Lipo batteries - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

AC/HL · 27th Sep 2021, 7:56 pm

I'm not a smoker, but have noticed the increasing number of discarded disposable electronic cigarettes on the streets.
These contain a rechargeable 3.7v 500mAh Lipo battery. They don't have the control circuitry, but these are very cheap, five for £2-3 on eBay for instance. Just need to find a use as they are an intermediate voltage.

paulsherwin · 27th Sep 2021, 8:06 pm

Li-po batteries are basically all the same when in comes to voltage. They will read 4.2V when fully charged by a charge controller chip, and need to be recharged before the voltage drops to about 3.2V.

Poundland mobile phone 'battery packs' intended for use at things like festivals are a good source of low capacity lithium batteries.

A couple of cells will power a 9V transistor radio pretty well. Don't forget to include a fuse somewhere though.

Julesomega · 27th Sep 2021, 10:42 pm

Found an E-cig in the road, had been extensively run over but yielded several very odd screw threads, and a metal-case power resistor of about 2Ω

AC/HL · 27th Sep 2021, 11:03 pm

The ones I found had the battery and a combined pressure switch and LED indicator. The presumed heater remained in the front of the casing, but I chose not to investigate that part further!

Julesomega · 28th Sep 2021, 12:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC/HL

The presumed heater remained in the front of the casing, but I chose not to investigate that part further!

Very wise - I had forgotten my desperate efforts to clean the ghastly stuff off my hands, spanners, worktop...

Refugee · 28th Sep 2021, 2:29 am

I actually use one.
The stuff in them is water based even though it looks like oil.
The cheap batteries have a poor number charge cycles and many come with a charge regulator that is variable in quality built in.
The charging can be made safe with a small number of external components and better quality batteries can be fitted in the 18650 ones.

Nymrod121 · 28th Sep 2021, 12:40 pm

New 18650s are easily obtained (along with a range of USB-powered chargers) from:

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/ *

FWIW, I've dismantled several 'duff' notebook/laptop batteries over the last couple of years and have found that these often yield perfectly good 18650s. Care is needed in refurbishing them (a judicious application of 120-grit abrasive paper smooths down the sharp edges once the spot-welded interconnecting strips have been pulled off ... and I choose to apply replacement heatshrink sleeving as the original often tears where the cell is glued to the plastic housing). These are a good companion to the single-cell LED torches that are also available from the above supplier - a practical and inexpensive gift with the added feel-good factor of having recycled/repurposed something that might otherwise have gone into the local transfer depot ...

Guy

* No commercial connection, just a satisfied Customer.

paulsherwin · 28th Sep 2021, 1:37 pm

I also scavenge 18650s from discarded battery packs - drills, cordless vacuums etc. I replace the heatshrink with ordinary vinyl adhesive tape if it's damaged. You can buy 18650 holders cheaply on eBay.

Bazz4CQJ · 5th Oct 2021, 5:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

You can buy 18650 holders cheaply on eBay.

Just looking at those holders (wasn't previously aware), I wonder what the max current is that you could draw from them? I suspect it may be quite limited?

B

paulsherwin · 5th Oct 2021, 5:24 pm

It certainly wouldn't be wise to draw several amps through them. You really need a specialist battery pack with built in battery management for that sort of job. The cheap holders are fine for things like radios or LED torches.

Bazz4CQJ · 5th Oct 2021, 6:07 pm

I have an ancient, but good as new, 12V Bosch drill which I converted from NiCd to 18650's about a year ago and that has worked out really well. I put a fuse in the drill circuit and that has burned out (10A) just once under a very heavy load.

B

27th Sep 2021, 7:56 pm	#1
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,433	Lipo batteries I'm not a smoker, but have noticed the increasing number of discarded disposable electronic cigarettes on the streets. These contain a rechargeable 3.7v 500mAh Lipo battery. They don't have the control circuitry, but these are very cheap, five for £2-3 on eBay for instance. Just need to find a use as they are an intermediate voltage. __________________ Bill, BVWS member

27th Sep 2021, 8:06 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23,838	Re: Lipo batteries Li-po batteries are basically all the same when in comes to voltage. They will read 4.2V when fully charged by a charge controller chip, and need to be recharged before the voltage drops to about 3.2V. Poundland mobile phone 'battery packs' intended for use at things like festivals are a good source of low capacity lithium batteries. A couple of cells will power a 9V transistor radio pretty well. Don't forget to include a fuse somewhere though.

27th Sep 2021, 10:42 pm	#3
Julesomega Octode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,613	Re: Lipo batteries Found an E-cig in the road, had been extensively run over but yielded several very odd screw threads, and a metal-case power resistor of about 2Ω __________________ - Julian It's good here

27th Sep 2021, 11:03 pm	#4
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Lipo batteries The ones I found had the battery and a combined pressure switch and LED indicator. The presumed heater remained in the front of the casing, but I chose not to investigate that part further! __________________ Bill, BVWS member

28th Sep 2021, 2:29 am	#6
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,411	Re: Lipo batteries I actually use one. The stuff in them is water based even though it looks like oil. The cheap batteries have a poor number charge cycles and many come with a charge regulator that is variable in quality built in. The charging can be made safe with a small number of external components and better quality batteries can be fitted in the 18650 ones.

28th Sep 2021, 12:40 pm	#7
Nymrod121 Octode Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,938	Re: Lipo batteries New 18650s are easily obtained (along with a range of USB-powered chargers) from: https://www.fogstar.co.uk/ * FWIW, I've dismantled several 'duff' notebook/laptop batteries over the last couple of years and have found that these often yield perfectly good 18650s. Care is needed in refurbishing them (a judicious application of 120-grit abrasive paper smooths down the sharp edges once the spot-welded interconnecting strips have been pulled off ... and I choose to apply replacement heatshrink sleeving as the original often tears where the cell is glued to the plastic housing). These are a good companion to the single-cell LED torches that are also available from the above supplier - a practical and inexpensive gift with the added feel-good factor of having recycled/repurposed something that might otherwise have gone into the local transfer depot ... Guy * No commercial connection, just a satisfied Customer. __________________ "Halt! - who goes there?" 'Baa-aa-aah ..." ('The Dish': 2000)

28th Sep 2021, 1:37 pm	#8
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23,838	Re: Lipo batteries I also scavenge 18650s from discarded battery packs - drills, cordless vacuums etc. I replace the heatshrink with ordinary vinyl adhesive tape if it's damaged. You can buy 18650 holders cheaply on eBay.

5th Oct 2021, 5:24 pm	#10
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23,838	Re: Lipo batteries It certainly wouldn't be wise to draw several amps through them. You really need a specialist battery pack with built in battery management for that sort of job. The cheap holders are fine for things like radios or LED torches.

5th Oct 2021, 6:07 pm	#11
Bazz4CQJ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 3,802	Re: Lipo batteries I have an ancient, but good as new, 12V Bosch drill which I converted from NiCd to 18650's about a year ago and that has worked out really well. I put a fuse in the drill circuit and that has burned out (10A) just once under a very heavy load. B __________________ Data beats opinions most times... that's my opinion, though I have no data on that.