Lithium Build for Magic Mobility X4

[swalker]

Expresso,

I think being able to pull 167 Ah from 3.6 down to 2.9 volts is an indication that these cells are likely to have a 176 Ah capacity.

Sounds like a have my work cut out for me next week to work out the financial side of things.

I am most curious about how safe folks think these cells will be. Riding around on top of swollen LiFePO4 cells just seems wrong somehow

Steve

[expresso]

yeah i agree - like mines it will have 176ah or very close to it - the other concern about safely is now the main concern - BM would know best on that front -

find out the costs of shipping it back just to know for yourself. then start the process of figuring out best course -

[Burgerman]

Who was the seller?

They will be safe. They have the expected Ah. They may be higher resistance than they should be. They look used in the pics to me. I have bought all kinds of stuff from china and never had an issue. But paypal are pretty good.

It baffled me when you got 170Ah in. They should have been around 30 to 50% charged for storage/shipping. And they look like they have been drilled and tapped by the supplier rather than the manufacturer.

[terry2]

Who was the seller?

They will be safe. They have the expected Ah. They may be higher resistance than they should be. They look used in the pics to me. I have bought all kinds of stuff from china and never had an issue. But paypal are pretty good.

It baffled me when you got 170Ah in. They should have been around 30 to 50% charged for storage/shipping. And they look like they have been drilled and tapped by the supplier rather than the manufacturer.

According to his XLS file from the first page. It's the same place I got mine.

https://www.lifepo4-batteries.com/sale- ... f-car.html

Mine will be with me tomorrow. I hope they will be ok to use.

[Scooterman]

you can take pictures of the cells to prove they are what you believe to be used - etc,

This is good advice. Why not take a photo with a steel rule along the side with the bulge, it will highlight the bulge.

I would keep the cells go for partial refund. If you return the cells the seller might say they arrived damaged (or you damaged them) and only offer a partial refund?

I'm interested in the sellers reply.

Mine will be with me tomorrow. I hope they will be ok to use.

Even if the cells are 'used'. At the price you paid for the number of Ah the cells return, they represent far better value than buying lead acid, plus massive range.

[Scooterman]

I never even thought of visually inspecting the cells I got.

I've only had a look at 8 cells from one of the boxes, they all look shiny and new.

But If you put a straight edge along any side of the cells they're not 'true' (i.e flat/even). Some slightly bulge and others are slightly wavy. I think it's probably down to the manufacturing process, and the side walls being thin aluminium.

One of the cells in particular is dented and creased along one of the bottom corners. I think this is probably due to one of the boxes of 8 cells arriving split open down one side when delivered. (but they have travelled many thousands of miles).

But I'm happy with them, and they were a really good price. I'm looking forward to testing them when Shirley's PS arrives. I haven't been able to test them properly because my old PS went up in smoke. Although I did manage to successfully discharge 4 cells to 3.0v and they were good

It will be interesting to compared the 8 that I've inspected from the split open parcel, with the 8 from the undamaged parcel.

[Burgerman]

Use the half that works...

[Scooterman]

Use the half that works...

Shall I get this out the tool box?

[Burgerman]

Yes. But ONLY hit the broken half.

[Scooterman]

I'll whack Shirley with it! (Only joking shirley mate )

Not his fault if courier didn't look after my package.

I'm really looking forward to getting them installed, super excited! . Especially now with my newly calibrated odomenter, and trailer that I've finished and need to upload build piccies.

But I can't test it out said odometer at the moment as its chucking it down with rain

[expresso]

they should be packing these things much better if they are getting dented from shipping -

[steves1977uk]

That would cost a bit more shipping wise due to slightly larger boxes with better protection around the cells, but it's better to receive them without any damage.

Steve

[Gnomatic]

One of the cells in particular is dented and creased along one of the bottom corners. I think this is probably due to one of the boxes of 8 cells arriving split open down one side when delivered. (but they have travelled many thousands of miles).

My second shirley PSU arrived in a heavily damaged box. It was close to falling out of its packaging. Luckily the PSU itself survived the ordeal.



I swear some some these shipping companies are run by Ace Ventura.


youtu.be/7YrpmZFixp0

[Scooterman]

That was funny!

