Making a pack from Dewalt battery packs

[RichTheBikeRider]

I'm looking for information on making a 6-8 cell pack built from a Dewalt pack, I have all kinds of bits and pieces from many people but not the complete story and I have also heard of a Canadian company that sells 6000 Ma 20C batteries but haven't located them any help would be appreciated I am finally finishing a Topflite Corsair I began building in 1980.
Thanks

[Matt Kirsch]

Take a look at www.bigerc.com. They sell the Emoli cells that you're talking about.

[everydayflyer]

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599316

[ragbag]

Looks like the Solderless Power Tubes might be the way to go.

http://www.modelelectronicscorp.com/



I was going to do the solder routine and was advised to look at these. Orderd a set, we shall see.


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[Don Sims]

Keep us posted ragbag, looks like a viable option for us.

[RichTheBikeRider]

The problem I have is I want to put the batteries inside the cowl of a topflite corsair along with a 60 E-flite motor. I want to know which Dewalt pack is the best to buy and if there are 5000 ma cells and what are there sizes. According to Hangar 9 I need a pack of 6 cells and of 5000 ma in size. I don't have the money for a thunder power pack.

[Red Scholefield]

Originally Posted by ragbag

Looks like the Solderless Power Tubes might be the way to go.

http://www.modelelectronicscorp.com/

Attachment 19336

I was going to do the solder routine and was advised to look at these. Orderd a set, we shall see.


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I made up a pack using the Solderless Power Tube kit. Quite easy and it makes into a nice pack. Adding the CellPro balancing connector was somewhat of a challenge but one that can be met by anyone with some soldering expertise. It added about 1/2 oz to the pack weight bringing it in at 12.1 oz.

[electriconly]

Originally Posted by RichTheBikeRider

The problem I have is I want to put the batteries inside the cowl of a topflite corsair along with a 60 E-flite motor. I want to know which Dewalt pack is the best to buy and if there are 5000 ma cells and what are there sizes. According to Hangar 9 I need a pack of 6 cells and of 5000 ma in size. I don't have the money for a thunder power pack.

You are looking at a 8S2P configuration to match up with a 6S1P 5000 Lipo.

A123 cells are 2270mah and about 3.3v under the load you will pull with that eFlite 60. I would consider building 2 8S block packs for the cowl and using a parallel "Y" connector. If you build these from DeWalt 36V battery packs the cost on eBay will be around $80.00 +shipping per DeWalt pack (say $200.00 total worst case) and you will have 4 cells left over for another project.



Brad

[ragbag]

Originally Posted by ragbag

Looks like the Solderless Power Tubes might be the way to go.

http://www.modelelectronicscorp.com/

Attachment 19336

I was going to do the solder routine and was advised to look at these. Orderd a set, we shall see.


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Received my order from MEC. The Solderless Power Tubes don't come with tubes.

The A123 battery is a little larger that the c cell. When the A123 battery becomes a viable product the tube will probably be available, after my telephone conversation with MEC support.

I went back and looked at the post #7, which has photos of RED's packs and I can see how he built his. A little more involved than they would be with the tubes is all.

When I get more into the setup I will post more input.

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[electriconly]

Pete at MEC should probably call these SPP's Solderless Power Packs as you say the tubes are actually shrink warap. But the shrink wrap actually may be better as it both provides firmness and compresses the pack to assist the compression rods.

I have actually taken mine apart and rebuilt them after I added taps. All you need is some standard 3 inch shrink wrap to rebuild.

Brad

It is a common missconception. Shrink sleeve does not add any compression. It shrinks to whatever resistance it encounters and stops. Compression is nil. Red S. The Battery Clinic.

[ragbag]

As he explained to me it will be tubeless until the Moli batteries prove themselves.
It would be a $5000 investment to provide the right size tubes and not have a market for them. Good business in my eyes.

There may be a A123 SPT at a later date.

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I have trimmed shrink off at one end and slid it off of a pack and slid it back on and reshrunk it. It doesn't have much strength.

[Matt Kirsch]

A local modeler has been making poor-man's solderless power "tubes" for years using 2-56 or 4-40 threaded rod for compression rods, 1/8" aircraft plywood for end plates, and 4-40 blind nuts (aka T-nuts or tee nuts) for the contacts. 12ga wire readily fits and solders into the blind nuts.

I've made a few packs up like this myself. It's a really neat technique, though a bit fidgety to get everything lined up and tightened down. Helps to pack everything in a piece of shrink tube first to hold it together, then tighten down the end caps.

[cyclops2]

Good idea.

[ragbag]

The one who has all the money ask why I don't try the plastic covers that is used on shower curtain rods, as tubes for the A123 batteries.

They are split and slip over the rod to make them the color the ladies want in the bathroom.
Not sure what color we would use, I'm sure one of these guys will come up with a better color than I would pick, so I wont go there.
If it works tell me about it, I am going to try it but wont share this one, don't need the B**T.


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[michaeljj]

Look over for related DIY videos over the internet.

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by michaeljj

Look over for related DIY videos over the internet.

This is a very old thread. Those Dewalt Battery conversions are OK, but IMHO, a far better way to go is to simply buy new A123 cells. One good place to buy is from www.voltmanbatteries.com, located in Ohio.

Between myself and other club members, we've purchased over 150 A123 cells, and everyone has been very happy with this source.

http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/serv...1-dsh-A/Detail

And, building up one of my packs:
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65773