Differences Between IMR, ICR, INR, and IFR 18650 Batteries

In batteries, discerning the differences among IMR, ICR, INR, and IFR types is fundamental for tailored and efficient battery usage. These distinct classifications denote varying chemical compositions and performance characteristics, pivotal for selecting the ideal battery type based on specific device requirements. This article delves into an in-depth analysis of IMR, ICR, INR, and IFR batteries, highlighting their unique attributes and applications.

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Part 1. IMR Battery

I: Lithium (Li)

M: Manganese (Mn)

R: Round cell (R)

Chemical Composition

IMR batteries, denoted by their acronym “Lithium Manganese Oxide Rechargeable,” utilize lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4) as the cathode material. This chemical configuration imparts distinctive properties to these batteries compared to their counterparts, influencing their performance and safety features.

Advantages

• Enhanced Safety: Using lithium manganese oxide contributes to safer chemistry, reducing the risk of thermal runaway and improving stability during charge and discharge cycles.
• Lower Internal Resistance: IMR batteries exhibit lower internal resistance, enabling higher discharge rates. This characteristic makes them well-suited for high-drain devices requiring rapid bursts of power, such as vaping devices and high-powered flashlights.

Disadvantages

• Energy Density Concerns: Compared to other variants, IMR batteries might have a slightly lower energy density. This aspect can reduce overall battery life or capacity, making them less ideal for prolonged, low-power applications.

Applications

IMR batteries have extensive applications in devices that demand immediate energy output.

• Vaping Mods: Due to their ability to discharge power rapidly, IMR cells are popular in the vaping community, providing quick bursts of energy for vaporization.
• Portable Lighting Systems: High-performance flashlights and portable lighting systems benefit from IMR batteries for their ability to deliver immediate high power when needed.
• Power Tools: Devices like power drills and saws that require quick and substantial power bursts find IMR batteries suitable for their high-drain needs.

Part 2. ICR Battery

I: Lithium (Li)

C: Cobalt (Co)

R: Round cell (R)

Chemical Composition

ICR batteries, denoted by “Lithium Cobalt Oxide Rechargeable,” utilize lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) as their cathode material. This chemical configuration distinguishes them from other variants and significantly influences their performance and safety attributes.

Advantages

• High Energy Density: ICR batteries boast a remarkable energy density, allowing them to store substantial amounts of energy compared to several other counterparts.

Disadvantages

• Safety Concerns: Lithium cobalt oxide chemistry presents safety risks, especially during high-drain scenarios. ICR batteries are more susceptible to overheating and instability, making safety management critical.
• Lower Discharge Rates: These batteries exhibit lower discharge rates than specific variants like IMR, limiting their suitability for high-drain applications requiring rapid power delivery.

Applications

ICR batteries find application in devices emphasizing high capacity over immediate high power output.

• Consumer Electronics: Devices like laptops, digital cameras, and various portable electronics benefit from ICR batteries due to their high capacity, providing stable power output for longer durations.
• Low-Drain Devices: Gadgets requiring consistent but not immediate power, such as specific medical devices or low-power flashlights, utilize ICR batteries for sustained energy provision.

Part 3. INR Battery

I: Lithium (Li)

N: Nickel (Ni)

R: Round cell (R)

Chemical Composition

INR batteries, abbreviated as “Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide Rechargeable,” incorporate a blend of nickel, manganese, and cobalt in their cathode material. This chemical composition significantly influences their performance attributes.

Advantages

• Balanced Performance: INR batteries balance capacity and discharge rates, offering moderate capacity alongside decent power output.
• Improved Stability: Compared to specific variants like ICR cells, INR batteries exhibit enhanced stability and a lower risk of overheating during high-drain scenarios.

Disadvantages

• Moderate Energy Density: INR batteries may possess a slightly lower energy density than specific counterparts, affecting their overall capacity and usage duration.
• Moderate Capacity: Compared to high-capacity variants like ICR batteries, INR cells tend to have a more moderate capacity, affecting their suitability for high-capacity applications.

Applications

INR batteries cater to devices requiring a balance between capacity and power output.

• Portable Electronics: Laptops, power banks, and select electronic tools benefit from INR batteries for their balanced performance in delivering stable power over moderate periods.
• Moderate-Drain Devices: Gadgets needing sustained but not excessively high power, such as mid-range flashlights or moderate-power appliances, utilize INR batteries for their equilibrium between capacity and power output.

