Soshine 26650P 5500mAh

The Soshine 26650P-3.7-5500 is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the 26650 format (26.6 x 68.5mm), the largest of the mainstream cylindrical formats, above the 21700 and the 18650. This larger size targets a specific audience: very powerful flashlights and DIY battery packs that need a large capacity per cell, even at the cost of some compactness. Soshine, a Chinese brand specializing in cells and batteries, has built a solid reputation among flashlight enthusiasts for the reliability of its protected cells.

It is rated at 5500mAh under a 3.7V nominal voltage (20.35Wh), with a maximum charge voltage of 4.2V and a protected discharge cut-off at 2.75V. Continuous discharge current climbs up to 8A, comfortably enough for the most demanding flashlights, and standard charging runs at 2.5A (5A maximum) on a dedicated lithium-ion charger. A PCB circuit is built into the base of the cell, protecting against overcharge, over-discharge and short-circuit. It supports several hundred charge cycles, up to around 1000 according to the manufacturer, a solid lifespan for a mainstream lithium-ion cell.

The real selling point of this Soshine is its length: at 68.5mm, it is among the few protected 26650 cells that stay under the 69mm mark. Many powerful flashlights accept bare 26650 cells but reject protected versions, which run a few millimeters longer because of the PCB circuit; this Soshine fits precisely where other protected 26650 cells do not, without giving up the safety of built-in protection.

It naturally suits very powerful flashlights, demanding DIY packs and some portable spotlights that need a large energy reserve per cell. As with any lithium-ion battery, it is best charged with a dedicated charger, kept away from short circuits and used within its stated voltage range: the protection circuit covers the essentials, but does not replace the basic precautions that come with this type of cell.