This is the first and only 18650 build that I have actually "liked" and wanted to emulate.
...
I was unaware of the strip vs fuse debate
To me - I would come to a very quick conclusion
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I do not have a tab welder here
I wont have a tab welder on the side of the road
I do not wish to sink a bunch of heat into my cells soldering a big thermal mass...
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It makes REALLY GOOD SENSE
REALLY GOOD...
To affix the lowest thermal mass possible
To allow for the least heating and impact on the cell
To allow the simplest tools to be used
To allow the easiest rework and up-cycling...
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I mean... those tiny wires are probably good for 10A
The cell is hardly good for 10A... burst... but not continuous...
If you tear into a house you will find MANY wires that run HOT
Hot wires... for burst use... is NORMAL
(Folks dont know this)
... The actual power lost in the wires is below trivial ...
So thats my non-fused feeling about it... (ignoring the fusing aspect)
THEN
When we add in the fact that we get CELL By cELL fusing
Eh - for me - that is the obvious best bet.
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As for Tesla -
You must consider that a major part of their decision was the PROCESS
How fast is it?
How well does it scale?
How well does it automate?
... They very well could have settled on the fusable link style simply because it improved thruput in production and rework*
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Looking at this members build
Looking at how cheap the Amazon link is
Looking at the tools I have sitting on my desk...
I am inspired to duplicate his work!
Because... it can be done... and it can be un-done
The only thing I would change is:
1) Minimize glue
2) Avoid HOT GLUE at any cost and at ALL TIMES (it WILL reflow on you... do NOT trust it... even the high temp!)
3) Try to use mechanical methods which can be un-done - and redone - like 8" heat shrink
... Ideally we would mount these into an extrusion
Fill the extrusion with a type of expanding foam
The foam would hold...
The foam would have a solvant
One could un-pot the unit if and where needed
(this is much harder than it sounds - but could be done)
-methods