Where to get Lithium Ion/polomer cells

Sam_Q · 16th October 2006, 1:04 AM

Hey guys I am looking for some lithium Ion or Lithium Polomer (lipo) cells for the lighting system on my bike. Apart from Remote control car shops, where else can I get them at an afordable price? secon dhand is ok too.

I want around 2 to 4AH

Nightmare · 16th October 2006, 5:46 AM

Ebay in the R/C Section? I did see a shop with batteries rated at 100Amps continues but forget URL now

2nd hand? ouch. you do know how unstable these things are if over drained or over charged? Personally I would not touch any 2nd hand ones.

Sam_Q · 16th October 2006, 6:55 AM

I have looked on there, while they have a 100A amp battary they have very little in terms of 2Ah of more. Infact I think when I checked I only saw one 4ah 11.6V battery which wasn't bad but I want to know if I can get it cheaper.

When I said second hand I meant slightly used, I know these things can be tempremental.

LethalCorpse · 16th October 2006, 10:43 AM

Use the smaller capacity cells in parallel. Doubles the discharge rate and the capacity.

wanarace · 16th October 2006, 11:06 AM

Out of laptop battery's, Big Li-Ion cells on average 4000+ ah 3.6v each. Have a look on Ebay etc...

nux · 16th October 2006, 1:36 PM

mmm, Sparkfun

Nightmare · 16th October 2006, 6:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Q

I have looked on there, while they have a 100A amp battary they have very little in terms of 2Ah of more.

Hmm no the ones I seen where 5Ah... from 2s (7.2V) to 6s (22.2v)
http://b-p-p.com/proddetail.php?prod=l_H5000
prices are in $USD. You prolly don't need 20-30c do you? - you would get away with cheaper cells.

The CK · 16th October 2006, 10:59 PM

couple of things...
AFAIK its illegal to ship lithium batteries by air or something like that... so many places in the US won't ship them overseas, (so find one that will

)

Second what sorts of current do you need from these batteries? probably up to 3 amps is okay for standard li-ion's of around 2-4ah, but if we are talking significantly higher then its probably best to look at (expensive) radio control lipolys.

Still for lighting li-ion should be fine, a torch powered by a couple of li-ion cells can get pretty bright.
I'd probably look at using 18650 li-ions (so 18mm dia, 65mm length) as they are fairly common and cheap, and about the capacity you want. Of course there are often some places selling surplus rectangular lithium cells cheaply, so maybe if you search the web long enough you might find some. keep in mind that lithiums have a limited shelf life so try to avoid batteries that are really old. And don't buysecond hands! no really... don't (And I made myself sad

)

so anyway about 18650's, some of them have protection circuits and some of them don't. Protected cells hopefully wont EXPLODE when you over/under change them or if you short them... but there have been some problems with some flashlights - if you're using things that draw high current, or things which have a high turn on current draw, then the protection circuit thinks its shorted and switches it off. For some high power flashlights you have to turn it on and off a few times to get it to work (see here ). Still most of the people on CPF will only use protected cells, but AFAIK the lipoly cells used in R/C are not protected??? Generally if the cells don't state that they are protected, then they aren't (an excpetion being that g&p r500 battery on ebay I think?)

Anyway as to 18650 availability, you can check ebay, buy from a guy on CPF, or just google for 18650's.
Some cells are better than others but most 18650's over 2000mah should be ok.

Edit: of course you can always use laptop batteries

but its more of a hassle IMO and 18650's aren't that expensive anyway...

Goth · 17th October 2006, 12:41 AM

I don't think individual cells will have protection electronics... but battery packs will.

If you're wiring up a pack yourself, from loose cells, then you might need to source and incorporate a suitable protection / sensor dongle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The CK

couple of things...
AFAIK its illegal to ship lithium batteries by air or something like that... so many places in the US won't ship them overseas, (so find one that will

)

Second what sorts of current do you need from these batteries? probably up to 3 amps is okay for standard li-ion's of around 2-4ah, but if we are talking significantly higher then its probably best to look at (expensive) radio control lipolys.

Still for lighting li-ion should be fine, a torch powered by a couple of li-ion cells can get pretty bright.
I'd probably look at using 18650 li-ions (so 18mm dia, 65mm length) as they are fairly common and cheap, and about the capacity you want. Of course there are often some places selling surplus rectangular lithium cells cheaply, so maybe if you search the web long enough you might find some. keep in mind that lithiums have a limited shelf life so try to avoid batteries that are really old. And don't buysecond hands! no really... don't (And I made myself sad

)

so anyway about 18650's, some of them have protection circuits and some of them don't. Protected cells hopefully wont EXPLODE when you over/under change them or if you short them... but there have been some problems with some flashlights - if you're using things that draw high current, or things which have a high turn on current draw, then the protection circuit thinks its shorted and switches it off. For some high power flashlights you have to turn it on and off a few times to get it to work (see here ). Still most of the people on CPF will only use protected cells, but AFAIK the lipoly cells used in R/C are not protected??? Generally if the cells don't state that they are protected, then they aren't (an excpetion being that g&p r500 battery on ebay I think?)

Anyway as to 18650 availability, you can check ebay, buy from a guy on CPF, or just google for 18650's.
Some cells are better than others but most 18650's over 2000mah should be ok.

Edit: of course you can always use laptop batteries

but its more of a hassle IMO and 18650's aren't that expensive anyway...

