Consumers are often unaware of what is powering their laptop computers. When their machine needs charging, they plug it in, usually with the supplied battery pack. Although most users may not consider it important to know, that most battery packs actually contain several 18650 battery cells. These are among the most powerful cells available.

18650 lithium-ion batteries are larger than standard cells. Like most rechargeable cells, their power is rated in milliamp ere-hours. The higher the number, the more power the battery possesses.

Many lithium 18650s will differ ever so slightly in length. This is mainly due to an added protection circuit. The circuit helps to prevent the NiMh battery from over-discharging, since Li-ion cells can easily become damaged if their power is drained below a particular voltage. The protection circuit also prevents the cell from being over-charged as well. These cells are very sensitive. They must be handled carefully, gently, and must never run-down too far, or be charged over and above their threshold. They can actually explode if severely mistreated.

18650 lithium-ion batteries also pack a punch, power-wise, when used in today’s high lumen LED flashlights. In applications such as these, only one cell is required. The flashlights when using an 18650 cell can produce up to hundreds of lumens of light. In some cases, it is as much as 800 lumens. This is near to the same amount of light as a 60w CFL bulb can produce. These tools can be small enough to fit inside a pocket, quite comfortably. Flashlight manufacturers have designed many of their lights, to be only slightly larger than the 18650 lifepo4 batteries that power it. One word of caution though, flashlights of this type, when turned on high, can literally get quite hot to hold. This largely depends on the units’ ability to dissipate heat, but also depends on the overall size of the light. Many, even if only five inches long, might only get moderately warm to the touch.