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Gear / Technical Help => Remote Power => Topic started by: mblindsey on April 21, 2014, 10:57:06 PM

Title: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: mblindsey on April 21, 2014, 10:57:06 PM
Anyone try one of these?  They look kind of interesting, however, the youtube reviews of them aren't great.  It would be cool to find one that was built well:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-9v-12v-Dual-USB-Mobile-Power-Bank-6x-18650-Lithium-Battery-Charger-Box-/390677294733?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item5af62e6e8d

Review (guy has mulitple vids):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1KBccrNYHE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klYo9R78hNk
....

--Michael
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on April 21, 2014, 11:44:28 PM
Too funny... 

The guy across the street from me works as a Designer/Importer of cheap chinese goods...  I got to talking to him about having a battery box built, where you inserted the 18650 batteries, and had 5v, 9v, and 12v output...  His FOB Chinese girlfriend has family connections back home that have high level connections in manufacturing... 

His garage is FULL of chinese plastic "junk", that he has leftover from his dealings...  Some of the stuff is pretty cool - like those stupid flags people fly on their cars at tail-gate parties...  Yeah, he imported a shit-load of those... 

Makes me wonder...

Terry

Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Ultfris101 on April 22, 2014, 01:47:20 AM
Seems like maybe this came up a while back and Ted picked one up but gave it a thumbs down.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: mblindsey on April 22, 2014, 02:11:56 AM
Seems like maybe this came up a while back and Ted picked one up but gave it a thumbs down.

I did a quick search here, but figured I wasn't the first to find this gadget.  That's too bad, if true.  I really wanted to believe  :-\

I spent a good hour on Google and didn't find anything that I considered something that looked high quality.  There are quite a few of these out there....all made in China...

It would be pretty cool to have the equivalent of a DVD/Wally Batt that you could so easily change the batteries in....

--Michael
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Ultfris101 on April 22, 2014, 09:42:49 AM
Yes, it's definitely an appealing idea. It's basically taking the soldering work out of the battery refreshes that kirkd does. I did one myself just for the fun of it and it's not bad but a bit of a pain in the arse.

I'll see if I can find the previous thread I'm thinking of and confirm it's the same product.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: mblindsey on April 22, 2014, 11:12:02 AM
Yes, it's definitely an appealing idea. It's basically taking the soldering work out of the battery refreshes that kirkd does. I did one myself just for the fun of it and it's not bad but a bit of a pain in the arse.

I'll see if I can find the previous thread I'm thinking of and confirm it's the same product.

The search for batteries for a refresh is how I stumbled upon this.  When soldering batteries with tabs, is there any real danger (tab -> tab)?  Or is it just the soldering of tabs directly to the batteries that carries the big risk?  I couldn't find a straight answer to that question either.  Thanks!
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: tgakidis on April 22, 2014, 11:29:17 AM
Seems like maybe this came up a while back and Ted picked one up but gave it a thumbs down.

Yes, not the same one but the same concept.  The units i got sucked as well as the seller.  No idea about this product.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Ultfris101 on April 22, 2014, 11:31:14 AM
Yes, it's definitely an appealing idea. It's basically taking the soldering work out of the battery refreshes that kirkd does. I did one myself just for the fun of it and it's not bad but a bit of a pain in the arse.

I'll see if I can find the previous thread I'm thinking of and confirm it's the same product.

The search for batteries for a refresh is how I stumbled upon this.  When soldering batteries with tabs, is there any real danger (tab -> tab)?  Or is it just the soldering of tabs directly to the batteries that carries the big risk?  I couldn't find a straight answer to that question either.  Thanks!

The way I understand it, there's a chance you could overheat the battery when you do the soldering directly to the battery and depending how you line up the tabs you kind of have to do some of that no matter what. Too much direct heat on the battery isn't good but a little is unavoidable. Pay attention to how warm the battery you're working on gets and take a break before it gets very warm.

