PINNED - Lithium battery conversion/info

[Burgerman]

crimps!

[stevelawiw]

The cell I mentioned earlier with the dodgy -tive terminal, I just finished a capacity cycle and it gave me 99.5ah out taking it down to 2.9v,. After an hour the cell was just over 3v so there was a bit more in there, and it took 102.5ah to fill it back up again so I'm happy with that but I will still tell them about the terminal I think.
Tracking on my shipping is/was a bit pointless. I didn't even know they were in the country when they arrived at my door, and the supplier has just emailed me, two days after delivery to tell me they've arrived in my country!

crimps!

Lol I thought you liked crimping as long as it's soldered as well!

[Burgerman]

Thats OK!

My nephew was outside trying to get the tow bar wiring on his work van to work a while back. If he kicks the loom it flickers on and off. Take a guess why...

[stevelawiw]

aah! I can see where this is going I think
Is it crimping??

[Burgerman]

And road salt. And an earth wire.

[terry2]

Next week I may put my cells in my chair.
I am getting fed up of the long charging periods and short travel distance.

[Burgerman]

Welcome to lead reality!

[Burgerman]

The cell I mentioned earlier with the dodgy -tive terminal, I just finished a capacity cycle and it gave me 99.5ah out taking it down to 2.9v,. After an hour the cell was just over 3v so there was a bit more in there, and it took 102.5ah to fill it back up again so I'm happy with that but I will still tell them about the terminal I think.

IF you charge to 3.65V, and soak for 15 mins, and were to set a DISCHARGE with a 200ma termination, and with CC/CV, and set it to 2.50V end voltage, you would get the rated 105Ah. But its unhealthy for the cell. Will increase self discharge level. But thats the only way to test the actual full capacity.

Its better to test CC at a sensible low current, to 2.90V and then add 5% to the figures. Its almost as accurate and is all we need to know. Without damage.

[stevelawiw]

I hate complaining, but look at this! it's not been drilled square Not happy I've just sent them a snotty email.

[LROBBINS]

Steve,

That's lousy, but if you put a large flat washer on the stud and moderately tighten a nut, does it straighten out? This is probably a soft alloy (perhaps even 1000 series = pure aluminum and it may deform pretty readily. If it doesn't you'll never get really good electrical contact with canted studs.

[expresso]

by any chance - who was the supplier of those Cells ? if you dont mind

thanks

[stevelawiw]

This is the page expresso, the company is called BLS https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33054219276.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.70304c4dJYzQYh
Lenny it's rubbish isn't it? I'll wait and see what they say.

[ICEUK]

If it helps anyone i used these guys. https://m.rj-lithium.com/supplier-33732 ... ttery-cell
They were slightly cheaper too and so far all looks good with my cells

[Burgerman]

Those are obviouly tapped or drilled by hand, by the apprentice...

They should at very least use a drill press.

[expresso]

both sites look great - look like brand new cells - etc, etc, - bottom line - we will really never know what they do and how the handle them - drill them etc, - one thing i do know - once you by from China - they are never going back - work it out with the seller - see if you can get an extra few cells - or discount again

they may also say - if it works fine and no damage etc, - its nothing to worry about - all depends how good or honest the seller is - i had one seller who was an Asshole and gave me problems - Paypay helped me out and i got replacement cells one time - and another i got partial refund -

the last seller i worked with was very nice and it worked out - its hit and miss -

[LROBBINS]

Steve,

Did you open a dispute on AliExpress? If it's still possible to do so I recommend it - if the seller turns out to be uncooperative, AliExpress will apply pressure that seems to work (at least for small items). Of course, if you paid the extra to use PayPal on AliExpress, you have that route as well.

