Boebot on 2X 14500 cells

erco

Lately I've been running my BoeBot on just two 3.7V 14500 LiIon cells (AA-sized), along with two dummy/shunt batteries. Works great, no mods necessary. Even better would be modding the battery box to use two larger 18650 batteries which last longer.

14500 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2Pcs-3-7V-14500-1200mAh-UltraFire-Rechargeable-Li-on-AA-Batteries-/180933205283?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item2a20759d23

18650
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-X-Ultrafire-Blue-18650-3-7V-4000mAh-Li-ion-Battery-One-Multi-Function-Charger-/150957724422?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item2325c81306

Martin_H

So they fit in a AA holder? How do you charge them?

Six of them would be 22 volts which I could use for those motors instead of lead acid.

erco

Yes, AA sized. A bit over twice the voltage, so you must use at least half dummy cells. Ebay charger does two at a time. You'd want much bigger cells (18650 or bigger) for a big bot, these are limited capacity, rated 1200 mAH and probably less. Hobby LiPo batteries probably better for a big bot.

NWCCTV

Have you ever seen how they make Lithium batteries? I just watched this on "How They Do It" today from one of the very few plants in Nevada. Quite an interesting concept from start to finish. I will see if I can locate a web link and add it if I find it.

erco

Glad to hear Nevada's in the running. I'd hate for China to have the monopoly on rare earth magnets AND lithium batteries.

Although I must shamefully admit that all my Lithium batteries are from China..

NWCCTV

The ones they were making are for automobiles. I am sure they have the capabilities for smaller ones also but just did not show them.

Bill Henning

I've run some of my bots on 2x and 3x 18650's - works great, but barely fits on the Boe-Bot due to the larger battery holder needed.

Thanks for the link for the 14500's - I must try some!

erco wrote: »

Lately I've been running my BoeBot on just two 3.7V 14500 LiIon cells (AA-sized), along with two dummy/shunt batteries. Works great, no mods necessary. Even better would be modding the battery box to use two larger 18650 batteries which last longer.

14500 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2Pcs-3-7V-14500-1200mAh-UltraFire-Rechargeable-Li-on-AA-Batteries-/180933205283?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item2a20759d23

18650
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-X-Ultrafire-Blue-18650-3-7V-4000mAh-Li-ion-Battery-One-Multi-Function-Charger-/150957724422?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item2325c81306

erco

Full props to Loopy Byteloose, who turned me on to these nearly a year ago.

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?136922-14500-Lithium-batteries-same-size-as-AA-(nearly)&highlight=14500

erco

I ordered four of these AA-sized 14500 cells (~$1.48 each), which claim to be 1600 mAh. Similar cells claim 1200 mAh capacity.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-GTL-ICR-14500-Li-ion-3-7V-1600mAh-Rechargeable-Battery-Pink-/330908076865?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item4d0ba88b41

Might just be a lie, but who knows. They're PINK and my little girls have shown me that pink can pack a wallop.

erco

Naturally, I was powerless to resist this pair of 2000 mAh cells for $4.17:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-3-7V-2000mAh-14500-ICR14500-AA-Li-ion-Lithium-Rechargeable-Battery-Green-PRI-/160792807946?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item256fff8a0a

Will advise capacity after testing. As long as they're better than the 1200 mAh cells I have, they're worth it.