The fact that I could do it with my meager soldering/electrical skills and knowledge says it's clearly not rocket science. If you're so inclined it's worth giving it a try. My biggest challenge in the end was getting the batteries connected cleanly enough that I could then get the case back on cleanly. I didn't quite make it so there's a bit of a gap around the case but I taped it up and for close to a year it's been working fine for me.

I found some youtube videos on similar topics which helped me visualize what I was trying to do.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: tgakidis on April 22, 2014, 11:32:53 AM
Here is the piece of junk i bought and returned.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mobile-Power-Supply-18650-Battery-Charger-box-For-Laptop-Notebook-Battery-phone-/181102188519?hash=item2a2a8817e7
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: spyder9 on April 23, 2014, 04:33:09 PM
Here's one for $35.79 shipped.  Includes 6 Ultrafire 18650 batteries.  Who's gonna be the guinea pig?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/24000mAh-5V-9v-12v-USB-Power-Bank-Charger-Box-6x-18650-Battery-for-Cellphone-/301064928798?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Batteries&hash=item4618de3e1e
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Chuck on April 24, 2014, 10:05:08 PM
Yeah, this is an interesting product. I don't need a battery right now, but would consider trying one of these in the future.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: tim in jersey on April 24, 2014, 10:22:54 PM
Here's one for $35.79 shipped.  Includes 6 Ultrafire 18650 batteries.  Who's gonna be the guinea pig?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/24000mAh-5V-9v-12v-USB-Power-Bank-Charger-Box-6x-18650-Battery-for-Cellphone-/301064928798?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Batteries&hash=item4618de3e1e

Found the same thing here for $13... http://www.bestvaping.net/power-usb-charging-po-618650-mobile-power-supply-boxes-diy-37v-5v-9v-12v-p-696.html
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: mblindsey on April 26, 2014, 11:40:18 PM
It looks like this guy is no longer making custom battery holders, but I'm still on the hunt for something quality that I can pop in/out batteries of.  Check it:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?320162-Odd-Mods-Adapters-3AA-21AA-M6-rechargeable-solutions-Dummy-cells-Customs!&p=3717111#post3717111

If I could find something like that that:

- held 6 or more 18650's
- somehow get 9V out of it (fine for both my R44 and V3)
- and charge them (this?:  http://www.xtarlight.com/05-chanpin/p-001-1.asp?styleid=144)


....I'd be pretty happy.  I ran across a post where some guy made a pack and dropped in a case that looked just like the "LittleBox" case...paging Jon?  There is a new market here for you   ;D

--Michael
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: mblindsey on April 26, 2014, 11:57:55 PM

Or, i wonder if there is enough room inside a Wally World/DVD battery case to open it up and put two of something like this on the inside:

         http://www.batteryspace.com/Battery-holder-Li-Ion-18650-Battery-Holder-1S3P-With-2.6-long-20AWG.aspx

...that would remove the need for soldering the batteries directly.  Charging and the investment in Ted cables I have made would remain intact.  Seems somewhat safe to do for the novice.

--Michael
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Hypnocracy on April 27, 2014, 05:47:29 PM
those are not to be put in parallel or Series...

These are ok to gang up...2 in series for 7.2v....3 in series for 11.1v

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-Battery-Holder-Case-box-for-4-18650-Li-ion-battery-w-6-Wire-Lead-/360900054694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item540751cea6

No protection though...Would be nice to get a over discharge circuit that cuts off at a set low voltage. 

Just charge the individual cells

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-NITECORE-i4-V2-Intelligent-Charger-for-NiMH-NiCD-Li-ion-18650-CR123-/120924111601?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item1c27a382f1
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: mblindsey on April 27, 2014, 06:25:22 PM
those are not to be put in parallel or Series...

These are ok to gang up...2 in series for 7.2v....3 in series for 11.1v

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-Battery-Holder-Case-box-for-4-18650-Li-ion-battery-w-6-Wire-Lead-/360900054694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item540751cea6

No protection though...Would be nice to get a over discharge circuit that cuts off at a set low voltage. 

