DIY lithium battery

« **on:** February 06, 2018, 09:30:34 pm »

Hello all,

I don't post on here so often but thought I would share the success of my lithium battery build following on from the ideas given on the forum many months ago for DIY electric reels. (Been using my reel for around 8months) I know this is very specific and many wouldn't be interested but one or two may find this information useful.

First off why did I make a lithium battery. . .With my lead acid battery I needed to charge up after every days work to keep the battery cycle life. While only taking a few minutes to place on charge it was a pain doing this daily. I also didn't feel a split charge or solar panel would work for me. My lithium battery gets charged around ever 2 weeks saving time and lugging a battery around. Secondly lead acid battery's have lasted me 3-4 years then died. Lithium battery's can last much longer and weigh considerably less than the lead acid battery.

My lithium battery is rated 16.8 max voltage (stepped down for 12v pumps) and 92ah. This gives it roughly 1.5kw total capacity. Much more than my old battery weighting half. This has proved capable of running 2 pumps and an electric reel for a couple of weeks. The battery was made from 160 individual 18650 lithium cells. They all came from old laptop battterys sourced for cheap and half for free. All this is cased in a ammo case leaving a surprisingly professional looking battery. I've attached a photo showing some of the stages and overall size being very similar with much of the space in the case not being used.

The battery also has the ability to be charged very fast compared to lead acid. Might be useful for those days you forgot to charge your battery.

Thought I would share with the aim of inspiring others ...

« **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:31:56 pm »

« **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:38:53 pm »

Looks and sounds great mate, why didn't you post this yesterday before I shelled out £220 today for something that sounds inferior in comparison??

Good work.

« **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:41:27 pm »

Spruce is gonna love this one

« **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:41:39 pm »

They look like the batteries I use for my my ecig.

« **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:43:58 pm »

It also makes my latest little project seem a little bit lame

« **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:47:13 pm »

Quote from: P @ F on February 06, 2018, 09:41:27 pm

Spruce is gonna love this one

isn't he just

« **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:49:05 pm »

Not really been on the forum much the past few weeks but got the vibe people have battery issues Lol. For most people it's defo easier or the only option to just buy a battery off the shelf as it was a fair bit of work to build. But was a sort of winter hobby.

I'm genuinely expecting it to last 10 years and would say it cost around £100. Plus £30-50 for a suitable charger. Could have been a lot cheaper if I got all the cells for free. (Computer repair shops give them away)

« **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:56:02 pm »

How do you even get that plastic battery body ?
It looks like it is purpose made , but before you dabbled there was no purpose to produce them surely

« **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2018, 10:47:53 pm »

Sounds like a fire hazard! Good thing it's in an ammo case...

« **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2018, 11:07:28 pm »

Quote from: a900 on February 06, 2018, 09:49:05 pm

Not really been on the forum much the past few weeks but got the vibe people have battery issues Lol. For most people it's defo easier or the only option to just buy a battery off the shelf as it was a fair bit of work to build. But was a sort of winter hobby.

I'm genuinely expecting it to last 10 years and would say it cost around £100. Plus £30-50 for a suitable charger. Could have been a lot cheaper if I got all the cells for free. (Computer repair shops give them away)

Can't exactly blame you. Putting 160 batteries together correctly and 'soldering' links must have taken you ages. My dyslexic brain would have got very mixed up and confused.

« **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2018, 08:01:41 am »

Don't know why you bothered when you could just buy one. And this one's 260Ah not a piddling 92!

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-relion-260-ah-deep-cycle-solar-storage-lithium-battery/

I've just ordered one.

Vin

« **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2018, 08:41:09 am »

Quote from: Perfect Windows on February 07, 2018, 08:01:41 am

Don't know why you bothered when you could just buy one. And this one's 260Ah not a piddling 92!

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-relion-260-ah-deep-cycle-solar-storage-lithium-battery/

I've just ordered one.

Vin

Don't know why you didn't just buy one??

price???

« **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2018, 09:02:51 am »

Quote from: Perfect Windows on February 07, 2018, 08:01:41 am

Don't know why you bothered when you could just buy one. And this one's 260Ah not a piddling 92!

