Battery Wrapper Replacement

[damn_hammer]

I have two Li-ion batteries where the wrapper is either cracked, or damaged. One battery is a couple days old, and the other a few years. Both take, and keep a charge.

First I don't know if the wrapper is available by itself?

Second, if it is available what size (AA, and AAA) would I order of what material, and from where?

And third, is installing a new one reasonably straight forward?

Otherwise I'm going to to have to pitch (recycle) batteries that don't have anything else wrong with them. Thanks of any assistance answering these questions.

 

[qwertyydude]

If the wrapper is going on my cells I simply wrap the battery in a couple layers of packaging tape.

 

[^Gurthang]

The shrink-wrap used on batteries is not typically available to the public.

Heat-shrink generally is too thick.

Best bet is polyester tape, thin & tough. Last time I looked Staples office supply stocked just such a packaging tape.

 

[Ray_of_Light]

I have the same problem with many rechargeable batteries, especially AA size.

It would be nice is one of our CPF dealers would stock pre-sized heat-shrink wrappings for the various battery sizes, so we can recall from oblivion uncounted numbers of good batteries.

Regards

Anthony

 

[alpg88]

no worries, i re wrap cells all the time, at first it didn't come out looking professional, but after many tries all looks great.
srink wrap tubes you can buy at battery space, it is thicker than stock wrap on any cell i used, but it couses no problems, even AA that i re wrapped, fit fine in FM holder, and anywhere else. AA needs 24mm tube, 18650's need 32mm tube.
heat gun works the best, but with little practice blow dryer works too, just don't try open flames, it will shrink tube unevenly and rip it, don't waste the wrap, it is not that cheap.
keep in mind sizes that they give you in description, is the width of folded tube not diameter.

also once you shank it around the cell edges will not be tight against the ends of the cell, i mean not perfectly tight, while tube is still hot, press ends with your finger, it will flatten ends against top and bottom of the cell very nicely, don't be afraid it wont burn your finger.

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

Kapton tape is resistant to heat, innit?

alpg, way to sneak in a post without me seeing!

 

[Aquanaut]

You can order heat shrink from the above mentioned Battery Space. In order to know what size to order, check out: http://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/How to determine what size PVC shrink wrap.pdf

 

[tolkaze]

I have used that 3M Mica tape before, just looks like regular sticky tape, but doesn't stretch much so you can wrap tight, is stronger, and is heat resistant. But I think that a roll of that tape may be somewhat more expensive than replacing a few cells

 

[CKOD]

http://www.cheapbatterypacks.com/?menu=698EB56DC4&sid=612000

I got some ofthe flat, wide stuff they sell, its teh same stuff used on batteries, PVC, thats quite thin compared to normal polyolefin heatshrink.

I forget what sizes I got, I think the 29mm should be good for covering 16-18mm cells, not sure about smaller AA and AAA sized cells.

 

[LuxLuthor]

All those flat PVC heatshinks are 5 mil thick. It's hard to find 1 to 3 mil thick, but it's out there. Easier to find in clear. I think most retail batteries have 1 to 2 mil thick wrappers.

 

[alpg88]

yep that tube is 5mil.
here is pics of AA and 18650 re wrapped. you can see some imperfections in wrapping itself, like some parts thicker than the rest, but so far i have not had any problems with those cells not fitting anywhere, like i said even FM AA holder that is a tight fit to begin with, still takes the cells with no problem.

 

[damn_hammer]

Re-wrap above looks good.


Thanks to all who replied.

 

[CKOD]

Just checked with what I have, and it is the 37mm, which shrinks down nicely on an 18650, so the 29 should work well on smaller cells too. And it is 5 mil pre shrink 10 mil post shrink as Lux stated.