Make Lifepo4 cell box

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Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 07 May 2019, 22:55

Hello.

I'm considering adopting Lifepo4 batteries.
The main obstacle is how to fit these batteries into my chair.

wc_01.pg.JPG


Ideally, a metal box.

How have done you?
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Burgerman » 07 May 2019, 23:59

Where do the LEAD batteries usually fit?
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 08 May 2019, 00:11

Boxes...


img_20160224_130428.jpg
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Burgerman » 08 May 2019, 10:48

Then you need to find the biggest Ah that will fit in each box. Can be 4S or 8S. In each box.

What size are the lead bricks?
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Scooterman » 08 May 2019, 13:39

I have boxes on my small scooter but would do away with them if convert it to lithium. Simpler
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 08 May 2019, 15:11

What size are the lead bricks?


30 ah - 33 ah

I have boxes on my small scooter but would do away with them if convert it to lithium. Simpler


What alternative do you suggest?
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Scooterman » 08 May 2019, 15:35

Put all 8 cells in a single box. Buy or make the box.
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 08 May 2019, 16:48

Buy or make the box.


It's not that easy...

I'll also need to host powertec somewhere.
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Scooterman » 08 May 2019, 18:33

Down the road, I think you may run into connection problems with two boxes. Especially if you sometimes remove boxes to transport chair by car.

Just my opinion....
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Burgerman » 09 May 2019, 01:17

If both are 24V boxes, and both connect via andersons, then it will run on one or two boxes, and no connection issues with those. The charge cables will be sub D connectors, one on each box.
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 10 May 2019, 19:20

Does anyone know if those boxes are used outside the field of powerchairs?
Do those boxes have a technical name?
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Burgerman » 10 May 2019, 19:26

Boxes... :cussing :thumbup:
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby LROBBINS » 10 May 2019, 19:48

Yes, they are used elsewhere and in English they're called "battery boxes". Here's what McMaster-Carr stocks:
battery boxes.jpg
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 10 May 2019, 19:58

And what's this technically called?

duda.jpg
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Burgerman » 11 May 2019, 01:14

I doubt anyone knows. You could create that from bolt/spacer/washer. Theres hundreds of different types of bolts and fixings.
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 11 May 2019, 19:30

Burgerman wrote:I doubt anyone knows. You could create that from bolt/spacer/washer. Theres hundreds of different types of bolts and fixings.



OK.

Thanks.
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby ex-Gooserider » 14 May 2019, 00:48

As others have said, you are either going to have to make those boxes work, or build something custom... Those are almost certainly proprietary, so you will be mostly on your own for building...

A plastic box is nice in that you don't need to worry as much about insulating the outside of the packs, but a sheet metal box would be easier to make... A reasonably decent sheet metal shop should be able to turn out a custom box without a lot of trouble....

Ah rating is not a highly useful number for telling what size a battery is... Better is to have the 'Group Size' if not the dimensions... This is the first thing I found w/ Duck-Duck - https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools/bci-battery-group-sizes.html

Sounds like you might have size 'U-1' batteries - which is not unusual for a portable type chair - they are small and underpowered, but light as lead bricks go... Unfortunately I don't know if we have any 'recipes' for battery sizes that will work for them. It may also be a challenge to come up with a pack that can supply the required current in such a small size.

It may be worth looking at the chair design to see if it would be possible to fit a larger box or set of boxes...

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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby martin007 » 14 May 2019, 21:46

It may be worth looking at the chair design to see if it would be possible to fit a larger box or set of boxes...


The space available is very small and fair. banghead banghead
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby farmer » 15 May 2019, 01:41

build a add-on like expresso and others have,
hang on back and be done with it
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby farmer » 15 May 2019, 01:41

build a add-on like expresso and others have,
hang on back and be done with it
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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby shirley_hkg » 07 May 2020, 04:46

You can convert / modify the 2 boxes into ONE easily , with 3 thin sheets of PVC boards glued by silicon sealant.

You then have a better compartment , or even more height to accommodate more Ah. cheers

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Re: Make Lifepo4 cell box

Postby Irving » 07 May 2020, 11:20

Would be good to have pics of boxes in chair to get feel of layout. Personally I'd ditch boxes, make new 4S packs out of largest cells in space available and fabricate simple U-shaped hangers to match the fixing points - maybe just webbing straps would suffice since LiFe packs are much lighter...
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