You Should Know More about 18650 Battery Specifications

At present, it seems like everything we use utilizes lithium-ion batteries. Isn’t, right·  You will find the batteries based on the lithium-ion technology in your cell phone or smartphone, electronics, LED flashlights and many more. 

There are different types of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.  The 18650 battery is one of the types of lithium-ion rechargeable battery. These modern lithium-ion cells are not standardized like the rechargeable battery like AA.  Therefore, it is important for you to know about 18650 battery specifications so that you can pick the right one for your application.

In this guide, we will tell you about what a 18650 battery is, and what the important specifications of the battery you need to know. 

What 18650 battery specifications do you need to know· 

18650 batteries are found more and more in electronics. This lithium-ion rechargeable battery has “18650 cell” as its proper name. The 18650 battery comes with two types - protected and unprotected. There is just a slight difference between the types. 

Protected 18650 batteries come with an electronic circuit. You will find the circuit in the cell packaging or battery casing and the circuit role is to protect the battery cell from problems such as over-discharge, over-charge, short-circuit, and over-current. That’s why the protected battery is much safer as compared to a 18650 unprotected battery (less probably to overheat and fire). It is also the reason why unprotected batteries are cheaper than protected batteries.

Before you purchase 18650 battery for your application, it is quite important to know about its specifications. This will help you know whether the battery is appropriate to use in your application. Here, we are going to mention the specifications of the battery you need to know:

1. Size 

In 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery, 18 indicate for 18mm diameter and 65 indicates for 65mm length and 0 signifies that it is the cylindrical battery. However, the standard size for these batteries is considered “18.4mm in diameter and 65mm in height”. This cylindrical lithium-ion battery follows the general nomenclature and standards that are defined for every cylindrical battery. 

Plus, 18650 battery vary in size and it is either flat top or button top. Button top batteries protrude slightly. On the other hand, flat top batteries will sit perfectly flush. 

2. Capacity

Another significant specification of 18650 battery is capacity and the capacity is measured in mAh or milliamp hours. These types of batteries come with 1200mAH - 3600mAh capacity. In addition to it, the capacity is supported by vape box mods that further include mech and regulated box mods. 

Besides capacity, there is another remarkable specification of 18650 battery and it is maximum continuous discharge and it is measured in A or amperes. 

The important thing you need to note that high-capacity batteries have low maximum continuous discharge. Thus, high-amp batteries have a low capacity. In a general, highest-capacity for 18650 batteries is ~3500mAh and highest-amp is 30A.  

3. Voltage 

In general, the 18650 batteries are rated as 3.6, 3.7 and 3.55 volts. These ratings are quite the same. However, the complete voltage range for these batteries is between 2.5 and 4.2 volts. Plus, it is also suggested that you should avoid going below 3 volts. 

It is because if you go below or above while charging or discharging the batter can lead to heat generation, heat explosion or fire. These are little things you need to consider while using the battery. Otherwise, you can experience a disaster situation that can harm you and your application too.

4. Shape 

Thin and flat metal sheets that include the cathodes and anodes are piled one on the other and after that, rolled together so tightly like a jelly-roll. In the charge mode, lithium-ions move between these layers in one particular direction. In discharge mode, these lithium-ions move between these layers, but in the opposite direction. 

5. Weight 

An average and genuine 18650 batteries will generally weigh about 45g. In fact, the genuine ones don’t weigh less than 42 g. However, there are some genuine 18650 batteries that weigh more than 50 g. fortunately, good brands or battery manufacturers tell the battery weight. 

These are important specifications of 18650 battery you should know before you make any purchase whether online or offline. When you the specification of the battery, the chances to buy the right one for your application increases. 

What if you know less about 18650 battery specifications· 

Wondering what if you don’t know much about 18650 batteries·  Well, it is important to know about the battery specification before you purchase it so that you can avoid buying the fake one. If you don’t have much knowledge about the battery, or don’t understand what does battery specifications means, then you can still avoid buying the fake battery. 

However, there is no doubt that battery scammers these days are quite good at what they do. It is now pretty difficult to differentiate between fake and genuine one. From the packaging to the online listings - they literally look like the actual deal. 

But, the good news is that you can determine whether the battery is fake or not by its weight. Reputable and reliable battery manufacturers have made their battery weight available somewhere online. While buying 18650 battery, you just need to cross-check the battery weight with the manufacturer’s specification. Most battery manufacturers prefer mentioning battery specifications on the social media platform like Facebook. 

How to use 18650 battery properly according to the specifications· 

When a 18650 rechargeable lithium-ion battery is completed charged and discharged, the battery completes one cycle. These batteries can be charged up to 4.2 V and discharged between 2 and 3V according to the specification of the battery for cut-off voltage. 

In order to be safe, it is recommended that you should never discharge 18650 battery lower than 3V unless you are well aware of your battery’s specification. 

Discharging can occur anytime you use the 18650 battery for power. In order to charge your battery, it is recommended that you should use the right charger for rechargeable lithium-ion cells. 

That’s all on 18650 specifications. As you can see that specifications of the battery can help you to purchase the right one for your application.