Diy solderless 18650 battery kit.

[Nealh]

A recent new thread on E.S, a group/company in India has produced a reasonably low cost kit to build any size battery you want, to suit your needs without welding any cell together. For $19 plus delivery you get a basic kit for up to a 50 cell build in each box for any configuration you require, buy enough boxes to increase your build. The idea is getting some good feed back and buyers on E.S. A pack once connected is slightly larger then a welded one, each cell ends up being approx. 86 mm in length and approx. 20mm wider once all is connected together. Worth a look though, looks like a couple of UK guys have ordered but see no mention on here though as of yet.

https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=87434&hilit=18650+cells#p1276942

 

[craiggor]

Just ordered one kit.$19 + $20 India post 20 days £31.56.$25 India speed post 10-15 days.They said that could quote me for Fed Ex,ups,dhl which would be more expensive. They also said postal cost would work out cheaper if you ordered more than one kit.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I looked at their website, but couldn't figure out how to order. How do you do it?

 

[craiggor]

I looked at their website, but couldn't figure out how to order. How do you do it?

I just used the email address on es. vruzend@gmail.com. Very quick response today,paid with PayPal.

 

[Nealh]

Thanks Craiggor I do remember seeing your name in the thread, I'm thinking of having ago and may order 2 or 3 lots so I have the option of 2 X 6P battery build.
Each plastic module cap is approx 22mm square and each cell will be approx 86mm long with a cap at both ends.
It looks as if a 6p pack would be approx 25 mm wider then a welded one and a 12s build approx 50 mm longer, each kit adds approx 900grms to a 50 cell build.
Certainly looks to be a game changer for diy battery builds esp if you have an enclosure or use panniers.
Sometime late summer after August there should be a Mk2 kit out using copper connectors which should make soldering sense wires easier.

 

[Nealh]

Just ordered one kit.$19 + $20 India post 20 days £31.56.$25 India speed post 10-15 days.They said that could quote me for Fed Ex,ups,dhl which would be more expensive. They also said postal cost would work out cheaper if you ordered more than one kit.

Which choice of cell are you thinking of using ?

If I go ahead my research seems to have narrowed the choice down to three cells.
For ah and good range Panasonic GA's 3450mah and good for 10a each cell in parallel.
Samsung 30Q's 3000mah and good for 15a for each cell and 20a pulses.
LG HG2's 3000mah and 20a per cell.

Lastly there is also the Sony VTC6's 3120mah and said to be a 30a cell but apparently they get very hot at 20a so 15a looks to be kinder.

 

[craiggor]

Which choice of cell are you thinking of using ?

If I go ahead my research seems to have narrowed the choice down to three cells.
For ah and good range Panasonic GA's 3450mah and good for 10a each cell in parallel.
Samsung 30Q's 3000mah and good for 15a for each cell and 20a pulses.
LG HG2's 3000mah and 20a per cell.

Lastly there is also the Sony VTC6's 3120mah and said to be a 30a cell but apparently they get very hot at 20a so 15a looks to be kinder.

Going to have a play with my lawn mower batteries now they are out of warranty. I will make two 22v 6s4p batteries with lipo alarms,so I can charge them with a imax b6.And hook them up together in parallel. I also fancy using them in a go cart for my grandson. The batteries you mention sound like something I would go for in the future.

 

[Nealh]

Urvakhsha the chap at Vruzend is very quick to respond via email less then 4hrs .
For 3 kits $57 and $28 for India post 20 days.
$34 for India post 10-15 days or 3-4 days DHL etc $38.

Just email for enquiry and ask for their Paypal link, send an email confirmation with your details and requirments and use the payment link. Buyers on ES have received their kits with no issues.

For the few sense wire solders needed replacing some of the Buss bars with a homemade copper one will make soldering easier.

A group buy not really worth it as any UK forwarding post would be too expensive.

 

[Nealh]

Panasonic cells are also sold under other names , these are repackaged and in some cases are protected cells.
Performance wise appear to be identical.

So Enerpower, Eagletec and Keeppower are all but in name Panasonic cells. Nkon cell them and they are even more expensive then the Panasonic/Sanyo named ones.

 

[Nealh]

Weighing up the cost of a solderless pack build vs a Jimmy/BGA build.
A 40 cell soldered GA pack recently cost £280 form Jimmy + £32 to get it there and back in person. Original BMS used so a few quid saved.
Solderless diy pack using the same quality cells approx. £220.

1 kit pack and postage £32
I roll Kapton tape £2.25
1 x dc female charge socket £2
cell top insulation gaskets £1.50
Heat shrink wrap £15
40 x GA 18650 cells £159
40a 10s BMS £8
14awg wiring £3

Total £222.75

Advantages of self build pack.