Nightmare · 17th October 2006, 5:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The CK

couple of things...
AFAIK its illegal to ship lithium batteries by air or something like that... so many places in the US won't ship them overseas, (so find one that will

)

Yeah?, I've not heard of any R/C guys having problems, my lipo RX pack for the nitro came from the USA. (though different shop to the link I provided)

Caffeine · 17th October 2006, 6:41 AM

Sparkfun as mentioned, or advantage circuits (www.advantagecircuits.com funnily enough) or worley (www.worley.com.au, great range but hideously expensive)

Varta also make some nice ones...

Goth · 17th October 2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightmare

Yeah?, I've not heard of any R/C guys having problems, my lipo RX pack for the nitro came from the USA. (though different shop to the link I provided)

Maybe that only applies if they're Sony batteries??

Iffracem · 17th October 2006, 10:38 AM

http://www.rclithiumpower.com/

Aus company, they cell single "cells" and premade packs, will also make to order.

I've bought from them, no problems at all.

JJ

The CK · 17th October 2006, 4:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightmare

Yeah?, I've not heard of any R/C guys having problems, my lipo RX pack for the nitro came from the USA. (though different shop to the link I provided)

You may be right.. I'm almost positive that non rechargeable lithiums are banned from air travel... but maybe rechargeable lithiums are ok?

Xassius · 17th October 2006, 6:43 PM

I bought my lithium ions from www.batteryspace.com

Good prices.

16th October 2006, 1:04 AM	#1
Sam_Q Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Endeavour Hills VIC Posts: 948	Where to get Lithium Ion/polomer cells Hey guys I am looking for some lithium Ion or Lithium Polomer (lipo) cells for the lighting system on my bike. Apart from Remote control car shops, where else can I get them at an afordable price? secon dhand is ok too. I want around 2 to 4AH __________________ My website: 4AGE conversion parts and info.

16th October 2006, 6:55 AM	#3
Sam_Q Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Endeavour Hills VIC Posts: 948	I have looked on there, while they have a 100A amp battary they have very little in terms of 2Ah of more. Infact I think when I checked I only saw one 4ah 11.6V battery which wasn't bad but I want to know if I can get it cheaper. When I said second hand I meant slightly used, I know these things can be tempremental. __________________ My website: 4AGE conversion parts and info.

16th October 2006, 10:43 AM	#4
LethalCorpse Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Harris Park, NSW Posts: 3,799	Use the smaller capacity cells in parallel. Doubles the discharge rate and the capacity. __________________ Sig Of Shame removed.

16th October 2006, 10:59 PM	#8
The CK Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Adelaide Posts: 723	couple of things... AFAIK its illegal to ship lithium batteries by air or something like that... so many places in the US won't ship them overseas, (so find one that will ) Second what sorts of current do you need from these batteries? probably up to 3 amps is okay for standard li-ion's of around 2-4ah, but if we are talking significantly higher then its probably best to look at (expensive) radio control lipolys. Still for lighting li-ion should be fine, a torch powered by a couple of li-ion cells can get pretty bright. I'd probably look at using 18650 li-ions (so 18mm dia, 65mm length) as they are fairly common and cheap, and about the capacity you want. Of course there are often some places selling surplus rectangular lithium cells cheaply, so maybe if you search the web long enough you might find some. keep in mind that lithiums have a limited shelf life so try to avoid batteries that are really old. And don't buysecond hands! no really... don't (And I made myself sad ) so anyway about 18650's, some of them have protection circuits and some of them don't. Protected cells hopefully wont EXPLODE when you over/under change them or if you short them... but there have been some problems with some flashlights - if you're using things that draw high current, or things which have a high turn on current draw, then the protection circuit thinks its shorted and switches it off. For some high power flashlights you have to turn it on and off a few times to get it to work (see here ). Still most of the people on CPF will only use protected cells, but AFAIK the lipoly cells used in R/C are not protected??? Generally if the cells don't state that they are protected, then they aren't (an excpetion being that g&p r500 battery on ebay I think?) Anyway as to 18650 availability, you can check ebay, buy from a guy on CPF, or just google for 18650's. Some cells are better than others but most 18650's over 2000mah should be ok. Edit: of course you can always use laptop batteries but its more of a hassle IMO and 18650's aren't that expensive anyway... __________________ Snufkin on Alessandro Headphones: "They just have an energy to them that makes you want to tap your feet, air guitar and rock out with your cock out." Last edited by The CK; 16th October 2006 at 11:04 PM.

17th October 2006, 6:41 AM	#11
Caffeine Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,194	Sparkfun as mentioned, or advantage circuits (www.advantagecircuits.com funnily enough) or worley (www.worley.com.au, great range but hideously expensive) Varta also make some nice ones... __________________ Free LCD's all gone now...

16th October 2006, 5:46 AM	#2
Nightmare Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 191	Ebay in the R/C Section? I did see a shop with batteries rated at 100Amps continues but forget URL now 2nd hand? ouch. you do know how unstable these things are if over drained or over charged? Personally I would not touch any 2nd hand ones.

16th October 2006, 11:06 AM	#5
wanarace Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 36	Out of laptop battery's, Big Li-Ion cells on average 4000+ ah 3.6v each. Have a look on Ebay etc...

16th October 2006, 1:36 PM	#6
nux Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,790	mmm, Sparkfun

17th October 2006, 10:38 AM	#13
Iffracem Member $Iffracem's Avatar$ Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Brisbane, BikiniLand Posts: 121	http://www.rclithiumpower.com/ Aus company, they cell single "cells" and premade packs, will also make to order. I've bought from them, no problems at all. JJ __________________ Catapultam abeo Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam (I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head)
$Iffracem is offline$

17th October 2006, 6:43 PM	#15
Xassius Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SYD Posts: 3,234	I bought my lithium ions from www.batteryspace.com Good prices.