s

etc said:

Has anyone come up with a capacity higher than 1500 mAh for the 18500 cell? They have been such a loser over the last 10 years, I keep waiting for them to evolve and they don't.

It has gotten to the point where a single 18650 has the capacity of 2x18500 - though not the voltage of course.

would be really nice to have at least 2000 mAh per 18500 cell. Real mAh, not ad'ed.

Click to expand...

I don't know if they're really 2000 mAh, but I can say they do last noticeably longer than the other 18500's that I have.

Maybe them being used in solar lights will help as they become more and more used.

At one point there were a single lamp with a AA all in a line like soldiers decorating peoples yards and decks, but now they have all kinds of confurations of shapes, animals and other decorations all tied to a power source with LifePo4 18500's fueling them.

Perhaps yard lighting will build more demand for the 18500.