Part 4. IFR Battery

I: Lithium (Li)

F: Iron (Fe)

R: Round cell (R)

Chemical Composition

IFR batteries, represented by the acronym “Lithium Iron Phosphate Rechargeable,” utilize iron phosphate (LiFePO4) as their cathode material. This distinct chemical composition distinguishes them from other variants and greatly influences their performance characteristics.

Advantages

• Enhanced Safety: IFR batteries are renowned for their superior safety profile. Lithium iron phosphate significantly reduces the risk of thermal runaway and instability during charge and discharge cycles.
• Longevity: These batteries boast a longer lifespan than other variants, contributing to their popularity in applications prioritizing durability and longevity.

Disadvantages

• Lower Energy Density: IFR batteries may have a lower energy density than some counterparts, impacting their overall capacity and the amount of energy they can store.
• Moderate Discharge Rates: They exhibit reasonable discharge rates compared to high-discharge batteries like IMR, limiting their suitability for applications requiring rapid power delivery.

Applications

IFR batteries have extensive applications in devices where safety and longevity are paramount.

• Solar Power Storage: Their enhanced safety and prolonged lifespan make IFR batteries ideal for solar power storage systems requiring reliability and longevity.
• Electric Vehicles: Electric cars and bikes benefit from IFR batteries due to their safety and durability, ensuring prolonged battery life in these high-usage applications.

Part 5. Differences between IMR, ICR, INR, and IFR batteries

Similarities

• All Lithium-ion: IMR, ICR, INR, and IFR batteries belong to the lithium-ion family, utilizing lithium-based chemistry in their construction.
• Rechargeable: They are all rechargeable batteries, capable of being recharged multiple times before needing replacement.

Differences

1. Chemical Composition

• IMR: Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn2O4).
• ICR: Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2).
• INR: Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide.
• IFR: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4).

2. Performance Characteristics

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• IMR: Known for lower internal resistance, enabling higher discharge rates suitable for high-drain devices.
• ICR: Offers high capacity but raises safety concerns due to potential overheating during high-drain scenarios.
• INR: Strikes a balance between capacity and discharge rates, suitable for moderate-drain devices.
• IFR: Prioritizes safety, stability, and longevity over high capacity or discharge rates.

3. Applications

• IMR: High-drain devices like vaping mods, power tools, and high-powered flashlights.
• ICR: Low-drain devices like laptops, digital cameras, or low-power appliances.
• INR: Moderate-drain devices like laptops, power banks, or moderate-power tools.
• IFR: Solar power storage systems, electric vehicles, or applications requiring safety and longevity.

4. Safety and Longevity

• IMR and IFR: Generally considered safer than ICR due to their chemistry, with IFR specifically prioritizing safety and longevity.
• INR: Offers a moderate balance between safety and performance.

Part 6. FAQs

Samsung INR-20R mAh (Green)



Official specifications:

• Li-ion high power cell for power tools
• Nominal Capacity : mAh
• Nominal voltage : 3.6V
• Max. discharge current: 22A
• Charging voltage 4.2 ±0.05 V

This battery is designed for high current, this does also mean that the capacity will be low.










As can be seen it can deliver about mAh at up to 20A current. The capacity increases at 15 and 20A, this is probably because the battery warms up.
The two cells does also have a very good tracking.





With a 20A discharge, the battery will only last for 6 minutes!











Conclusion

Being from Samsung this is a very good battery that can deliver a lot of current.
Where this battery is really interesting is at 10A and above.



Notes and links

How is the test done and how to read the charts
How is a protected LiIon battery constructed
More about button top and flat top batteries

I naive question. I believe these high current low capacity batteries were designed for use in power tools, vacuum cleaners etc.

What is their appeal for use in LED flashlights? Other than custom or modified lights, are there any production flashlights that would benefit from such a high current capacity, at the expense of capacity?

Tom, the XM-L2/SinkPAD build you’re referring to are custom builds?

For “production” lights I think the highest “current drawing lights” I own are the TMart HD (East 092 driver on high) and the Skyray King.

Looking at HKJ’s’s comparator, up to 5 amps draw the LG D1 (4.35V) looks like a better choice overall?

(@ 5 amps the Samsung also looks better than the Panasonic CGRCH and NCRPD high drain cells if I understand the comparator properly.

I assume the HD and Sky Ray King will pull currents over 5 amps only when the supplied voltage really starts to sag after an extended run time?