• A bit cheaper .
• Knowledge learnt building and checking cells.
• No welding needed but soldering skills needed.
• No expensive outlay for a welder.
• Lighter pack.
• Ability to swap out or replace cells easier.

I have the perfect solution for a case for a build like this, my graphene's came in a stiff hardback enclosure with a flip lid with magnetic closure. Internal size 232mm x 110mm w x 104mm d, perfect for a 10/12s build and fits in my new panniers a treat. One such enclosure I'm utilising as I an fit all my bike spares and kit in one.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I have the perfect solution for a case for a build like this, my graphene's came in a stiff hardback enclosure with a flip lid with magnetic closure.

Clever man! I approve

I am thinking this may be the solution to my small triangle, I'll have to get to pen and paper to see if it will work. I'm thinking 10S3P for a 10.35 Ah "everyday" battery and then connecting in parallel the 10 Ah graphene for longer travels. If 10S4P fits all the better! As my 10.4 Ah bottle battery is EOL I may just cannibalise it for BMS and charger.

 

[Nealh]

O.K have ordered 3 boxes, so 3 kits which each will build up to a 50 cell battery. Decide though that a 4 or 5P 10S is ideal for my needs and should come in under 2.75kg for 4P or 1/2kg more for 5P.
So if any one within 20/25 miles of RH10 wants a kit let me know as there may be 2 going, I am willing to bring it to you under battery power or you can collect.
I paid £68.64/$85 for all 3 inc postage so one will be a 1/3 at £22.88, as Craiggor has posted 1 kit from India is nearly £32.

Their CS is instant before I could confirm payment to them via paypal, I received a personnel email thanking me for placing the order. For now $19 is an introductory offer so it looks like at some time the price will be going up.

 

[anotherkiwi]

How much would postage on one kit to France cost (before rates to the EU go up... )? If it is too much hassle I will order direct from them.

I am going to disassemble my bottle battery and put it in the tiny frame triangle in a custom box, experimenting with knackered cells first. Once it is working I will replace the used cells with shiny new GA's.

 

[Nealh]

How much would postage on one kit to France cost (before rates to the EU go up... )? If it is too much hassle I will order direct from them.

I am going to disassemble my bottle battery and put it in the tiny frame triangle in a custom box, experimenting with knackered cells first. Once it is working I will replace the used cells with shiny new GA's.

Royal Mail signed and tracked £12.51 up to a kilo, the package is 900g's. Cheaper direct.

Like me I expect you have been doing your homework .

GA's (3450) look good they are a proper 10a cell with v.g capacity also the MJ1(3500) looks equally good at 10a, both 40a// 4P build or 50a /5P and would run cooler then the crappier 29E's which are only really good for about 6a each.
Other high capacity cells to consider 35E, 30Q, PF (2900), MH1 (3200) & VTC6 (3120).
Where are you looking for cell prices ?
Nkon looks the place for price.

 

[craiggor]

Just had a email. My sincerest apologies. There has been a slight problem at our end.Our main punch press has developed a snag. Will update when order dispatched.

 

[Nealh]

Same here.
I replied thanking him for his frankness and he said it was his duty to. Fantastic CS and instant replies, I guess so many orders are being processed due to the ES exposure that the machinery must be on fire due to the demand.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Royal Mail signed and tracked £12.51 up to a kilo, the package is 900g's. Cheaper direct.

Like me I expect you have been doing your homework .

GA's (3450) look good they are a proper 10a cell with v.g capacity also the MJ1(3500) looks equally good at 10a, both 40a// 4P build or 50a /5P and would run cooler then the crappier 29E's which are only really good for about 6a each.
Other high capacity cells to consider 35E, 30Q, PF (2900), MH1 (3200) & VTC6 (3120).
Where are you looking for cell prices ?
Nkon looks the place for price.

Nkon also has good press. Delivery from the Netherlands to here is quite fast...
174€ for 40 GAs plus the kit plus a bit of ply and glass makes for an economical 12.6 Ah battery (90% of nominative).

The 35E is a bit cheaper, having had a good run with Samsung I may pinch pennies and stick with them.

 

[Nealh]

Having not been over impressed with my 29E's, I'm looking at the GA cell. For real cheap build 40 PF's for 118.

35E test report and graphs and summary here, this site compares cells in pairs.
http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Samsung INR18650-35E 3500mAh (Pink) UK.html

 

[KirstinS]

I cannot wait to see the real world results from you pioneers !

This does have such great potential

 

[Nealh]

7S 3P pic on ES built by Tomasz.
Size is 157mm x 67mm x 87mm high.