Honey I Shrunk the Tripple XM-L

[Goldigger]

Originally Posted by emu26

Now that this has become a discussion about home made cell packs I have a question for all of you that have the balance leads permanently exposed.

It feels like all it has done in Sydney for the last 12 months is rain, so what do you do about protecting the balance plug from getting water into it and shorting it out, or is that not going to happen?

Get yourself a Nubrella

[brad72]

Originally Posted by Goldigger

Get yourself a Nubrella

Mate that would be excellent to stop all the Orb spiders smacking me in the face trails I ride. The bastards build there webs across the trail at 10-15 metre intervals so you are forever stopping to get rid of spiders and some of them are bloody big. Getting shivers just thinking about it.

Once you have done 1 lap of the course you are fine but that first lap is nightmarish like The Blair Witch

[yetibetty]

Originally Posted by emu26

Now that this has become a discussion about home made cell packs I have a question for all of you that have the balance leads permanently exposed.

It feels like all it has done in Sydney for the last 12 months is rain, so what do you do about protecting the balance plug from getting water into it and shorting it out, or is that not going to happen?

I don't worry about it as there are no delicate electronics involved as it's just a plug but you could cut a finger tip off a latex glove and stretch it over the balance connector to keep it dry.

[emu26]

Originally Posted by yetibetty

I don't worry about it as there are no delicate electronics involved as it's just a plug but you could cut a finger tip off a latex glove and stretch it over the balance connector to keep it dry.

Do you not risk shorting out the battery? Wouldn't really want to have a lipo sitting on the back of the helmet and having it short out.

Brad, the Orbs are bad down here as well, particularly mid week at night or first thing in the morning.

[Rich_SC]

Originally Posted by emu26

Now that this has become a discussion about home made cell packs I have a question for all of you that have the balance leads permanently exposed.

It feels like all it has done in Sydney for the last 12 months is rain, so what do you do about protecting the balance plug from getting water into it and shorting it out, or is that not going to happen?

On my last build I thought about this and came up with a solution. I took a female balance end I had laying around and put some clear shrink wrap around it. It works pretty good and is waterproof.

[IMG][/IMG]

[DIYtailight]

Computer power supplies often come with the 12V old-style hard drive connectors covered in a little rubber boot. You could cut some plastic to the size of the connector and dip it in a hardening rubber (is plasticdip rubbery? I've never used it...) then pop it off (might want to coat the plastic, or wood, or whatever you use for the mold in some oil/moisturizer) and use it as a rubber cap/boot.

[Road_Runner]

I got round the problem by cutting a small flap in the neoprene battery pouch, then fitted another external flap over the top, glued onto the pouch at one end and velcro-ed at the other to allow it to be opened when required.





I charge the battery on the bike and so use multiple balance leads joined together to connect to the balance port on the charger.

[mattthemuppet]

I use a short piece of road bike inner tube scavenged from the bike shop. Zip tie it beneath the plug then fold it over and wrap an elastic band around it. To charge, remove elastic band, fold back the tube and plug it in. I've never had water get in on any of my balance plugs, even after some truly miserable weather.

[Goldigger]

Cheers Yeti, That cell pack solution stuff is perfect..
Ordered some yesterday and it turned up this morning..
Didn't even tape the cells together, just put some of the sleeving over, shrunk it with BRAD's hairdryer
Then solder the cells together, then put another piece of sleeve over the opposite way with a hole cut in to thread the cable through..
Heated it up again and its all tight as a ducks ass..

Just waiting for the plastidip to turn up so i can make it water tight..

[mattthemuppet]

very tidy I'd recommend filling the whole where the cable comes out with something though - the spray plastidip at least is pretty useless for filling holes, don't know about the dip stuff although I'd assume its better as it's thicker.

[brad72]

Originally Posted by Goldigger

Cheers Yeti, That cell pack solution stuff is perfect..
Ordered some yesterday and it turned up this morning..
Didn't even tape the cells together, just put some of the sleeving over, shrunk it with BRAD's hairdryer
Then solder the cells together, then put another piece of sleeve over the opposite way with a hole cut in to thread the cable through..
Heated it up again and its all tight as a ducks ass..

Just waiting for the plastidip to turn up so i can make it water tight..

Looks really good Jay. I think I'll have to buy some the cells you got. I just need to find a local supplier of the cell heatshrink.

Glad the 10,273 mile extension lead from my hair dryer reached ok without to much voltage drop

[Goldigger]

Thanks Matt..
Filled the hole

[find_bruce]

Originally Posted by brad72

Looks really good Jay. I think I'll have to buy some the cells you got. I just need to find a local supplier of the cell heatshrink.

Brad does this mean you know of a local supplier for the plastidip or do you use an alternative ?

[brad72]

Originally Posted by find_bruce

Brad does this mean you know of a local supplier for the plastidip or do you use an alternative ?

Mate check out these guys Where you can purchase Plasti Dip, plastidip, Liquid Electrical Tape, VLP, or from caswell Plasti Dip

I used to buy my plasti dip from blackwoods to use on machine handles, tools etc but they no longer stock it. Australia is pretty slack when it comes to supply of left field stuff as you have probably found.

