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Old 06-22-2011, 07:24 PM   #1
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Here is the lowdown. I have a probing system that uses (2) 3.6volt Li-SOCi2 batteries per probe. With 2 probes in the machine, 2 batteries per probe, and the cost per battery being $6.50 or so, it gets kind of pricey to have to change them out every 4 weeks. I spent $30.00 or so per month on these and I think I found a better way. By the way, here are the batteries in question...

http://store.batteryspecialists.com/ls14250.html

Now, If I ran a 2S or even a 3S lipo with a BEC set to 7.2 volts I should have a rechargeable setup that will cost about the same as 3 months worth of batteries or less and I can recharge once or twice a week, correct?


Thanks for the help and BTW, I would love to hear from Mr. Holmes on this knowing that he is the electric guru around here
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Old 06-22-2011, 08:34 PM   #2
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Yep you have it right. Those are 1200mah, you could get some 2200's for like $10, add a BEC and go to town. I'd charge them every 2 weeks just so you make sure not to discharge to low, or you could get a low voltage cutoff or alarm to let you know when they were low. With the way life goes though they'd probably die right when you needed them.
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Old 06-22-2011, 08:38 PM   #3
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Great to hear. I will have to get to wiring some time this weekend.

Thank you
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Old 06-22-2011, 08:41 PM   #4
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If the probes run off of 7.2 v, i would run 2-3 of these in seris

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfi...pack-blue-5790

The take a bec and regulate them at 7.2 volts.

Now the batteries you link to have 1200mah of staorge, having two packs of two wired in seris you have 2400mah. So that rechargeable up there should last you the same amount of time as the ones you have now. And it has built in discharge protection so you don't have to worry about buying a cut-off

I believe you charge them as a lipo, and you could even hook up balance plugs (a gnd, and a hot from each cell)
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Old 06-22-2011, 10:27 PM   #5
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Something about having fire on batteries worries me. From the reviews I have read those DX cells are hit and miss. It also sucks to order from them, I have had orders take 6 months when they were listed as in stock parts.

Do you need it to be portable? Could you just have wires going to a solid state supply? I would say a 3s lipo would be a good bet, with a low voltage alarm or cutoff set up. Alternatively you could use some rechargeable nimh with a regulator so there was no worry of draining them down. The only "problems" are that they would self discharge and they probably won't be as cheap as lithium at this point. Easier to manage though.
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Old 06-22-2011, 10:52 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes View Post
Something about having fire on batteries worries me. From the reviews I have read those DX cells are hit and miss. It also sucks to order from them, I have had orders take 6 months when they were listed as in stock parts.

Do you need it to be portable? Could you just have wires going to a solid state supply? I would say a 3s lipo would be a good bet, with a low voltage alarm or cutoff set up. Alternatively you could use some rechargeable nimh with a regulator so there was no worry of draining them down. The only "problems" are that they would self discharge and they probably won't be as cheap as lithium at this point. Easier to manage though.
Yea, i was more thinking of the discharge protection circuitry...i used to have alink to good ones, not from dx, but i can't seem to find it...i've also seen lipos's with cicuitry too, but they're more pricey than those cells.
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Old 06-22-2011, 11:00 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes View Post
Something about having fire on batteries worries me. From the reviews I have read those DX cells are hit and miss. It also sucks to order from them, I have had orders take 6 months when they were listed as in stock parts.

Do you need it to be portable? Could you just have wires going to a solid state supply? I would say a 3s lipo would be a good bet, with a low voltage alarm or cutoff set up. Alternatively you could use some rechargeable nimh with a regulator so there was no worry of draining them down. The only "problems" are that they would self discharge and they probably won't be as cheap as lithium at this point. Easier to manage though.

The solid state would be great for the tool probe on the bead but the touch off probe needs battery. Thanks for the input, Now I have an even greater window to toss this bird through
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Old 06-22-2011, 11:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes View Post
Alternatively you could use some rechargeable nimh with a regulator so there was no worry of draining them down. The only "problems" are that they would self discharge and they probably won't be as cheap as lithium at this point. Easier to manage though.
+1, I was thinking some 5000mah NiMH packs for this. They would be fine for the discharge rates needed.
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