lvl99MemeWizard
100 µW
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2020
- Messages
- 8
I have a lot of devices like flashlights and USB C bank enclosures that run on 18650's so I want to keep my cells portable/modular and thus not punch soldered together. BUT I also want to use 9-ish of them to power a small inverter in case of a power outage. So I looked into premade plastic shell solutions and found shockingly little. I picked up 2 types to test with and they're both awful. See pics.
The quad series one, according to its own specs, melts those pathetic wires above 30 watts so I thought no problem, I'll attach thicker wires. Oops, can't do that without cracking it open. Also it turns out the inverter I wanted to use doesn't like 16.8V. I could have sworn it was 10.4v low to 18.5 high but nope. It's like 14.8V max or something. So as for the other single ones that use thick metal clips, I thought I was on to something since they said you can connect them via soldering or spade terminals.
So I mocked up a temporary and very poorly made test setup on a 2x4. It's 3x2p right now with one series with spades stuck behind the clips to make good contact. I can't imagine where else they were intending me to stick them. Now the batteries are insanely difficult to take in and out due to the pressure and the wires keep pulling out. So that's awful. And for the 2nd series, soldering onto the tiny metal part turned out to be almost impossible but I did it. It's tiny, slippery, and flat and right next to plastic. I suspect they're either generally awful or I'm doing both of their suggested methods incorrectly but seriously, they couldn't have made the metal spikes rings instead? Really?!
My only other idea is some sort of insulated tube with screw-on ends and thick gauge springs that I can alligator clip or solder together with fairly low gauge wire into a 3s3p arrangement but I'd rather buy a premade solution. Anyone got any ideas or gear that works easily while still letting the batteries be quickly removable? I also thought magnets would be pretty slick though a bit dangerous but I couldn't find anywhere selling magnets with wires already soldered to them.
The quad series one, according to its own specs, melts those pathetic wires above 30 watts so I thought no problem, I'll attach thicker wires. Oops, can't do that without cracking it open. Also it turns out the inverter I wanted to use doesn't like 16.8V. I could have sworn it was 10.4v low to 18.5 high but nope. It's like 14.8V max or something. So as for the other single ones that use thick metal clips, I thought I was on to something since they said you can connect them via soldering or spade terminals.
So I mocked up a temporary and very poorly made test setup on a 2x4. It's 3x2p right now with one series with spades stuck behind the clips to make good contact. I can't imagine where else they were intending me to stick them. Now the batteries are insanely difficult to take in and out due to the pressure and the wires keep pulling out. So that's awful. And for the 2nd series, soldering onto the tiny metal part turned out to be almost impossible but I did it. It's tiny, slippery, and flat and right next to plastic. I suspect they're either generally awful or I'm doing both of their suggested methods incorrectly but seriously, they couldn't have made the metal spikes rings instead? Really?!
My only other idea is some sort of insulated tube with screw-on ends and thick gauge springs that I can alligator clip or solder together with fairly low gauge wire into a 3s3p arrangement but I'd rather buy a premade solution. Anyone got any ideas or gear that works easily while still letting the batteries be quickly removable? I also thought magnets would be pretty slick though a bit dangerous but I couldn't find anywhere selling magnets with wires already soldered to them.