Fascinating this :~

I'm really not sure how to correlate these graph results to actual usage on XM-L2/SinkPAD setups (yes, they are all mod'ed but they are still flashlights and XM-L2's are already in production lights, maybe SinkPAD's some day). Also, how do you determine internal resistance of a battery based on these graph results? QWell, one batt may be better for the frst 500 mah, another past that point -- very confusing, which is really better? I can only go by the first couple of minutes because that's how I and most others test lumens/throw - fresh off the charger, 30 seconds, then throw.

SinkPAD's, I believe, change everything, more so than the XM-L2 - can't compare to a high draw stock light like the HD because the voltage demand (Vf) is different.

NightCrawl - Judging by the charts, there is only one battery tested that is 4.35v (LG D1 mAh), and it's results are mixed, not across the board better - first 0.5 Ah, the Samsung is much better, then the LG is a little better after that. Are there other 4.35v options, maybe better? What do you need to charge them?

Internal resistance is calculated via the voltage drop between two different loads. I dont know exactly tho. To calculate it, you subtract the two voltage readings and divide them by the difference of the load. (V1-V2)/(L2-L1).

Well, the Samsung is better for the first 0.5Ah at 5A.. but lets assume a normally high driven light at 3-3.5A. LG would have an advantage there. You basically need to look at the curve until 3.7V (should be the Vf of XML2 at 3A).

There are other 4.35V cells from Sanyo and Samsung, but I doubt they would be better than the LG. To charge them you need a hobby charger (4.3V) or a cottonpicker (4.35V).

Thanks HKJ! Stupid me - didn't see you actually list the calculated internal resistance for each battery tested on that last line! The batteries I'm looking at are the Pana PD's, Pana CH's, Samsung INR's, Sanyo URFM , - think the AW IMR 's are out of the running. Like the tests you did for the AW IMR's, the (0.05 ohms) were lower resistance than the 's (0.09 ohms) - think the same is going on with the Samsung INR 's vs 's.

But of course I wish you had test results on the Pana PD 's and Pana CH 's, then could really see what's going on in this current field (still reasonably prices batts somewhat). The Pana PD's are of course a great option with their apparent low resistance, mAh runtimes, and relative low cost ($16/pair at FT).

So, looks like the Samsung INR is the lowest resistance battery you tested at 0.04 ohms - chart says here: http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries/CommonSummary%20UK.html, interesting... If you were to test the Samsung INR , I think you'll find a new record.

Ohh! Thanks by the way for all this crazy work involved in this testing!! I know it's a lot of time and cost I'm sure!!

The Samsung 's I have are INR, not IMR. Bought from FastTech "as is", obviously pulled from a pack because of fastening marks that I filed down.

Here's test results on a mod'ed XinTD C8 - XM-L2/U2, SinkPAD, 3.85A Nanjg driver, extra copper, 22 gauge silver tinned teflon coated wire, sanded/polished mating surfaces on the SinkPAD and top of pill. In order of results, 12 tests performed, all batteries are unprotected, freshly charged, first # is @start, 2nd # is @30 secs, in lumens:

Sanyo #1, 4.20v, 3.74A: -

Pana #1, 4.19v, 3.56A: -

Sam. #1, 4.19v, 3.85A: -

Pana #1, 4.18v, 3.44A: -

AW IMR , 4.18v, 3.84A: -

Sam. #1, 4.20v, 3.85A: -

Pana PD #1, 4.19v, 3.85A: -

Sanyo #2, 4.20v, 3.77A: -

Sam. #2, 4.20v, 3.85A: -

Pana #2, 4.18v, 3.54A: -

Sam. #2, 4.20v, 3.85A: -

Pana PD #2, 4.21v, 3.85A: -

The "#1" and "#2" designates unique batteries because some tests were repeated on the same make/model. All tests had 3-5 minutes in between, accept the last which had a gap of 17 mins.

It does look like the winner is the Samsung INR , better than the Samsung INR and Panasonic PD's. Of course this is only for the first 30 seconds...

So NightCrawl, I do believe you are correct here about the not being an improvement over the . I think earlier tests I did contradicted that, but these tests were done now with more control (voltage and amp measurements, all batts off the charger, etc.).

Oh, thanks for the Pana CH and PD refs daveam and NightCrawl - looks like this Samsung INR beats those batteries as well when comparing the curves for 5 amps on: http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries/Commoncomparator.php. It also beats the AW IMR and 's, wow! Wonder if there's anything out there better than this battery right now at any price...

I still like the PD's though for the greater runtime at mAh, with the understanding you are losing a little on the output. They also cost about the same. Think I'll be quoting measurements taken on the Samsungs while using the PD's .

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