Fisher AQ Battery, How to make a 5.5 or 8 hour battery

[OBN]

Will be posting for those that want to do their own AQ Batteries. Will be a on going post which will have many pictures, any questions ask away, but give me a few days to get back for it is summer and I love my gold hunting. And I no longer sell or make batteries for others, just myself..




A parts list for the battery I make.. someone asked...I think this is complete but I may add to it from time to time... Im sure if you shop around there are better prices and alternative parts that work as well for less. I know a few can be got from ebay or amazon. Most important is to buy good batteries, Brand names.. Like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo, Molicel, and Efest. Do not buy cells on Amazon or ebay..

PARTS LIST FOR THE AQ BATTERY PACK........4CELLS.....18650's (5.5 hour) or 21700's (8 hour)

HEYCO FITTINGS 3237 .......MOUSER ELECTRONICS... used for the fitting cord below, power/audio cord

PXPPVCO8RAFO4ACLO010 BULGIN 90 DEGREE POWER/AUDIO CORD..MOUSER ELECTRONICS There are other possibles out there that are cheaper but this one I have used since the beginning 6 years ago when I first started making them,,

SAMSUNG 35E 3500mAh BATTERIES...THESE ARE FOR THE 4 CELL 5.5 HOUR BATTERY
Samsung 50E 21700 5000mAh 9.8A Battery...THESE ARE FOR THE 8 HOUR 4 CELL BATTERY
ALL PURCHASED FROM 18650 Battery store

18650 Battery Store® | 18650, 21700 & LiFePO4 Batteries

Buy 18650 & 21700 batteries, Li‑ion/LiFePO4 cells & chargers. Samsung, Molicel, Panasonic. Bulk wholesale deals, fast shipping & expert support.

www.18650batterystore.com

M-12 A-08PFFS-SF800 AMPHENOL LTW .FEMALE HEAD PHONES CTX 8 PIN..ON THE BATTERY....MOUSER ELECTRONIC.. instead of going with the small m8 fittings the stock AQ uses I do go with the larger m12 fittings for the head phones

STOCK HEADPHONE FITTING ON BATTERY..BULGIN....M-8 5 PIN PXMBN108FPM05BFL001 MOUSER.. just incase you want to go with the stocker head phone fitting which is a real bear to solder the wires.. I need two pairs of glasses to do this right. I do NOT USE this fitting on my batteries..

T4011008041 1-000 TE CONNECTIVITY AMP ..FOR BATTERY CHARGER TO BATTERY..MOUSER.. this fitting is needed to fit the battery being made for it is to fit the M8-4 pin connector to the charger you will be using.

POLYCARBONATE TUBE 1 7/8 ID X 2 ID X 1/16 ...MCMASTER CARR....OR This you can buy on Amazon and I think it maybe better for I have used it for some time now, thicker and cheaper. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYTBH7D6?tag=treasurenet01-20

SILICON WIRE 16 GAUGE .....Not needed but I like the silicon wire for it bends easier.
18GA COLORED WIRE FOR THE BATTERY TO BMS BOARD...For this I use 4 colors, Red, Black, White and Yellow.

JB WELD or DEVCON EPOXY.......LOWES HARDWARE STORE or Amazon..

Amazon.com

BMS 4 CELL BATTERY MANGEMENT SYSTEM... AMAZON...

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

14.8 VOLT CHARGER...CH-L 14815SM (LI-ION BATTERY PACK ONLY) AMAZON I have two chargers, one is a cheaper and the other is a nicer, but work perfect, one does charge a little fast..

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

ACRYLIC CAST ROD...1 7/8 MCMASTER CARR OR you can purchase a thick piece of plastic, say 1/4 inch and make a few endcap plugs.. which is cheaper but does require a little more work shaping.

POLYSWITCH 4.2A SRP420F ..AA PORTABLE POWER CORP...this is not needed but when I first started making batteries for the AQ I did use these. I have made several since with out. Its basically a inline fuse

KAPTON TAPE...AA PORTABLEPOWER CORP or AMAZON..not needed but it does help when setting the batteries up to be held together and to cover any connections for safety reasons.

Amazon.com

FISH PAPER.......AA PORTABLE POWER CORP or AMAZON.. This is used to insulate open areas that need to be protected

Plain Fish Paper Sheet 0.020" x 9' x 10.5": Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Plain Fish Paper Sheet 0.020" x 9' x 10.5": Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

OR

Amazon.com

PVC HEAT SHRINK WRAP...70MM X0.1MM....AA PORTABLE POWER CORP OR AMAZON.. A colored or clear plastic shrink to finish off the battery, not needed but I do all for I feel its another layer of protection for the battery. It does shrink a lot so make sure to get a size all will fit easy. Heat gun required. I do use clear most of the time and measure all to see what size you will need, I do think this is what I used but i have ordered so many measure to be safe.

