Discovering the Greatest 18650 Li-Ion Battery for FPV Lengthy Vary Flying and Tools

18650 Li-ion cell is a well-liked battery alternative for each lengthy vary FPV drones and gear corresponding to FPV goggles and radios. Nevertheless, with so many choices in the marketplace, selecting the right 18650 cells will be overwhelming. I examined numerous 18650 batteries, evaluating their efficiency and true capability to search out the best batteries that supply lengthy flight instances and dependable efficiency.

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Why 18650 Li-ion Batteries?

Selecting the best battery is essential for optimizing the efficiency of FPV gear. The 18650 Li-ion battery emerges as a best choice as a result of its stability of vast availability, longevity, and cost-effectiveness. It’s significantly favored by long-range FPV pilots for its superior energy-to-weight ratio in comparison with conventional LiPo batteries. Though it might not ship the excessive present output of LiPo batteries, it’s satisfactory for drones designed for effectivity and endurance.

For a deeper dive into the professionals and cons of Li-ion batteries over LiPo, take a look at this publish: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/

Left: 4S 1500mah LiPo; Proper: 4S 3500mAh Li-ion

To sum it up, right here’s why 18650 batteries are most well-liked for FPV drones and equipment:

• Capability and Effectivity: They provide substantial vitality storage in a compact type issue.
• Rechargeability: These batteries are able to a whole bunch of cost cycles with out important degradation.
• Availability: They’re extensively obtainable and used throughout numerous digital gadgets and instruments.

Serious about long-range flying? Take a look at the following pointers: https://oscarliang.com/long-range-fpv-flying-mini-quad/

The Contenders

To seek out one of the best, I examined a wide range of 18650 batteries from respected manufacturers, contemplating completely different specs for a well-rounded assessment.

* Value in response to my native reseller on the time of publishing.

** Weight is measured on my own

Testing Methodology

To find out one of the best batteries, I centered on two key efficiency indicators:

• Capability: Measured by discharging batteries at a gradual price (2A) from 4.2V per cell right down to 2.9V to precisely gauge their vitality storage capabilities.
• Voltage Sag: Assessed by discharging at a quicker price (12A) from 4.2V per cell to 2.9V to judge their efficiency below load all through the discharge cycle.

In case you might be curious what testing gear I used, it was the SkyRC BD350 discharger.

Outcomes and Suggestions

When evaluating the discharge price, the Molicel P30B and P28A stood out for delivering constant energy, particularly below heavy load, making them perfect for high-demand lengthy vary FPV flying. The Sony VTC5A and VTC6 have been shut contenders, performing admirably as nicely.

When it comes to true capability, the Molicel M35A and Sanyo NCR18650GA led the pack, providing the very best mAh at roughly 3260mAh. Right here’s an in depth breakdown of marketed versus measured capacities:

Based mostly on our testing, listed here are our high suggestions for various FPV wants.

For lengthy vary FPV flights, the Molicel P30B emerges because the best choice for its distinctive capability and discharge efficiency, minimizing voltage sag. The VTC6 and P28A are glorious alternate options, with the VTC6 barely edging out in flight time and the P28A offering a bit extra punch.

Prime decisions:

Second decisions:

For low present purposes like powering FPV goggles and radios, the Molicel M35A and Sanyo NCR18650GA are my go-to choices. The Radiomaster 3200mAh and VTC6 are additionally worthy issues.

Prime decisions:

• Sanyo NCR18650GA:
• Molicel M35A:

Second decisions:

Constructing Your Personal Pack

You possibly can construct your personal battery packs utilizing singular 18650 cells following this information: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/.

Whereas I’ve examined numerous pre-made 6S Li-ion packs from respected distributors, none matched the efficiency of Molicel cells (I suppose they aren’t utilizing one of the best cells to maximise revenue). Subsequently assembling your personal Li-ion battery pack utilizing top-quality cells, ensures the very best efficiency, generally even cheaper.

Conclusion

Selecting the best 18650 Li-ion battery requires weighing a number of efficiency components. I hope our comparability and testing helped you determine which 18650 cells to get. Completely happy flying!

Charging 18650 Batteries

Trendy LiPo chargers sometimes help Li-Ion battery sort; merely join them as you’d a LiPo battery. For charger suggestions, take a look at: https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/

Edit Historical past

• Feb 2018: Article creation.
• Mar 2024: Replace with the most recent check outcomes on new market-available 18650 cells.