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hi guys
for my new drum spinner i plan to run it off a123's...but iv never worked with them before...i have a rough understanding of building packs, but im sure theres some stuff i dont know, heres a link i found on how to build a a123 pack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkDgo...eature=related
Yup a very nice demonstration. To answer your questions,
- 100W+ soldering iron with a big flat surface, leave it to heat up for a good few minutes and allow it to reheat for a minute between cells
- I didn't bother with balancing wires, didn't need them
- I used a dapter with my nicad charger, do a search on google and you will find them but as I said this method won't balance the cells, merely trick your current charger into thinking its charging nicads.
- Ebay had a supplier selling them for a while. The cells were removed from battery packs and not all of the same voltage so a bit of balancing was required but nothing major.
If you are going to use a balancer then place one wire on the positive end of each cell, or on the bar and one on the negative of the whole pack.
Here's a useful little document for it
http://media.hyperion.hk/dn/a123/packas ... ckassy.pdf
Andy
Just remembered, if you want a roboteers take on it all, check out the pages that John Reid put on the terrorhurtz webpages about pack assembly and testing.
Yep, they're very good too and here http://www.terrorhurtz.co.uk/a123/Quote:
Originally Posted by typhoon_driver
Andy
i can't see that link you posted jack???
I have built a couple of packs and have the following things to pass on
i would reccommend using balance wires and a balancer, remmebr the balance wires have to be all the same length
i would say glue your pack of 4 or whatever to gther first then solder much easier
big hot soldering iron
and ebay is the best place i would say (take cuation) the a123 cells seem to be green atm this is ok
couple of links
balancer ( you will need a hyperion charger to match can't find the one i use atm
http://www.rcdude.com/servlet/the-165/H ... Net/Detail
enjoy
Hi. Those links are very nice thank you! Alex. I'm not sure why you can't see the link because it is defo there :? Iv checked out eBay and most of the cells seem to be those yellow ones... Would the cells from this work? http://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItem.as ... on&emvcc=0 or would I have to get them via a big name brand? Ta muchly :)
we used these which are basically stripped down dewalt packs
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-Pcs-A123-3-3v- ... 1c124cbe23
Or we did consider these pre-made packs:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/7S1P-A123-22-4V-N ... 255a7e125f
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... rentCat=85
Andy
For chargers, I'm looking at getting this model when I move to A123s:
http://www.giantcod.co.uk/dual-power-ch ... 04349.html
Mainly because it has a 240V mains plug so you don't require a separate power supply (not a fan of chargers that don't have mains plugs and require an external power source, just another piece of kit you have to buy/maintain/lug around)
As far as I am aware, it charges A123s (they're Li-Fe aren't they?) and has built-in balancing connections for up to six cells. Pretty low-cost too.