These cells were acquired to test through generous donations for this purpose. I express my gratitude for the support. To avoid any confusion with eGo-type batteries, I use the term "cell" here to refer to individual units such as 18650, 26650, etc.
Disclaimer
The statements, conclusions, and recommendations I present based on these tests reflect my opinion. It is highly advisable to thoroughly research any battery pack you are considering before purchasing.
Testing cells at their maximum limits poses significant risks and should never, under any circumstances, be attempted by individuals who have not extensively studied the associated dangers and how to mitigate them.
A note regarding current ratings and my testing
If the cell displays only one current rating number or explicitly states "max discharging current," it can be inferred that the company claims the cell can handle discharging at that specific current level in any manner, including continuous discharge.
What is the point of this battery?
The VTC5 battery is an exceptional 20A continuous cell that surpasses its 2500mAh rated capacity and aligns with its nominal capacity of 2600mAh. They were procured from www.illumn.com and exhibited an appearance and performance identical to genuine VTC5 cells. The VTC5 delivers hits as powerful as the Samsung 25R5 while operating at slightly cooler temperatures. Due to its higher capacity, the VTC5 lasts longer than the 25R before requiring recharging.
These tests demonstrate the cell's performance at higher pulsed current levels. If you operate your mod at these levels, please be aware that there is a risk of overheating and potentially venting the vape battery in case of a malfunction or accidental button press on your mechanical mod.
Sony vtc5 18650 2600mAh 20A Battery Review
At 10A continuous, the cell achieved a capacity of approximately 2480mAh. This outstanding performance for a 2500mAh-rated cell operating at 10A led me to rate this cell at 2600mAh. This aligns with the nominal capacity rating for the VTC5 like VTC4, and my results are typically consistent with this rating.
The temperature at 15A is continuous and was recorded at 68°C, significantly below the average temperature for a cell operating at its constant discharge rating (CDR).
At 20A continuous, the temperature rose to 82°C, reaching the upper limit of the average temperature for a cell operating at its CDR.
During 25A continuous discharge, the temperature reached 96°C, significantly exceeding the average temperature for a cell operating at its CDR.
At 30A continuous, the temperature rose to 107°C, which is excessively high and far beyond my 100°C safety limit. Setting this current level as the CDR would be inappropriate.
At the specified 35A continuous discharge, the temperature rose to 116°C, significantly surpassing my safety limit of 100°C.
I am establishing a CDR of 20A for this battery cell since its operating temperature at this current level is at the upper limit of the average for a cell operating at its CDR. While using any cell near its maximum rated current level causes damage, I expect this cell to exhibit a decent cycle life at 20A continuous.
Pulsed discharges have been included in the tests; however, I still need to define pass/fail criteria for pulse testing. The shots were conducted with a 5-second on/30-second off cycle, down to 2.5V. One chart presents the complete discharge at each level, while the other chart focuses on the initial 5 minutes to facilitate observation of voltage sag at different current levels.
