Charging station complete

That's kind of what I'm wanting to do. Or at least thinking about.

however, after seeing AverageJoe's layout and construction by using pvc pipe and just cutting into req'd lengths, I might make a variation of that. AverageJoe's layout allows for better breathing and help keep the cells cool. However, he still solders his cells. I was thinking of possibly making an attachment that would press the tabs against the cell to make the contact.

But, I'm also wanting to put in a cell-by-cell monitoring setup so that I know if a specific cell in a pack is getting weak causing the other cells to drain down to balance with that low one. Kinda the way Solar Panels can be individually monitored.
 
That sound safe but wouldn't that be more costly?
I like the idea of the cell holders but with a top and bottom that have contacts for easy removal.
Though I don't see anything like the image in my head.

I suppose slidable bars as opposed to single cell soldering I that makes sense?
 
Korishan said:
But, I'm also wanting to put in a cell-by-cell monitoring setup so that I know if a specific cell in a pack is getting weak causing the other cells to drain down to balance with that low one. Kinda the way Solar Panels can be individually monitored.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a great idea but how can that possibly be doable. If you have a powerwall setup with 1000 cells that means you need 1000 monitors? How would you connect those to any kind of device that would interface with a computer?
 
How about breaking down the pack into smaller manageable ones?
Instead of a pack of 100 cells how about 20 just to at least try and make it more doable.
But I'm still new at this so I could be well off.
 
What i was really thinking about is using the addons and flexibilty from the arduino community. It would probly require a LOT of mosfets to switch thru the cells to monitor. Or something similar.

If I remember correctly, the communications and such on the arduino can scan at kHz range. So, I figure I could probly scan a whole bank in a few seconds. Or, at least as fast as a cell will respond to testing/monitoring. I know resistance testing would take a few seconds to do properly. However, that test would be tested once a day, or maybe once a week or so.

I haven't really started planning out the layout and such, as of yet. It's still a thought waiting to be developed and then built. At least putting it out there will get some ideas and suggestions churning :)
 
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So I moved some wires around and added more 4056 chips
I have it off the 5v cable from a different power supply (think the other just died)
Now the chip on the far left doesn't light up but it still shows voltage on my meter.
Am I pushing the limit of this 5v cable?
 
I wouldn't think so. A PSU should be able to provide ample amps to run all those 4056's. You're only pulling a max of 8 amps, and a cpu/video card will pull far more than that. It's possible you could be taxing the voltage of that line. I can't tell, but do you have 1 wire running from + to + to +..... of each 4056, or are you using a separate red from the PSU for each 4056? That could make a difference. It's possible that the 4056 could react differently between 5.5v and 5.1v, which that much degrade in voltage could occur in that short distance. Especially if the wire isn't heavy enough. Try attaching another red to the other end of the circuit if you're using 1 strand from the PSU.
 
That worked
You rock

I have some cells that were really dead like 0v
I put them to charge for like a minute and tested them again on my meter
The voltage was draining like crazy from 1v to .5v in seconds why is that?
 
Awesome!! That's 2 for 2 now on help :D I'm on a roll :shy:

Glad it worked out
 
What setup do you have?
How far along is your build going?

As you can see I'm just starting hahaha
 
I'm still waiting for some of my electronics to come in. I haven't started working on cells yet. Also looking for getting them locally. I asked a couple computer shops in town and the hazardous waste recycling today. They all said no to getting batteries from them. *grumble*

But, there are plenty of other computer stores in town and will keep asking around. I'll probably end up getting my first batch off ebay. There's a guy down south florida that sells them, so I won't have to wait very long to get them. http://www.ebay.com/sch/robotnick101/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
Altho, he usually has a lot listed; currently he's got a few selections.
I also have a watch list: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_Auction=1&_nkw=laptop+battery+lot&_sop=1

I hope to be starting in the next month or 2. In sunny florida, we'll be getting really good sun soon (though, that means I would also have to get solar panels builttoo :p )

However, I have another idea for producing energy. I'm thinkin of parabolic reflective mylar onto a black copper/iron pipe and hopefully create enough heat to make steam; then use that to turn a turbine. Water in that pipe can definitely get over 212F easily. Especially with other thingsincluded in the construction of the trough.
 
I got some from batteries plus but then they said said they get money from the cells so turned me away.
Kinda out of ideas other than buying lots online or possibly a tesla bank to repurpose
I'm unsure as to local computer shops maybe I'll ask some people from pc repair shops or something

That turbine idea sounds good
I currently reside in Florida
Take advantage of all the sun, hopefully you find more cells
 
FireFrog said:
I got some from batteries plus but then they said said they get money from the cells so turned me away.
Click to expand...

Did you offer to pay for them? I was thinking to trying the batteries plus stores, there's two in my area. I'm waiting until I have some boxes of bad cells though so I can walk in and say "hey, I need to recycle these, and by the way, I'm looking for more packs if you have any" lol. I wasn't sure if those stores are franchised where the store owner can make decisions on their own, such as selling recycled batteries, or if they're run by a cooperate office that sets the rules.
 
I did offer to buy them
But he agreed to give me whatever they had then last week I'm told they get money from them so I can't have them anymore ?

A separate batteries plus I gave 20 dollars for about 20 packs
 
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With all my scraps I plan to recoup some of the cells cost by recycling them at the only place that takes electronics in my area

I currently have about 500 cells opened and ready for charging
My goodness opening them is a process, especially the toshiba ones those packs are built like tanks hahaha
 
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While opening more packs I found these
They are some nickle metal hydride cells that have 1.2 nominal voltage and 4.5 ah

I'm thinking the 4056 chargers will stop it at 4.2 or something
But I don't really know what to do with them
The spec sheet says I could charge at 3 amps but I thought the nickel ones could only take 10% of total capacity
I don't know...
Currently charging to see how it goes maybe I'll figure out a idea for the lot, 24 total
 
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