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-relion-260-ah-deep-cycle-solar-storage-lithium-battery/

I've just ordered one.

Vin

« **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2018, 09:09:02 am »

Quote from: P @ F on February 06, 2018, 09:56:02 pm

How do you even get that plastic battery body ?
It looks like it is purpose made , but before you dabbled there was no purpose to produce them surely

I would guess that its shrink wrap that shrinks with the application of heat.

My next question is the varying quality of these used, reclaimed batteries. I appreciate that each of them has been tested to a level but they won't perform as they did when new. So if there is one of these 160 reclaimed batteries that fails prematurely, how does that effect the rest of the pack?

If your torch takes 4 batteries and you use 1 old one because you only have 3 new ones, the flat one drains the 3 new ones, doesn't it?

« **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2018, 11:12:18 am »

Quote from: P @ F on February 06, 2018, 09:56:02 pm

How do you even get that plastic battery body ?
It looks like it is purpose made , but before you dabbled there was no purpose to produce them surely

There is already an entire sector around the world of people that built there own 'DIY tesla power walls'. So things like the cell holders are cheap and easy to buy off eBay. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F152247261009

Everything used to make the battery was easy to get hold of.

« **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2018, 11:18:57 am »

Quote from: Alan Ritchie on February 06, 2018, 10:47:53 pm

Sounds like a fire hazard! Good thing it's in an ammo case...

Each cell has been tested beforehand to make sure it matches up with the others with it and to weed out duff ones. Then they have all been soldered with individual cell fuses so if one did decide to short it would be isolated. Then there is a main fuse before the outputs. I would expect it to be much safer than a gas boiler but that's another subject

« **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2018, 11:30:12 am »

Brilliant!

« **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2018, 11:35:03 am »

Quote from: Spruce on February 07, 2018, 09:09:02 am

Quote from: P @ F on February 06, 2018, 09:56:02 pm
How do you even get that plastic battery body ?
It looks like it is purpose made , but before you dabbled there was no purpose to produce them surely

I would guess that its shrink wrap that shrinks with the application of heat.

My next question is the varying quality of these used, reclaimed batteries. I appreciate that each of them has been tested to a level but they won't perform as they did when new. So if there is one of these 160 reclaimed batteries that fails prematurely, how does that effect the rest of the pack?

If your torch takes 4 batteries and you use 1 old one because you only have 3 new ones, the flat one drains the 3 new ones, doesn't it?

Yep these cells are used and reclaimed. Many come from laptop battery's that no longer work. But often this isn't because all the cells are bad or most of the cells are good. I've testing around 300 cells and picked the best 160. Most perform as new. (Was really surprised when I first realised 5 year old cells were like new) People think lithium battery's don't last long because of the experience of like phone battery's. These are cycled hard everyday and last a couple of years before they start to get weak and Any loss in power is noticed because it's only one cell not 160.

My pack will be charged up around 26 times a year not 365 like a phone battery. Also being so big if one cell deteriorates it will just not hold so much capacity but we are talking an insignificant amount. As I mentioned in a previous post if a 'cell goes bad' it will pop a little fuse and disconnect that cell.

I'm sure there are window cleaners like me that find the job dull and want to improve their set up for efficiency and speed. Hoping to inspire someone like minded.

« **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2018, 03:20:44 pm »

Batteries being the bane of my life,I say well done mate..

« **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2018, 03:52:16 pm »

Quote from: paul alan on February 07, 2018, 08:41:09 am

Quote from: Perfect Windows on February 07, 2018, 08:01:41 am
Don't know why you bothered when you could just buy one. And this one's 260Ah not a piddling 92!

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-relion-260-ah-deep-cycle-solar-storage-lithium-battery/

I've just ordered one.

Vin

Don't know why you didn't just buy one??

price???

You'll find Vin has a very dry sense of humour!!!

« **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2018, 04:23:04 pm »

I’m very impressed!

Not sure I could be bothered with makimg one myself, but its impressive none the less.