Anyone want to send me free dead 18650 cells?

[jimbo69ny]

I am in the planning stage of an addition pack to my 2014 Rav 4 EV. I am trying to see how many modules I can fit in my box. I've already purchased a bunch of 18650 cell holders but I need dead cells to fill them. 20-30 should give me enough to put one in each corner of each module. That will allow me to get a better idea of how everything is going to look before I spend the money on the real cells.

Id really appreciate it! Of course I would pay for shipping.

Let me know if you have some you want to get rid of.

[jimbo69ny]

Once I finalize my plans I am going to take the box to my welder and have him build me an aluminum box.

If you are curious you can follow my progress here.
http://www.myrav4ev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2191

[amberwolf]

YOu might try places local to you that do battery recycling--perhaps they would let you take dead packs?

If not, some members have had luck with the places that pick those cells up from various locations, like Dequinox (he has at least one thread about it)

[jimbo69ny]

Local recyclers would be a long shot. It would take time to track down a location that dealt with 18650 cells and then I would have to find the right person who would give me some. Thank you but I doubt that would work.

A much easier option would be if there were members here who had some they weren't going to use and wanted to give away. I'm sure there are battery builders here that have dead cells laying around and would help me out.

[chilltrout]

dont be lazy!
18650s are in almost all laptop packs
Ring ewaste recyclers
you will get a bite within the first 3 phone calls

[jimbo69ny]

I should search for "ewaste recyclers" I just havent heard of any around me anywhere.

[jimbo69ny]

A couple of google searches later I found some ecyclers in my area. They seemed sympathetic but they cannot give me any batteries. They are a certified recycler and that means they have to control where the cells go. They cant give or sell me any.

[Headrc]

Where are you located?

[jimbo69ny]

Freeville ny 13868. Just outside Ithaca.

[Headrc]

Ok ...I am in Tennessee ...which of course requires shipping and loose 18650's I think are a little more dangerous to ship as opposed to in a pack. I will see what I have, and think about the packaging to ship and let you know if I am interested in doing that. I was going to drop them at the recycler. RH

[jimbo69ny]

Yeah I’ll some! I hope it won’t be too much to ship. I bought 20 off eBay for $13 shipped. He sent them wrapped in a bag in a priority mail envelope. No stickers or signage.

[e-beach]

Last fall I gave over 100 dead 18650's to the local e-waist drop-off....Sorry. Do you have any laptop repair places around town? They are the ones that I would call and see if they want to get rid of their waist laptop batteries.

And BTW. Make sure that wooden box is heavily glued-up because that pack is going to be Heavy!!!!

[jimbo69ny]

The box is eventually going to a welder so he can copy it and make me one out of aluminum with the same dimensions.

[Headrc]

Hi Jimbo, I did not count them today but I am sure I have 30 of them. However I certainly am not going to do what the other guy did from Ebay. I thought about it and I am hesitant ...too much time packaging them properly as individual cells to ship to you. If you were near me I would just give them to you. Shipping laptop batteries themselves I am comfortable with using bubble wrap and packaging properly, but the individual cells I dunno. RH

[jimbo69ny]

Up to you.

[jimbo69ny]

JACKPOT! I went to 2 local computer repair places and scored about 30 laptop batteries. I just took them apart and I have about 200!

[e-beach]

Nice job. Some of them might still be good.

[jimbo69ny]

I am testing 6 of them now. Of those, some were close to dead, some were around 2.6 volts. I am charging each of them now. So far seems like they are maxing out at 3.99 volts. IDK what that means. Also, I thought resistance of them would be different. But pretty much everyone I tested is around 800 ohm. Is that normal?

[Headrc]

Way to go Jimbo ....glad you got your need answered.

[jimbo69ny]

Me too! Thanks everyone!

[mrzed]

OK - I'm surprised none of the senior forum members have yet to chime in on this one but it can't go unsaid any longer. This is what we call a teachable moment.

