Electronics and technology blog    /    Materials for September 2019 year

As the “repair” project gradually winds down, I’m slowly finding time to get back to my other projects. I’ve started with the multichannel tester for lithium battery packs, which I first wrote about last year. There will be several stages, but the first is the most challenging one: the power module.

A few deals and a new product from Gearbest

Today I’m reviewing batteries that are, in essence, nothing particularly special: a current rating of up to 15 A and a capacity of around 4200 mAh. The only thing that sets them apart is their somewhat uncommon form factor, but as always, you’re better off reading the full review.

More 21700-format batteries, this time focused on fitting the maximum capacity possible into this size. I’ve already reviewed similar batteries, but from Samsung. They’ll be taking part in today’s comparison.

Well, friends, today’s review is about some rather unusual batteries. Many of you know LG’s very popular HG2 model, the so-called “chocolate bars,” but who has seen these batteries in blue? A closer look, tests, comparisons—all in today’s review.

This time, we’re looking at high-current Molicel batteries again, but in the newer 21700 form factor. Well, not exactly new: batteries of this size have been around for quite a while, but they’re still much less common than the more widely used 18650 cells. In any case, I liked these batteries, but you’ll have to read the full review to find out more.

Not long ago, someone asked me if I had tried Molicel batteries. That’s when I realized that not only had I never tried them, I’d never even heard of them before. So I ordered a couple of different form factors in this batch to test, especially since they’re advertised as high-current cells. I hope this will be interesting.

Well, friends, I got my hands on the highest-capacity 18650 battery—or at least, that's what they say "on the internet." I ordered them specifically to check whether that's true, and to add them to my "database" of various batteries.

A new batch of batteries arrived not long ago, and today I'm reviewing the first one: the Panasonic NCR18650BD, rated at 3200 mAh.

Banggood is having a sale. This might be useful to someone.

Not too long ago, I was reworking an electronic load and rediscovered plastic fasteners—or, more specifically, plastic standoffs for mounting circuit boards. Of course, you can use them to mount more than just circuit boards, but in my case, circuit boards are what I run into most often. So today I have a quick look at a set of plastic standoffs for M3 screws.

Not long ago, I started posting reviews of power supplies from the Banggood store. I also mentioned that I’d be doing several reviews, with the power supplies presented in order of increasing power. Today I have the fourth and final review in the series, where I’ll tell you about a powerful branded power supply.

As I mentioned, I’ll be reviewing a breakout board for installing converter modules soon. I ordered it from the same Taobao store as the converters themselves, and I found it interesting enough to give it a review of its own.

A brief look at a non-contact sensor for controlling various loads, although its main use is still controlling lighting.

Some time ago, I posted reviews of various charger boards and mentioned that one interesting board had been updated, with higher output power: 100 W instead of 60 W. Now I’ve got my hands on the updated version and put it to the test. Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as hoped, but you can read all about it in the review.

Originally, I wanted to title this review “Affordable LG INR18650MH1 Batteries,” but then I checked the current price and was a little disappointed. Why, along with everything else, you’ll find out in the review. There will also be a little food for thought at the end.

Not long ago, Rokchip launched a new budget SoC, the RK3318. Calling it a competitor to Amlogic’s latest processors would be a stretch, so I picked one up for review mostly out of curiosity. In any case, as usual, the review will include an inspection, teardown, tests, conclusions, and a summary table.