Battery Packs??

[Goldigger]

For the people that have made their own battery packs What are you using for battery packs for your bike lights? and how are you charging them?

Building my own pack from 8 x 18650's presents me with one problem... the charger can only charge 2 batterys at a time. I could get another charger but i plan to have 2 battery packs so 16 batterys in total..

Any ideas for a 12 - 14volt pack and charger?

Cheers

 

[thysmeades]

I have a solution for you but have to scan my sketches through tomorrow.
Just know that with a 4 cell pack (14.4v) and a 8 pin connector, it's possible. with a 8 cell pack, (and 2 8 pin connectors) or 1 x 16 pin connector (if you get such a thing), it would also be possible. We can talk tomorrow about it.
Thys

 

[thysmeades]

just realised I cannot post pics for some reason. send me a PM with your email and I can assist.
Thys

 

[NovaNath]

You can solder up the pack of cells with a circuit that monitors as they charge. Think you need a specific charger though.

 

[Linger]

http://hobbycity.com/hobbycity/stor...ame=Turnigy_Accucel-6_50W_5A_Balancer/Charger

This one will balance charge 4 channels, iirc you could have 2p in each channel but please confirm this before 2p configuration using.

I've been mulling charger over for 2 months but don't need to upgrade yet (current charger still fulfills it's role). The turnigy Accucel is well recommended in cpf and some rc hobby forum.

+1 on the charge balancing circuit. Batteryspace sells them. Do not use multi-cell 18650 without proper safety precautions.

I'm gonna follow your path in a few months, please let me know how it works out.

 

[brad72]

+2 for the balance charge. Have been using one for years with my 3s and 6s RC heli battteries. If you buy a good charger every cell will be balanced perfectly and better yet you get an onsreen report of cell lotages etc (depending on the unit) when the charge is finished so if a cell isn't quite right you know then and there.

Wiring a balance lead to the battery pack is pretty simple but just remeber to charge the pack somewhere safe just in case something goes wrong. Mine get charged and stored in the back shed. You might need to wire your packs as 4s for the balancing as I don't know how many 8s chargers there are out there.

Good luck with it