Discovering the Finest 18650 Li-Ion Battery for FPV Lengthy Vary Flying and Gear

18650 Li-ion cell is a well-liked battery alternative for each lengthy vary FPV drones and gear equivalent to FPV goggles and radios. Nonetheless, with so many choices available on the market, choosing the right 18650 cells might be overwhelming. I examined varied 18650 batteries, evaluating their efficiency and true capability to search out the perfect batteries that supply lengthy flight instances and dependable efficiency.

A few of the hyperlinks on this web page are affiliate hyperlinks. I obtain a fee (at no additional price to you) should you make a purchase order after clicking on considered one of these affiliate hyperlinks. This helps help the free content material for the group on this web site. Please learn our Affiliate Hyperlink Coverage for extra data.

Why 18650 Li-ion Batteries?

Choosing the proper battery is essential for optimizing the efficiency of FPV gear. The 18650 Li-ion battery emerges as a best choice attributable to its steadiness of broad availability, longevity, and cost-effectiveness. It’s notably 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 enough for drones designed for effectivity and endurance.

For a deeper dive into the professionals and cons of Li-ion batteries over LiPo, try 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 popular for FPV drones and equipment:

• Capability and Effectivity: They provide substantial vitality storage in a compact kind issue.
• Rechargeability: These batteries are able to a whole bunch of cost cycles with out vital degradation.
• Availability: They’re extensively out there and used throughout varied digital units and instruments.

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

The Contenders

To search out the very best, I examined quite a lot of 18650 batteries from respected manufacturers, contemplating totally different specs for a well-rounded overview.

* Worth in line with my native reseller on the time of publishing.

** Weight is measured on my own

Testing Methodology

To find out the very best batteries, I targeted on two key efficiency indicators:

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

In case you’re 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 underneath heavy load, making them supreme for high-demand lengthy vary FPV flying. The Sony VTC5A and VTC6 had been shut contenders, performing admirably as effectively.

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

Primarily based on our testing, listed below are our prime 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.

High decisions:

Second decisions:

For low present functions 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 concerns.

High decisions:

• Sanyo NCR18650GA:
• Molicel M35A:

Second decisions:

Constructing Your Personal Pack

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

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

Conclusion

Choosing the proper 18650 Li-ion battery requires weighing a number of efficiency components. I hope our comparability and testing helped you resolve which 18650 cells to get. Glad flying!

Charging 18650 Batteries

Trendy LiPo chargers sometimes help Li-Ion battery kind; merely join them as you’d a LiPo battery. For charger suggestions, try: 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.