New battery options (in UK)?

[morphix]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new power source for my e-bike as my BMSBattery 36v 10Ah Li-Ion is defunct after less than 2 years usage. I'm reluctant to buy anything from China again, as this is the second time it's happened to me that a battery has died in a relatively short period of time (the first died in < 9 months).

I've been hearing a lot about Lipo batteries and these sound appealing being readily available in UK and light/cheap alternative to Li-Ion, but the fire risk and charging complications worries me. And I certainly wouldn't want to get into DIY-stuff with batteries and soldering cells together..

So... my question is, does anyone know anyone who provides such a service and does Lipo battery packs made up+chargers in UK?

Or perhaps there's other alternatives to Lipo which are safer and easier to handle?

 

[amigafan2003]

No UK options and you wont find anyone offering ready built packs using lipo bricks - simply to risky from a business perspective.

I now you don't want to buy from China but there really isn't an option - what you need to know is who the good Chinese vendors are - so here goes:-

You wont go wrong with a Ping battery - PingBattery LiFePO4 Battery packs for Electric Bicycle e-Bike & Scooter, Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery - come in all shapes and sizes and good support. Batteries are lifepo4 so pretty safe but maybe a bit "weighty" for you?

Another Chinese vendor that has a good rep is EM3ev - Paul aka CellMan from endless sphere is actually an Englishman running his business in China. not quite as large a range of batteries but all super quality with good support - voltages/capacity are more geared to the US market but if you don't see what you want have a chat with him =- he's usually more than happy to do one off stuff. The packs built with Samsung SDI are particularly good - relatively light weight as well.

 

[Sacko]

You can buy the lipos and make a wiring harness, it isn't that difficult.

For 36v, you could just buy 2 x 10s 5ah Turnigy lipos and 1 x parallel harness.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Zippy do a 8aH 6s packs:
ZIPPY Flightmax 8000mAh 6S1P 30C
so all you need is this to connect them together:
HXT 4mm bullet Male to Banana Plug Lipo Battery Series | eBay
HXT4mm Battery Harness 14AWG for 2 Packs in Series
and this to connect to controller:

HXT4mm w/12AWG silicon wire 10cm (battery side) (5pcs/Bag) (UK Warehouse)
HXT 4mm Battery or ESC Connector 12awg Wire 10cm Lead Male Female Bullet Plug | eBay

Wile looking for those, I stumbled across this:

PowerPeak R/C: Connector Fitting (soldering) Service- Deans HPI/Traxxas/EC3 Losi | eBay

 

[morphix]

Zippy do a 8aH 6s packs:
ZIPPY Flightmax 8000mAh 6S1P 30C
so all you need is this to connect them together:
HXT 4mm bullet Male to Banana Plug Lipo Battery Series | eBay
HXT4mm Battery Harness 14AWG for 2 Packs in Series
and this to connect to controller:

HXT4mm w/12AWG silicon wire 10cm (battery side) (5pcs/Bag) (UK Warehouse)
HXT 4mm Battery or ESC Connector 12awg Wire 10cm Lead Male Female Bullet Plug | eBay

Wile looking for those, I stumbled across this:

PowerPeak R/C: Connector Fitting (soldering) Service- Deans HPI/Traxxas/EC3 Losi | eBay

Thanks d8veh I may have a go at some DIY solution (under careful guidance from the forum and extra safety precautions). I had a very nasty accident with batteries at work in 1990's and very nearly lost my eyesight (was blind for a week and not knowing if I would see again!). Every since then, I've been wary of "experimental" or unpredictable battery technology..these things are mini bombs when they blow up! You don't wanna be holding them or near them without eye protection!

Another reason I'm reluctant to buy from China is the long delivery time and high cost/VAT etc.. by the time it gets here, summer will be over! I'm just able to carry and ride my bike, after knee surgery..well even still it's a bit early, but I'm walking without stick and optimistic ;-)

 

[amigafan2003]

Well this could be a bargian:-

eZee e-bike battery and Li-Ion smart charger 37V 10Ah | eBay

And of course, I forgot to mention cyclezee as a UK supplier of some very well regarded batteries - the prices do reflect them being a UK supplier though.

http://cyclezee.com/ezee-shop.html

 

[Sacko]

Hobbyking now have a UK outlet.

The 10s option I mentioned earlier can be bought already configured, no soldering required.