[Scooterman]

I just had a look at all 16 cells. About half are fine but six of the cells are noticeable dented on the same corner. Increasing from slightly dented to quite a lot dented/squashed, I think this is also causing the bulging on one of the side the cell. It's lucky I'm not tight for space in the battery compartment. I've found some 2.5mm rubber gasket sheet that I will cut to size and use as insulation between and around the cells. That will stop the creases/bulges rubbing through the plastic film on the cells.

I think one the boxes of eight cells must have tumbled from a height, or been dropped while being carried, causing the outer box to split open along one edge. The inner cell boxes are fine but the shock/force/energy was obviously transmitted into the cells resulting in the damaged casings.

It's just one them things, hopefully they will all test okay. Afterall the electricity comes out the top half

[swalker]

Those look worse than any of mine. Like you, I have plenty of room in my battery boxes, so should have not problem fitting cells that I have.

I am still in the process of doing the initial charge for all 8 cells. I am just a few minutes away from finishing the charge on cell 5 of 8. All the ones so far have produced a Capacity IN value of between 172000 and 175000 mAh.

Steve

[elryko1992]

But they have a few issues for our use.

https://files.ev-power.eu/inc/_doc/atta ... asheet.pdf

[swalker]

I have been in contact with the folks who sold me the cells. They asked for pictures and I have just sent them a bunch of pictures showing various irregularities.

I will post updates as I hear back from them.

Steve

[Burgerman]

2 possibilities.

Those were returned used cells, for whatever reason and the warehouse idiot shipped them by mistake. Or they thought they could ship them and get away with it. Or were out of stock of fresh ones and thought ...

Because I find it odd that they were shipped uncharged and obviously discharged to 2.7 or 2.8V? Was it? That shows they or someone had discharge tested them. Or run them till some BMS cut power. Did you mention that they were shipped fully discharged?

[swalker]

When I received the cells each measured either 2.98 or 2.99 volts. When charging the cells, the Capacity IN was between 172000 and 175000 for each cell (charged using your "LiFe Charge ONE 90 to 200Ah Cell" preset).

I am hoping this was a mistake and will be taken care of by the vendor. We shall see.

Steve

[martin007]

But they have a few issues for our use.

https://files.ev-power.eu/inc/_doc/atta ... asheet.pdf


Could you be more precise?
Details are welcome.

[terry2]

When I received the cells each measured either 2.98 or 2.99 volts. When charging the cells, the Capacity IN was between 172000 and 175000 for each cell (charged using your "LiFe Charge ONE 90 to 200Ah Cell" preset).

I am hoping this was a mistake and will be taken care of by the vendor. We shall see.

Steve

Hi dude.

Where in the software can I see the "Capacity IN "?

[Burgerman]

The main screen where you see the cell voltages, charge amps etc as you charge. CELLS! tab. The one where you clicked start.

This shows 19.18Ah OUT, discharging at 4A, and so on.

[swalker]

The 176 Ah cells I am using are specified to use an M6 by 7mm long bolt for the terminal.

I have found that for most of the terminals, a 7mm long bolt works just fine with a ring terminal and a washer.

At least two of the terminals are not drilled deep enough for a 7mm bolt with a washer and ring terminal.

If you use these cells, be very careful about the terminal bolts bottoming out!

Steve

[expresso]

the last set of Cells i used i believe are the same size etc, - the bolts i was given were too long - i replaced them with the bolts from headways i had plenty - and no washers - just ring terminals and locktite - i felt good enough to make them tight but not too extreme -

both i received in one pic - headways in another and the one pic with headway and washer , ring termal - safe enough to make it tight and not over do it

[expresso]

this screw was too long - using a headway was just a bit shorter which seems to be just right - unless you use washers and lockwasher etc, - then maybe the longer screw would be Ok in that case -

[terry2]

Has the seller got back to you about the bad battery?

[Scooterman]

Espresso - how did the cell in the top pic get a slight kink in the casing?

[Burgerman]

Dunno. But that second picture makes me hungry.

[expresso]

Espresso - how did the cell in the top pic get a slight kink in the casing?

it dosnt have a dent - its the blue wrap that makes it look as if its dented - and the camera light etc, - none of my cells - casing were dented - on my other order also -