To be clear - this is no personal attack - so please don't take it as such. Any sarcasm (of which there will be much) is solely intended to assist in people paying attention. Forum readers tend to prefer antagonistic 'Flame wars' filled with personal attacks and outlandish character. You may well be smarter than me, but I know at least a little bit more about lithium batteries. (BTW, you can tell what an a$$hole I am from my gratuitously florid language). To wit:

1. (Where 1 is the idea of people sending you their dead 18650 batteries): NO.
2. (Where 2 is your collection of dead 18650 batteries): NO.

(long version)

1. You could be theoretically sued to oblivion for even posting this thread IMO, the USA is kind of stoopid for what courts get away with in awarding judgements, but that's where you live. Shipping of lithium batteries legally requires declaring hazardous cargo, and any shipper would outright refuse if you told them what you were actually shipping (used cells) because (among other things):

a: MOST 'dead' cells are dead (meaning contain zero chemical energy that can poof or make electrons go) but SOME are just waiting to explode . . .
b: SOME people know how to properly and reliably drain and test lithium cells so that they confirmed do not contain any more magic, but they have yet to post in this thread. I include myself in this, with the difference that I know that I don't know which is why I would never:

2. Please please stop storing your cells in a jumbled mess in a wooden box (in case it wasn't obvious by now).

[Headrc]

Which is why I hesitated on sending the individual cells. When I send lithium batteries they are properly packed and properly labeled. But thanks for the input.

[jimbo69ny]

Wow, I am amazed at the overreaction of your post. I wasnt asking anyone to do anything illegal so dont get your panties in a bunch. People mail lithium ion cells all the time. As far as I know no one has gone to jail for this. I have no idea why you are so upset.

As for "storing my cells in a wooden box". I had just taken apart 30ish laptop batteries, thats just where I put them after I took them apart. I was pleasantly surprised how many cells I got so I took a photo to share with you guys.

Take your angst somewhere else, it is not needed here.

[e-beach]

Well, I was a bit surprised to see all those 18650's stacked in a pile in your box, but so long as they didn't short and are safely stored now.

As far as I understand mailing used 18650's is not dangerous or a crime. Properly packaged and labeled is all that is needed. As far as draining 18650's before shipping would only kill any good ones, that includes new ones. New 18650's always have a charge to them when shipped. They are never dead.

I don't know what the excitement was all about.

[jimbo69ny]

OK - I'm surprised none of the senior forum members have yet to chime in on this one but it can't go unsaid any longer. This is what we call a teachable moment.

To be clear - this is no personal attack - so please don't take it as such. Any sarcasm (of which there will be much) is solely intended to assist in people paying attention. Forum readers tend to prefer antagonistic 'Flame wars' filled with personal attacks and outlandish character. You may well be smarter than me, but I know at least a little bit more about lithium batteries. (BTW, you can tell what an a$$hole I am from my gratuitously florid language). To wit:

1. (Where 1 is the idea of people sending you their dead 18650 batteries): NO.
2. (Where 2 is your collection of dead 18650 batteries): NO.

(long version)

1. You could be theoretically sued to oblivion for even posting this thread IMO, the USA is kind of stoopid for what courts get away with in awarding judgements, but that's where you live. Shipping of lithium batteries legally requires declaring hazardous cargo, and any shipper would outright refuse if you told them what you were actually shipping (used cells) because (among other things):

a: MOST 'dead' cells are dead (meaning contain zero chemical energy that can poof or make electrons go) but SOME are just waiting to explode . . .
b: SOME people know how to properly and reliably drain and test lithium cells so that they confirmed do not contain any more magic, but they have yet to post in this thread. I include myself in this, with the difference that I know that I don't know which is why I would never:

2. Please please stop storing your cells in a jumbled mess in a wooden box (in case it wasn't obvious by now).

I love how his second paragraph was all defensive. He knew he was about to drop a bunch of inflammatory BS into an otherwise perfectly civil and peaceful discussion. lol

I know I am new here and I see that he has a lot of posts but a lot of posts doesn't make you smart, logical or reasonable.