Bench Test Results: Lishen LR2170SA - 12A 4000mAh 21700…decent performer, high cycle life rating

Test Report Summary: Lishen is one of the large, established cell manufacturers in China (http://www.lishen.com.cn). This cell is a decent performer, about the same as the Samsung 50E but not quite as good as the Molicel M50A and Samsung 50E3. Its 12A rating seems reasonable but must be reduced to 6A if the cells get above 45°C, what many would call “warm”, up to a max of 60°C. This type of derating should be done for any cell in my opinion but Lishen actually specifies the derating in the datasheet, which is great to see.

Note that this cell has a low voltage cutoff of 2.75V versus the more common 2.50V cutoff used by most other cells.

This is a larger cell, the datasheet lists the dimensions as 21.7mm±0.2mm diameter by 70.9mm±0.2mm long.

The two cells I tested delivered 4022mAh and 4048mAh. This is decent consistency and is typical for cells from one of the larger China cell manufacturers.

This cell has a high cycle life rating “1000th cycle ≥80% of 1st Capacity (25℃±2℃,4.2V-3.0V). If discharged at high rate or high temperature frequently, cell cycle life will be shorten.” But note that the cells were discharged down to 3.0V. Most cycle life ratings are based on cycling the cell down to its low voltage cutoff point, 2.75V in this case. I do not know how much only going down to 3.0V extends cell life but we cannot directly compare this cell’s cycle life spec to a cell that was discharged all the way down each cycle.

Two cells were purchased for testing by me.

Ratings graphic: https://imgur.com/a/tET1mUs

Full Test report: Bench Test Results: Lishen LR2170SA - 12A 4000mAh 21700…decent performer, high cycle life rating | E-Cigarette Forum

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This is kind an arbitrary question but do you know off the top of your head how this compares to the LR2170LA?

Nice testing though! Good to see more cell companies with respectable offerings

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Whats up with the 5a discharge curve? (red)
Why does it have the least ah at the lowest discharge setting?

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My patrons saw the results for the SA, SD, SF, and LA cells a couple weeks ago. Results being posted publicly soon.

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This graph is a great example of the effect that heat has on the internal resistance of the cell. As the cell heats up there is less internal resistance which means less voltage sag which means the cell can hold its voltage up for longer.

Higher current levels cause more heating, reducing the sag even more. At a certain point though the cell can’t compensate for the voltage drop from the loss of charge and the voltage starts getting pulled down again. The 15A discharge shows this as there is a larger gap between it and the other lines and the capacity delivered down to 2.8V is dropping again.

Take a look at the capacities delivered down to 3.2V. That is a shorter discharge and there’s less heating (which is strongest at the lower voltages) to affect the internal resistance (voltage sag). The 5A discharge runs the longest.

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really interesting.
I don’t think i’ve ever seen a chart like that before.

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Quite a few cells have a IR vs Temperature response similar to that. Always surprising when I see it though, so counter-intuitive.

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I guess enclosing all the p groups in fishpaper that traps the heat in does indeed work well for low discharge setups :stuck_out_tongue:

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