[find_bruce]

Originally Posted by brad72

Mate check out these guys Where you can purchase Plasti Dip, plastidip, Liquid Electrical Tape, VLP, or from caswell Plasti Dip

I used to buy my plasti dip from blackwoods to use on machine handles, tools etc but they no longer stock it. Australia is pretty slack when it comes to supply of left field stuff as you have probably found.

Cheers - interesting that it is $14 cheaper from Caswell but the cost of freight rules that out.

A trip to Condell Park should be safe enough - if I'm quick

[yetibetty]

Originally Posted by Goldigger

Cheers Yeti, That cell pack solution stuff is perfect..
Ordered some yesterday and it turned up this morning..
Didn't even tape the cells together, just put some of the sleeving over, shrunk it with BRAD's hairdryer
Then solder the cells together, then put another piece of sleeve over the opposite way with a hole cut in to thread the cable through..
Heated it up again and its all tight as a ducks ass..

Just waiting for the plastidip to turn up so i can make it water tight..

It's great stuff and they are a great company with almost instant delivery.(I don't work for them) Keep any left over in the fridge though as it srinks so easy. I left some on the table and the sun through the window shrunk it.

[Goldigger]

Cheers for the tips guys..
I ended up ripping the sleeving off and starting again, as the cable kept spinning and breaking the seal.


So i ended up using one of the little rubber strain reliefs, i cut it so that it fitted inbetween the the two cells and wouldnt spin..
Held that in place and shrunk some of the sleeving over it, which held it in place nice and tight. 2 more wraps and some silicone sealant around the bottom of the strain relief to fill any holes.
3 coats of plastidip spray, ill probably give it another coat after its dried properly.

[emu26]

that's looking like a neat solution, well done

[Goldigger]

Thanks stu..

Just popped it on the scales, comes in at 109grams

[Goldigger]

I was just having a bit of a clean up and found an old punctured innertube..
So if you dont have the shrink sleeving and plastidip you can try and waterproof your battery pack with one. Here's how i did it..
Cut a length off about 2.5 times as long as the battery's, My cells havent been soldered together in this example as i was just playing about.
Make a little hole as seen in the picture for your lead to come through..

I havent done it, but put a bead of silicone sealant where the red box is in the pic, fold the innertube over and thread it over the opposite end pulling it tight.
Run some super glue under the flap and stick it down. and then run some super glue along the underside of the edges and stick it down..

[Goldigger]

Finally all put together..feels nice and balanced on the head
Its finally snowing outside

[troutie-mtb]

Originally Posted by Goldigger

I was just having a bit of a clean up and found an old punctured innertube..
So if you dont have the shrink sleeving and plastidip you can try and waterproof your battery pack with one. Here's how i did it..
Cut a length off about 2.5 times as long as the battery's, My cells havent been soldered together in this example as i was just playing about.
Make a little hole as seen in the picture for your lead to come through..

I havent done it, but put a bead of silicone sealant where the red box is in the pic, fold the innertube over and thread it over the opposite end pulling it tight.
Run some super glue under the flap and stick it down. and then run some super glue along the underside of the edges and stick it down..

I Like that method Jay and also you could install a velcro strap before glueing it up

[Goldigger]

Does anybody know of a 3.7v charger that I can just chop the lead off and put my own connector on, so i can charge up the 1S2P?
Personally I just use my turnigy charger, but I'm looking for a cheaper less complicated option for a mate who wants one of my helmet lights..
I'm looking for something like smudges smart chargers 7.4V 2S Charger - Li-Ion Batteries and Chargers - Assembled in the UK

Cheers

Edit..
Think this will do the trick SMC 3.7v Minium/MCX Style Lithium Charger

[brad72]

Originally Posted by Goldigger

Does anybody know of a 3.7v charger that I can just chop the lead off and put my own connector on, so i can charge up the 1S2P?
Personally I just use my turnigy charger, but I'm looking for a cheaper less complicated option for a mate who wants one of my helmet lights..
I'm looking for something like smudges smart chargers 7.4V 2S Charger - Li-Ion Batteries and Chargers - Assembled in the UK

Cheers

Edit..
Think this will do the trick SMC 3.7v Minium/MCX Style Lithium Charger

Jay this is charger I am looking at for mates to charge with Tenergy TLP-4000 1A Universal 3.7v -14.8v (1-4S) Lithium Battery Pack CHARGER | eBay. It can charge 1S to 4S packs so very universal. Like you I have a really good charger that is too expensive for a small pack.

The small sussex charger only puts out 180mA so will take a long time to charge up your 2.5A packs. The ebay one I listed charges at 1A so will be more like the charger you have at home.

This could be another option Imax B6 LiPo Battery Balancer Charger+AC Adapter 12V 5A | eBay

[emu26]

be wary of the imax chargers on fleabay, it is my understanding there are a lot of fakes, although I have no idea what the difference is or how you tell real from fake.

Hobby King lists and sells both real and copies on their website.