18650 spot welding -how to- ULTIMATE REPOSITORY

[Allex]

Nice thread for helping locate 18650 build parts.

Quick questions I was hoping to get some feedback on.

I am looking to buy a large battery shrink wrap and they come in a lot of sizes.

Should I buy a size that is on the bigger size but will still shrink enough to fit around the pack. Or should I buy a size that will just fit my battery into it? I am not sure if it is better to go looser or tighter with the wrap.

IF you choose one that fit snugly it will close better at the ends of the pack. If you choose a bigger one the gap will not be that nice but the heatshrink will be thicker and more sturdy.
The big one:
View attachment 1
The smaller one:

 

[ridethelightning]

nice battery terminations Allex :wink:

 

[Allex]

Thx, the overall build looks much nicer when you use this cable sleeving

 

[ridethelightning]

yes indeed!
i have been using that sleeving over my silicone wires too as it seems very resistant to chafing, i dont have too much confidence in the silicone on its own, if it got near something sharp or pinched...not that iv ever had an issue so far.

 

[FilipVandePeer]

Very inspiring indeed!

Can you please tell me what kind (brand) of sleeving and termination that is, and where you bought it (online)?
Should save me another 2 hours of searching and comparing.
I got my batteries, I got my nickel, the only things left are bms and wiring.


Thanks a lot Allex!

 

[Allex]

I buy it locally here, so no link. But the connectors are xt150/xt90/xt60

 

[Offroader]

Hoppy king sells that mesh. I am not sure if it is as thick as what Allex uses.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__1498__377__Hardware_Accessories-Wire_Mesh_Guard.html

 

[tomjasz]

http://www.showmecables.com/category/Cable-Covering.aspx


They ship first class mail $3 up to 13 oz. A rare but great deal!

 

[markz]

Found this in a 4 yr old thread, from another post.

Those nickel tabs really don't conduct electricity worth a darn. If you're pulling more than 10amps, it's possible the strip got hot enough there (which would be a point of highest current density) to melt into the shrink wrap and hit the edge of the can.

Damn, I need to buy some copper tabs I guess. I bought nickel for my a123 M1B cans.
I was just searching to see what width of tab to buy for 18650 in holders/seperators that you click together?
What thickness am I looking for in copper, when using the holders?

 

[tomjasz]

Have a link to see the post in context?

 

[markz]

https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36978&p=537768&hilit=Those+nickel+tabs+really+don%27t+conduct+electricity#p537632

 

[Offroader]

Careful where you buy that nickel from. If the price is even remotely too good, most likely it is steel plated.

Decided to test some nickel I own with the salt test and found some suprises .

To scratch the Nickel I decided to use a grinder. And look what happens when you scratch Nickel plated steel. Lots of sparks! I then grinded 99% nickel and no sparks in the video.

I read in a comment section on Alibaba that someone tests for nickel by using a dremel grind, and now I can see why.

[youtube]Xr4gqUDWxgg[/youtube]

You will like this, take a look at where I bought the steel plated nickel. I bought this to solder some cells for my heated clothing, so not a big deal. But I still got ripped off and overpaid by a lot for what I thought was pure nickel. This seller was from USA also and the price was along the lines of what 100% pure nickel should cost.

Look at how they call it pure nickel. I was wondering why they were so easy to weld.

50 solder tabs Build Your Own Battery Packs Pure Nickel Heavy Duty

This is in the description, LOL.
These tabs are made from the best material available. They will handle any current draw for cell sized up to 2500Ah. Don't buy cheap nickel plated steel tabs; they corrode and fail under load. These tabs are nickel, NOT nickel plated steel.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191700200826?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D191700200826%26_rdc%3D1



The other nickel that has no sparks is the .15x7mm nickel recommended and tested on the first page of this forum. Here is the link for the 99% real nickel.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-18650-battery-nickel-strip-0-15mm-nickel-plate-li-ion-cell-nickel-belt-Cylindrical/2050759694.html?recommendVersion=1


You can see the rust on the Nickel plated steel on the right after putting it in salt water.