[rickystyx]

I got my cells from BLS direct instead of using aliexpress because I like to have the safety of using PayPal so you can get your money back if there is an issue. Only one of mine is drilled and tapped slightly out of square and on that one yo could see that the drill point had wandered about before hitting the centre and drilling - not too bothered as it makes a good connection. What has really p"£$%^& me off though wasn't with my new cells but with my PL8 - I fought on making the wiring up nice and neatly and had it all complete and ready to do a balance charge and it tells me wrong number of cells. I fought on trying to find a dry solder joint, bad connection etc all day and in the end I cut everything apart again and started with just the balance wire that came with the PL8 - same problem - so I tried my other PL8 - still the same problem - breaks are in the flipping balance wire jst plug and I don't have a spare. So I'll take a couple of days off to calm down while the new cable arrives - why are they so hard to get hold of?
Time for a little something to cheer myself up - at least I haven't started to make crap connections in my old age but may have to see about getting rid f those silly jst connections once the guat=rantee is out of date for the PL8

[expresso]

with paypal is good to have them on your side - BUT if theres an issue and paypals says OK - your right - they will say - Send it back and we refund all the money - and thats another issue - your not going to return them - at your cost or even not at your theres either - they wont cover the cost of returns -

best bet if it bothers you - have them send you an replacement Cell or refund for one cell ? or both for the troubles - when buying those balance wires - i would buy at least 4 of them - sooner or later you may need another one - either another pack or a mistake is made etc, -

[stevelawiw]

Lenny,
I was holding off opening a dispute, but I have now. What put me off was having to say how much you want refunded which you have to do to complete and submit the form. So I asked for a total refund They'll probably come back with an offer I guess, or tell me where to get off

[rickystyx]

Iwould have bought a few balance wires if I could find them locally from US they want £13 just for postage, I'd really like to get rid of that silly connector but that will have to wait - might invest in some solder on connectors if I can find one that will fit - one of the duont or similar will probably fit I just need to work out which one

[Burgerman]

would have bought a few balance wires if I could find them locally from US they want £13 just for postage, I'd really like to get rid of that silly connector but that will have to wait - might invest in some solder on connectors if I can find one that will fit - one of the duont or similar will probably fit I just need to work out which one

Are we talking about those 36 inch long ones that are for the PL8 BY REVOLECTRIX? Its always best to buy half a dozen or so when you buy the PL8 and also a FUIM3 all together. Because of postage. Because you WILL need them. 2 for most projects. They are also available from a few hobby stores. And you can buy just the connectors from china cheap. Shirley linked to some and has a few himself.

[rickystyx]

yes it's the 36in from revolectrix I'm wanting but they always seem to only have one when I want them - which makes them expensive. Scooterman had some advertised but he seems to have disappeared for a while, so I'll make some up but I'm just not sure which plug I need as some people say they are JST-xh some JST-PA and some FMA

[expresso]

Pros and Cons of getting 8 200ah Cells vs 16 100ah Cells -

is there an advantage to using 16 Cells vs 8 or vise versa - ?

thinking of my next pack - curious if its worth it with 16 Cells - both giving you 200ah - - and cost about the same

[Burgerman]

The only real reason for going to 16 cells is if you gain capacity.

Which 200Ah cells are you talking about?

[Burgerman]

notSquare.jpg

I hate complaining, but look at this! it's not been drilled square Not happy I've just sent them a snotty email.

I might take a careful look at those and helicoil all of them. Very carefully and accurately. And loctite the helicoils in with the red stuff.

Depending od depth available.

[expresso]

nothing specific - just browsing around - the most is 105ah cell - using 16 - but again may only get 100ah out of them or 95ah - never know for sure - same with 200ah Cells - you may get 180ah in the end or better

cost wise its close either way - sometimes cheaper on some 200ah Cells - also i notice cycle life - who says 6000 - some say 3000 - others 2000 or 4000 - its all over the map - whos to know for sure

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000561 ... 2e0e1vx1aJ


just one of many i find

[Burgerman]

205*55*175mm means 205 wide.

Those that claim higher than 2000 cycles are doing so at 70% DOD instead of 80%. And are calling EOL or End Of Life, at 70% of original capacity too instead of 80. So 4 or 6 thousand cycles is quite possible with all healthy LiFePO4 in that case.

[expresso]

dont we have 259mm to work with ?

What should we be looking out for then in terms of those DOD number ? 80% i notice alot of 80 DOD

[Burgerman]

Yes. and x 175. For 1 battery.

So you need to fit 4 cells into 260 or a little more, x 175.

Those are 200 x 55. So stack 4 together and you have 220 x 200. Or 400 x 110. Doesent work?

[expresso]

i have to look again - i though it was 200mm high x 175mm

the only thing i see is the 175mm - that makes it a few mm more than the 173mm lead -

for example my 200ah i have - its a few mm more than the stock battery tray - but very minor that it should still work - those were stated to be 174mm -