Custom Lith-Ion Battery for HID Mods

[stollman]

I am working on a HID mod, and interested in replacing the stock 12V, 7ah SLA with a Lith-Ion Battery. The ballasts I may be working with could either be 12V or 24V. The folks at Battery Space recommended the following for my 12V application ($96.00 solution).
http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo426650battery128v66ah84wh25arateinaluminum-boxwithpcbandprewire.aspx

My questions:
1) Is there a CPF member that makes custom batteries?
2) Is there another supplier besides Battery Space that sells Li-Ion batteries for HID conversions?

 

[BVH]

If you're ok with Lipo packs, I'd go for a 4-cell approx 6-7 AH, non-boxed solution from them. The box just makes the mod more difficult, taking up valuable space. Be sure your ballast can take 15 to 16 Volts initially. I question if a 6 AH, 12 Volt pack will not sag too much under a 200 Watt load. The Lipo is quite a bit lighter than Life4po pack.

 

[liteitup]

there are many options for lithium batteries. The lifepo4 lithium battery they have recommended is by far the safest lithium tech. Im not positive on the dimensions but if that pack fills the same space as a 7ah sla battery then its probably your best option... At 8 bucks per cell * 8 plus the protection circuit board you would really save nothing building it yourself and then its not wrapped in a nice aluminum case.


There are cheaper less safe ways of doing this as well. Lipo batteries are the cheapest way. I bought a pair of 14.8 volt 4000mah batteries off ebay for only 40 bucks shipped. Now lipos are considered the least safe lithium battery out there, but as long as you charge it correctly and dont leave it in 150º heat it should be ok.

You could build a pack out of 18650 lithium cells (same cells as used in laptops, and also the same type of cell used to power most high dollar hid lights). This is a little safer then lipo although still dangerous if charged incorrectly.


Honestly for 96 bucks i think the pack they recommended would be the best... its protected and should pack nicely in the place of the 7ah sla along with being a very safe lithium battery. I went lipo for packaging reasons in my hid light.

 

[liteitup]

If you're ok with Lipo packs, I'd go for a 4-cell approx 6-7 AH, non-boxed solution from them. The box just makes the mod more difficult, taking up valuable space. Be sure your ballast can take 15 to 16 Volts initially. I question if a 6 AH, 12 Volt pack will not sag too much under a 200 Watt load. The Lipo is quite a bit lighter than Life4po pack.

maybe i missed it, but 200 watts? was this in another post? if thats the case i would lean more towards a quality lipo pack as they are very good at high amp.

The lipo packs i bought off of ebay arnt bad, but i would recommend another option is the turnigy brand 14.8 lipo 5000 mah battery from hobbyking. True Ah ratings and 20c which means 100 amps continuous power, for 40 bucks! The battery space packs are also good options because the have the protection circuits, just more expensive. depends on how much your going to be spending.

 

[BVH]

If it's the same light, I know it's a 200 Watt mod from his PM to me.

 

[liteitup]

ahh PM, that explains it! so if he has a 200 watt light at lets say an avg of 14 volts over the run of the 14.8 lipo pack that would be an average amp draw of 14.28 amps. easy for a lipo. i think thats the right choice bvh! A 14.8v 5000mah pack would net around 21 minutes run time. 25 minutes for a 14.8 6000mah pack, all hypothetically of course. not bad for 200 watts!

 

[BVH]

Patriot (I think it's Patriot?) frequently mentions those "Flightpacks" that seem to be pretty reasonable Lipo packs. Paul, gotta link?

 

[Norm]

Patriot (I think it's Patriot?) frequently mentions those "Flightpacks" that seem to be pretty reasonable Lipo packs. Paul, gotta link?

This is what I'm using
Norm

 

[BVH]

That's the one! Thank you

 

[liteitup]

flightmax or turnigy are both good batteries, i think they're the same manufacturer.

I havnt seen that flightmax 5000mah before, 30 bucks is a GREAT price.

 

[stollman]

Here's another battery that Battery Space recommended as long at the ballast can handle 16.8v peak. It is a LiMnNi, 14.8V, 8AH, Protected, 2.16 lbs, $119.50, and is the same size as the standard 7AH SLA (5 lbs) used for a Vector. They mentioned this type of battery is better ballanced than the LiFePO4.
http://www.batteryspace.com/limnni26650battery148v80ah1184wh20arateinaluminum-boxwithpcbandprewire.aspx

 

[Patriot]

Patriot (I think it's Patriot?) frequently mentions those "Flightpacks" that seem to be pretty reasonable Lipo packs. Paul, gotta link?

Yep, the Flightmax brand and Rhino's are both great!

 

[stollman]

I was under the impression that you want lith batteries with a protection circuit for safety reasons. Is this not the case? It seems there are many folks posting on this thread may be using unprotected batteries? What happens when you run these unprotected batteries all the way down? Regarding charging, I would assume you can buy a charger that won't overcharge the battery and make it go BOOM.

 

[BVH]

Schulze charger...no maka boom...boom

 

[get-lit]

Schulze charger...no maka boom...boom

As far as battery tech, I now recommend lifepo4 due to safety and higher energy density.

 

[stollman]

Ref: Flightmax 5000 & Rhine 4900

I have tried to contact Hobby King on their 800# and email since last Wednesday. No answer on phone (just rings), no answering machine, and no email reply.

I wonder if they are still a viable company.