a123 cell damage .. salvageable?

[JERRY2KONE]

I hope you guys will be more careful with your cells from now on? The thing I cannot get out of my head is the vision of you jumping through the roof when the sparks flew. To bad you did not get a video of that for a lesson to share with everyone. I am sure that you had a good laugh after it was all over though. I know I was cracking up thinking about it. Good day mates.

[Finnster]

Drive fast, die hard. ;)

[starscream]

I use solderless power tubes from http://modelelectronicscorp.com and the astroflight A123 charger. I too am accident prone so I have eliminated the need for soldering by using Andersen Power Pole connectors and a Power Pole crimper. I haven't touched a soldering iron in a few years now

This has been working great for me as I use a min of 6S setups.

[zeropointbug]

I shorted a 5s2p as well metalman.... WHOW! Probably over 400 amps on the blast, and blew off the terminal of one of the cells. It was a almost a white arc that appeared.... in the end, I am still using the pack, and performs great, although, I split it into two 5s packs.

[aqwut]

Thanks guys.. I now know that I've got to be uber careful when disassembling the packs... I have 4 dewalt 36V packs coming in.... did you guys resolder or did you use that power tube thingy?...

[zeropointbug]

Most everyone will solder the tabs and/or use copper batt bars to make connections, as I do. Just try and make as few cuts as possible, to minimize soldering joints.

May I ask what kind of packs you are making?

[aqwut]

I was going to make a 14S2P pack for my 55" blackjack.. or 2x 14S1P
and was gonna make 2x 6S1P pack with the left over cells..

[BP-Revo]

Originally Posted by MetalMan

I accidentally shorted out one of my brand new Dewalt packs, all 10 cells. HUGE spark. The pack is still fine though.

lol damn...must have given you one helluva jump...

[MetalMan]

Yeah, imagine 3+hp concentrated into a single spark!

[starscream]

Originally Posted by zeropointbug

Most everyone will solder the tabs and/or use copper batt bars to make connections, as I do. Just try and make as few cuts as possible, to minimize soldering joints.

May I ask what kind of packs you are making?

I guess most guys buy the dewalt packs and tear them down because its cheaper. However, the cells used in the SPT's do not come with tabs so they have never seen solder or spot welding. The SPT's have several advantages over soldered packs. Anytime you add solder joints to your packs you introduce resistance so the SPT's have an advantage there. The one thing that the SPT's don't provide is an easy solution for balancing. However, I've been running my packs for almost a year and haven't noticed any issues.
The SPT's cost a little more, but for me, they are well worth the extra few bucks.

I've been using my packs for racing and I'm really surprised at the performance and run time I'm getting.

[aqwut]

sorry for asking.. what are SPT? A123 Cells?.. Single?

[BrianG]

SPT = Solderless Power Tubes. It's a way of making packs with the cells end-to-end without the soldering them.

[aqwut]

ah.. thanks.. Those are $15 a pop....

[Serum]

That's about next to nothing compared to the shitload of lipo's you bought Bro!

Stop wining, and BUY them..

[suicideneil]

Is it just me, or does the idea of not soldering the cells together sound slightly odd. I see in the PDF diagram they are clamped together from either end, but it still doesnt sounds as 'solid' electrically speaking as soldered together cells does? Maybe I worry too much.

Final thought: I know Im on RCM when the even the Mods swear- such a more casual attitude its refreshing & thoroughly entertaining!.....