Just charge the individual cells

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-NITECORE-i4-V2-Intelligent-Charger-for-NiMH-NiCD-Li-ion-18650-CR123-/120924111601?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item1c27a382f1

what i'm thinking is that you could just get some of these (something like them)  to put inside a DVD battery and use all the existing circuitry.  If if they will fit.  There are three 18650s on either side in a DVD/wally world batt.  Then, when they go bad, just pop the box open and replace batteries at-will....no soldering of batteries.  I have a dead battery I can try this on...rainy day project.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Chuck on April 27, 2014, 07:20:07 PM
My guess is that there isn't enough room for the holders in a DVD battery.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Colin Liston on April 28, 2014, 08:04:15 AM
Couldn't you take the electronics out and put everything into new new case/box?
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: mblindsey on April 28, 2014, 08:46:01 AM
Couldn't you take the electronics out and put everything into new new case/box?

Thought about that too.  Seems like a couple hours more work  ;D
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: woodbine on May 11, 2014, 10:20:57 AM
Finally all the bits arrived for this:https://www.flickr.com/photos/124089182@N07/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/124089182@N07/).
14.8v 3100mah, with protection. I still have to make up the lead to a Hirose connector, but this will power my SD552 for best part of a days recording on location. I wanted the Panasonic 3400mah batteries, but Fasttech were sold out. I may heat shrink the whole thing for extra protection and if it works well I will make up another one.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Chuck on May 11, 2014, 10:43:41 AM
Cool, let us know how it goes.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: kirk97132 on May 11, 2014, 10:49:49 AM
Looks like a nice sled. And to chime in on previous post, there is no way to fit that into a wallyworld case.  Removing the guts to reinstall into another case does "sound" like a good idea but retro fitting the layout to match the existing circuit boards would be way more work than I would ever want to tackle and IMO way more than a few hours work.  Output voltage is too high for Tascam DR-680 in case anyone wondered.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: woodbine on May 11, 2014, 04:43:22 PM
You can buy these sleds in 3.7, 7.2, 11.1 and 14.4volt configurations.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: Massive Dynamic on May 12, 2014, 09:40:38 PM
Finally all the bits arrived for this:https://www.flickr.com/photos/124089182@N07/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/124089182@N07/).
14.8v 3100mah, with protection. I still have to make up the lead to a Hirose connector, but this will power my SD552 for best part of a days recording on location. I wanted the Panasonic 3400mah batteries, but Fasttech were sold out. I may heat shrink the whole thing for extra protection and if it works well I will make up another one.

I got mine from r-l sales, http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PANASONIC-NCR18650B-LI-ION-BATTERY-3400mAh-3-7v-18650-NEW-PROTECTION-PCB-JAPAN-/370925377492
They've worked fine in my flashlight. Also, Trustfire and Ultrafire are brands that are typically to be avoided and the mAh grossly overrated.
Title: Re: 18650 LiON Batt Box
Post by: StuStu on May 20, 2014, 06:05:31 PM
Finally all the bits arrived for this:https://www.flickr.com/photos/124089182@N07/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/124089182@N07/).
14.8v 3100mah, with protection. I still have to make up the lead to a Hirose connector, but this will power my SD552 for best part of a days recording on location. I wanted the Panasonic 3400mah batteries, but Fasttech were sold out. I may heat shrink the whole thing for extra protection and if it works well I will make up another one.

I got mine from r-l sales, http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PANASONIC-NCR18650B-LI-ION-BATTERY-3400mAh-3-7v-18650-NEW-PROTECTION-PCB-JAPAN-/370925377492 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PANASONIC-NCR18650B-LI-ION-BATTERY-3400mAh-3-7v-18650-NEW-PROTECTION-PCB-JAPAN-/370925377492)
They've worked fine in my flashlight. Also, Trustfire and Ultrafire are brands that are typically to be avoided and the mAh grossly overrated.


I've used Ultrafire in flashlights and agree that they should be avoided.