Another little gem on ES Forum.

[Nealh]

Custom Mini Arduino spot welder for 18650 etc, runs off a 3s lipo max 12.6v. Kit approx $100 delivered.
Developed by a guy in Korea and payment only via Paypal. Also comes with a solder iron operated from another port which can use up to 6s lipo.

https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=89076

 

[anotherkiwi]

Gulp...

So a HL case full of 30Q has just become an option for my future build, $100 shipped is a steal!

 

[jerrysimon]

Has anyone got one of these ?

If not I guess its one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2in-1-18650-788H-60A-Spot-Welding-Spot-welder-Soldering-DIY-for-Battery-Charger-/272356077511?hash=item3f69afefc7:g:NOgAAOSwq1JZEYTl

Jerry

 

[Nealh]

Not quite Jerry .
The Boss mini spot welder fits in your pocket, it is possible if a user is careful and experiments that a 4s lipo may be possible but 3s is the ideal solution for any welds, it also doubles up with a solder port for soldering using a 6s lipo. It can only carry out one option at a time.

The uploaded videos on ES from Spain by rojitor are very good .
Spot welds 0.1- 0.2mm pure nickel with excellent proper results.
The power is totally adjustable so you get the exact strength of weld without any burning or deep damaging welds.

 

[jerrysimon]

I emailed him about it.

Most of my builds are 5s2p or 5s4p packs that I then series together. This allows me to balance them using a cheap model charger balancer as and when. I dont use a BMS!



I set the cutout on the controllers to 31v.

I have used Sony Konion cells for over three years with no cell failures balanced once on build and maybe 2 or 3 times over the three years.

These were 1600mha cells you can now buy them in 3100mah cells so I could get twice the capacity for half the weight

PS I can't see a use for the soldering iron as I have a welding station though I guess this is more portable.

Jerry

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Has anyone got one of these ?

If not I guess its one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2in-1-18650-788H-60A-Spot-Welding-Spot-welder-Soldering-DIY-for-Battery-Charger-/272356077511?hash=item3f69afefc7:g:NOgAAOSwq1JZEYTl

Jerry

That's exactly the one I have.

 

[jerrysimon]

I have taken a punt on the small one of this post. Will report back once it arrives.

So how do you find the larger from ebay Dave ?

I am fed up with trying to find cells with tags on them or ready made up. This should enable me to experiment with lots of different sizes/capacitiesvoltages.

This seems like a nice place to to get cells.

https://eu.nkon.nl/

Loads of options for Konion ones of difference capactities. Is there limit to EU imports in terms of paying import duty I read £135 or something ?

Jerry

 

[anotherkiwi]

You are still in it for the moment Jerry so no duty from the EU.

 

[jerrysimon]

Thanks good point

Jerry

 

[awol]

I have taken a punt on the small one of this post. Will report back once it arrives.

Yes, please report back, also on the order page I notice he asks how much value to put for duty reasons.
How much is the max we can put for duty free UK delivery?

 

[jerrysimon]

I think its around £34 or possibly £39 not clear. There seems to be a different options of gift or sample when I read the gov.uk site. All rather confusing.

I left it to him rather than ask him to mark it down.

I have a few packages coming from China and have selected different couriers to see who hits me with import duty. In the past I have always found it to be hit and miss. These aren't huge amounts of money and its more fun to see what happens

Jerry

 

[jerrysimon]

I like the look of this stuff

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1M-0-15x25-5mm-Pure-Ni-Plate-Nickel-Strip-Tape-for-18650-Battery-Spot-Welding-/401299421123?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

Jerry

 

[awol]

I like the look of this stuff

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1M-0-15x25-5mm-Pure-Ni-Plate-Nickel-Strip-Tape-for-18650-Battery-Spot-Welding-/401299421123?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

Jerry

It's an inch wide which is wider than the cells.
What about this-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3m-8mm-x-0-15-Pure-Ni-plate-nickel-strip-tape-for-Li-18650-battery-spot-M-C/302372478114?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=20140122125356&meid=75495823566947f5a6694453bec7d447&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&sd=401299421123

 

[jerrysimon]

Yes It was generic I hadn't checked the width.

Still can't decide which VTC cells to get VTC5 2600mAh or VTC6 3120mAh. I guess as I am a weight weenie I should get the higher capacity ones

These have come a long way from my Makita based Sony Konion VTC 2 1600mAh cells now three years old. Hope they self balance as well. I never charge them behond 4.1V as I read this helps them live longer which seems to be the case so far.

PS that strip I linked is for connecting up parallel strip pairs like my pic above. Neat sollution.

Sorry I am going off topic. Will post back when I get the gizmo.

Jerry

 

[awol]

PS that strip I linked is for connecting up parallel strip pairs like my pic above. Neat sollution.

Good idea, it will make neat parallel connections.

 

[Nealh]

It's an inch wide which is wider than the cells.
What about this-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3m-8mm-x-0-15-Pure-Ni-plate-nickel-strip-tape-for-Li-18650-battery-spot-M-C/302372478114?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=20140122125356&meid=75495823566947f5a6694453bec7d447&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&sd=401299421123

That nickel strip isn't pure nickel but Ni plated steel.

Pure nickel here;
https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/0.html?spm=a2g0s.9042647.0.0.eKa1pS&orderId=503360286972934&productId=32333149144

Test Ni strip for purity with sand paper a dip in saline solution and 24 hrs should tell if it oxidises or not.

 

[Nealh]

I have a Boss mini coming from Korea via the slow boat route, I asked him to mark it as $35. I didn't see the need for the solder iron.
The cells from Nkon are all duty free as in the EU as stated by AK, the p&p is very good at approx. 10 - 12 euros only.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Nkon also sells nickel strips like those and 99.x pure.

 

[jerrysimon]

Thanks guys I had noticed/wondered if those strips were pure Ni.

Good call

https://eu.nkon.nl/nikkel-batterijpack-verbinding-soldeerstrip-27mm.html

Like those spacers to make it all neat and tidy.

https://eu.nkon.nl/keeppower-3-18650-battery-spacer.html

 

[Nealh]

Buying pure Ni strips from Nkon makes sense if you are also buying cells but on their own with p & p price is a bit high compared to the Aliexp offering.