Degradation NCR18650B of Liitokala

Hi guys!

As I mentioned in the entry Liitokala cell NCR18650B capacity test, I will open this entry to try to objectively measure the actual degradation of this lithium cell.

Lithium battery degradation

As you know, lithium batteries suffer a loss of capacity as charge cycles pass. Normally manufacturers give a cycle value that supports the cell. This does not mean that the cell dies when it reaches that number. Simply the manufacturer estimates that the degradation it has is enough to end the life of the cell. This value is 80% of the nominal cell capacity.

Degradation of Liitokala NCR18650B cells

I have in mind to mount a 10KW powerwall with the NCR18650B cells of Liitokala, and that has led me to try to measure the actual degradation of these cells with the home tester of load cycles for cells 18650 that I have mounted.

Here are a couple of links through which I bought them:

• For orders up to a maximum of 6 cells: NCR18650B Liitokala
• For larger orders, up to 20 units: pack NCR18650B Liitokala

We started the study

As a starting point we have a completely new cell model NCR18650B from Liitokala.

Below is a photo with the actual capacity from which we started.

Once the initial capacity (3221mAh) is determined, we will subject the cell to continuous loads and unloads and we will record the number of cycles we perform. To do this we will use the diy load cycle tester for 18650 cells.

On the LCD we can see 4 parameters:

• V: The voltage at which the cell is.
• A: It has two possible ‘CAR’ or ‘DES’ values (if you are loading or unloading the cell)
• C: Indicates the number of cycles you take. On an accountant. Increases when a full cycle is performed (one load and a full discharge)
• T: Indicates the time in minutes you have been loading or unloading (It is reset when it goes from charge to discharge or vice versa)

The cell is loaded with a TP4056 charger. It can be seen in the capture (it is the small plate). This charger is valid for lithium batteries. It is powered by a mobile charger and charges the cell at an intensity of 1A. I leave you a link where you can buy them a pack of 5 units for 2.20€: buy TP4056 charger

For the discharge is used the home resistance seen in the photo (it is that screwed wire). I have calibrated it to discharge at an intensity of 2A (approx).

I leave you a couple of images where I measure both the loading and unloading intensity (these photos are from previous tests and the cell shown is not the one we will use in the test):

The Arduino is configured to go into discharging mode when 4.19V is exceeded, and to go into charging mode when it goes down from 2.3V (actually the cell is approx. 2.9V, but when applying the resistance load, a lower voltage comes out)

As you can imagine, a full cycle takes a long time. It takes approximately 240 minutes to charge and about 90 minutes discharge.

Results table

I don’t think there’s anything else left to detail, so I’m going to put a table with the results I’m getting. The test I start on the date I write the post (although I have already done some before, but the cells were used and I want to make one starting from scratch):

Date	Cycles	Capacity	Observations
31/01/2020	1	3221	Starting point
09/02/2020	32	3162	Loss of 2.1%
16/02/2020	60	3104	Loss of 3.63%
23/02/2020	90	3068	Loss of 4.75%
02/03/2020	120	3022	Loss of 6.17%
10/03/2020	150	2988	Loss of 7.23%
20/03/2020	180	2947	Loss of 8.50%
27/03/2020	210	2922	Loss of 9.28%
02/04/2020	241	2906	Loss of 9.77%
08/04/2020	270	2905	Loss of 9.81%
14/04/2020	301	2880	Loss of 10.58%
21/04/2020	331	2848	Loss of 11.58%
26/04/2020	360	2823	Loss of 12.35%
03/05/2020	390	2805	Loss of 12.91%

I leave you a graph with the result to see it more simply. I’ll update it with the new readings:

Photos of the capabilities obtained in each test:

**Update 20/03/2020: As you can see in the 20/03/2020 photo of the tester, I have modified it to be able to test in two cells simultaneously. Tests with Liitokala’s cell continue as normal. Now I have started testing the cells of Varicore’s NCR18650B, you can see it in the entry Degradation NCR18650B of Varicore.

** Update on 04/08/2020: The arduino cycle counter has been reset and has started again, because the maximum value it reaches is 255 (by how I have programmed it).

I hope the data we take out will be of use to you. If you have any questions leave it in comments.

See you at the next entrance.

Best regards!!