 

[Offroader]

Just odered some .3 nickel strip from this place and it passed the grinding and rust test.

To make the rust test faster I use Vinegar, Hydrogen peroxide 3%, and salt. Mix this in a cup and it rusts stuff instantly (you can see lots of bubbles coming from where it is rusting), I let it sit anyway for a while. I found just using water and salt takes way too long.

Grinding test produced almost no sparks.


This is the same vendor who is recommended for the .15 nickel.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-18650-battery-nickel-strip-0-3mm-nickel-plate-18650-26650-cell-nickel-belt-Lithium/2050756060.html

Here is the .3 nickel strip on left (no rust) and some nickel plated steel on right that I throw in with the .3 nickel to make sure that rusts in my rusting mixture. Black marks on the left nickel is not rust but burn marks from grinding.

 

[bikegeek]

I've done this test on some nickel I have and after some nights in salty water one tab had some rust on top. But when I picked it up from the water the rust washed away. Was not like a normal rust which stays on the iron, this one forms like a deposit on top and when you move it washes way. But if you don't move it it looks like normal rust.

It is normal?

 

[tomjasz]

I have a kilo of nickel coated steel, will sell for $30 delivered. Bought for much more,(double ) misrepresented by seller. Aliexpress left me in the cold. Built a 24v and 36v 8Ah with recycled cells. Works fine. Bought new for 48-60v projects. Good cheap learning material or for low amp batts. Doubled up the cut strips that came with it. Not ideal but neither are recycled cells.

 

[tomjasz]

Bought this ten minutes ago for $14, went back to get a second 10 meters, price raised $5.
Little trick, put item in cart, don't complete purchase, invariably you will get a lower price deal sometimes in a day or two.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-18650-battery-nickel-strip-0-15mm-nickel-plate-li-ion-cell-nickel-belt-Cylindrical/2050759694.html

 

[vicens]

I want to make a 10s3p battery. SANYO or Samsung cells 3500mAh.

the battery is of 36V 10.5ah.

It would for a bicycle pedal assist. 350W motor power rating. With 17 amp controller.

In the event that there are steep slopes. Would it be enough to put a strip of nikel of 0.15x7 mm in each cell in series?

¿Nikel strips of 0.3x8mm can be welded well with welders point of the first page?

http://es.aliexpress.com/store/prod...l-nickel-belt-Lithium/1315530_2050756060.html

 

[Offroader]

Bought this ten minutes ago for $14, went back to get a second 10 meters, price raised $5.
Little trick, put item in cart, don't complete purchase, invariably you will get a lower price deal sometimes in a day or two.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-18650-battery-nickel-strip-0-15mm-nickel-plate-li-ion-cell-nickel-belt-Cylindrical/2050759694.html

Damn that sucks. I paid $15 for that, then I noticed it was even cheaper after I bought it by a couple of dollars. Now it is $19.
He seems to be changing the price often.

I believe he knows that he is the most trusted seller for real 99% and many people are buying he is raising the prices possibly? I'd wait it out a couple of days.

$19 for 105 grams of nickel is a lot. Just buy a Kilogram then.

 

[Offroader]

I've done this test on some nickel I have and after some nights in salty water one tab had some rust on top. But when I picked it up from the water the rust washed away. Was not like a normal rust which stays on the iron, this one forms like a deposit on top and when you move it washes way. But if you don't move it it looks like normal rust.

It is normal?

Did you grind it down to expose the steel? If you saw some brown I would be very suspect.

Salt added to water may not be effective enough to rust in such short time. I would grind it down a lot or file it down, then put, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt into a cup and drop it in there. It will rust super fast if there is steel. You will see tiny bubbles coming from the area it is rusting.

 

[Offroader]

I want to make a 10s3p battery. SANYO or Samsung cells 3500mAh.

the battery is of 36V 10.5ah.

It would for a bicycle pedal assist. 350W motor power rating. With 17 amp controller.

In the event that there are steep slopes. Would it be enough to put a strip of nikel of 0.15x7 mm in each cell in series?

¿Nikel strips of 0.3x8mm can be welded well with welders point of the first page?

http://es.aliexpress.com/store/prod...l-nickel-belt-Lithium/1315530_2050756060.html

What welder do you want to use? If you are not using the JP Welder you probably can't weld .3 nickel. Unfortunately I got my .3 nickel and my JP welder stopped working so I can't tell you how easy it is to weld. There is a chance I can't even weld it easily with the JP welder.

For 350W I would consider just using the .15 mm strip instead.

 

[bikegeek]

Did you grind it down to expose the steel? If you saw some brown I would be very suspect.

Salt added to water may not be effective enough to rust in such short time. I would grind it down a lot or file it down, then put, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt into a cup and drop it in there. It will rust super fast if there is steel. You will see tiny bubbles coming from the area it is rusting.

Yes, I grind it. I will try with vinegar and salt once again and post photos.

 

[Offroader]

Did you grind it down to expose the steel? If you saw some brown I would be very suspect.

Salt added to water may not be effective enough to rust in such short time. I would grind it down a lot or file it down, then put, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt into a cup and drop it in there. It will rust super fast if there is steel. You will see tiny bubbles coming from the area it is rusting.

Yes, I grind it. I will try with vinegar and salt once again and post photos.

OK, you'll need the hydrogen peroxide 3%. It is cheap at like $1.00 at any store. I would also throw into the mix some steel item to make sure that rusts also.

 

[tomjasz]

Bought this ten minutes ago for $14, went back to get a second 10 meters, price raised $5.
Little trick, put item in cart, don't complete purchase, invariably you will get a lower price deal sometimes in a day or two.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-18650-battery-nickel-strip-0-15mm-nickel-plate-li-ion-cell-nickel-belt-Cylindrical/2050759694.html

Damn that sucks. I paid $15 for that, then I noticed it was even cheaper after I bought it by a couple of dollars. Now it is $19.
He seems to be changing the price often.

I believe he knows that he is the most trusted seller for real 99% and many people are buying he is raising the prices possibly? I'd wait it out a couple of days.

$19 for 105 grams of nickel is a lot. Just buy a Kilogram then.

He refused to sell except in multiple $19 packets ASSHAT!

 

[okashira]

Bought this ten minutes ago for $14, went back to get a second 10 meters, price raised $5.
Little trick, put item in cart, don't complete purchase, invariably you will get a lower price deal sometimes in a day or two.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-18650-battery-nickel-strip-0-15mm-nickel-plate-li-ion-cell-nickel-belt-Cylindrical/2050759694.html

Damn that sucks. I paid $15 for that, then I noticed it was even cheaper after I bought it by a couple of dollars. Now it is $19.
He seems to be changing the price often.

I believe he knows that he is the most trusted seller for real 99% and many people are buying he is raising the prices possibly? I'd wait it out a couple of days.

$19 for 105 grams of nickel is a lot. Just buy a Kilogram then.

He refused to sell except in multiple $19 packets ASSHAT!

I won't pay more then $70 per kilogram ( I have bought about 10kg total) $15 per 10 meters of that is almost $150 per kilogram.

 

[joss]

oh dear, I wish I'd come across this website/post before I purchased my "PURE" nickel strip!

I asked the vendor to confirm it was pure - they did that. I then made my purchase and tested the reel on delivery. It rusted overnight in salt water. Doh! I complained but they claim they sent the real deal. hmmmmmmm Looks like that is $70AUD down the drain!

I have retested with this Hydrogen Peroxide/Vinegar/salt mix and sure enough the site of the scratches is soon bubbling away madly - with brown stuff.

As I say, I have complained to the supplier. Their first response was a material certificate. On complaining further they said "This reaction is normal". Now they do not respond to my request for a refund.

The vendor is:

Store:Guangzhou DX TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD on AliExpress.com

the part I ordered was:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...-for-Electric-vehicle/126412_32597197526.html

I have a policy of not buying batteries and memory except from trusted online vendors. I can now add nickel strip to that list!

.....any thoughts/ideas/comments (or commiserations ) welcome.