Amazon.com

PURE LEAD NICKEL STRIP TAB 0.2MM X8MM 18650...EBAY or AMAZON 0.1MM X5MM or you can use 18 Ga wire and solder

Amazon.com

FORGOT THIS ONE..1/4 PLASTIC 12 X 12 INCH ..TO CUT 21.6MM WIDE STRIP THAT IS USED AS MOUNT.. This will be used to make the long thin mount on the battery that slides into the battery holding arms on the shaft.


A LOT MORE TO COME..

 

[Assembler]

Excellent and looking forward to the rest. I'm thinking this is doable.

 

[Assembler]

I'm guessing that all one has to do to mount a DIY battery is to add a mounting strip?
See attachment photo of battery mount plastic

 

[OBN]

Yes..That is on the list, 1/4 plastic cut to fit..here are a few pictures. The 1/4 inch plastic has to be cut long then shaped with a grinder.
I have a few more things coming and then I can start making a couple batteries, then I can do pictures as I go.. going to make one of each. 8 and 5.5

Trimmed

Made this battery for a friend, different shape. Similar to the stocker.
Some I made when I was putting them out there to be sold.

 

[Assembler]

This could be easier than I thought...........
Thanks for making this look a little better / easier than I thought it would be......

Perhaps it will soon be time for me to get to the grinder.....(grind some here and there on the plastic for sure).

 

[OBN]

Ready to start

 

[Assembler]

Appears to be a build of a 4-cell battery. Perhaps an 8-cell battery will also be shown?

 

[OBN]

Appears to be a build of a 4-cell battery. Perhaps an 8-cell battery will also be shown?

Only 4 cell for now.. once I get the 2 batteries made I will post pictures, I have close to one hundred of the 8 cell

Laid all out this evening, have everything I need now. Going hunting tuesday but will start both batteries Weds more then likely and post step by step.

8 hour battery first...

 

[guest]

Will be posting for those that want to do their own AQ Batteries. Will be a on going post which will have many pictures, any questions ask away, but give me a few days to get back for it is summer and I love my gold hunting. And I no longer sell or make batteries for others, just myself..

A LOT MORE TO COME..

Hey @OBN .
That's very generous of you, considering how much work and development you've put into it. Thank you so much for your detailed report and the instructions on the safe handling of batteries and electronics.

Note: Would it be possible to produce a 3D-printed housing that can accommodate all the electronics and allow for easy battery replacement via contact springs? The batteries could then be charged using a standard battery charger. (Similar to the battery compartment for Li-ion batteries in White's products.)

All the best and blessings

 

[Assembler]

Hey @OBN .
That's very generous of you, considering how much work and development you've put into it. Thank you so much for your detailed report and the instructions on the safe handling of batteries and electronics.

Note: Would it be possible to produce a 3D-printed housing that can accommodate all the electronics and allow for easy battery replacement via contact springs? The batteries could then be charged using a standard battery charger. (Similar to the battery compartment for Li-ion batteries in White's products.)

All the best and blessings

Could heat shrink plastic be used to contain and mostly seal a package of batteries?
Sure, is great to see people sharing process and ideas here.

 

[OBN]

Hey @OBN .
That's very generous of you, considering how much work and development you've put into it. Thank you so much for your detailed report and the instructions on the safe handling of batteries and electronics.

Note: Would it be possible to produce a 3D-printed housing that can accommodate all the electronics and allow for easy battery replacement via contact springs? The batteries could then be charged using a standard battery charger. (Similar to the battery compartment for Li-ion batteries in White's products.)

All the best and blessings

I'm sure you could, even cheaper would take a Piece of PVC pipe

And Thank You for the kind words. I enjoy what I do and don't mind sharing ... many share Ideas that inspire me or others to be more creative on projects.

 

[OBN]

Could heat shrink plastic be used to contain and mostly seal a package of batteries?
Sure, is great to see people sharing process and ideas here.

To a point, but I think it still need some kind of protective shell. One thing I have always said, the Li-ion and Lipo batteries are like little nukes. One reason I do keep a 5 gallon double layer paint bucket 1/2 full with water near when working on this stuff. No plans for weds so hope to start on this project.

 

[Assembler]

To a point, but I think it still need some kind of protective shell. One thing I have always said, the Li-ion and Lipo batteries are like little nukes. One reason I do keep a 5 gallon double layer paint bucket 1/2 full with water near when working on this stuff. No plans for weds so hope to start on this project.

Good idea to charge up the batteries away from the detector so the detector does not get nuked as well. The thin jacket of the heat shrink plastic is to just contain, help keep water away and not protect.
Good tip about keeping a bucket of water nearby for the little nukes.
Thanks for willing to start when you can.

 

[guest]

To a point, but I think it still need some kind of protective shell. One thing I have always said, the Li-ion and Lipo batteries are like little nukes. One reason I do keep a 5 gallon double layer paint bucket 1/2 full with water near when working on this stuff. No plans for weds so hope to start on this project.

Lithium batteries and water – isn't that counterproductive and extremely dangerous?
I imagine a munitions box half-filled with sand would be a better alternative.
IMO

 

[OBN]

Lithium batteries and water – isn't that counterproductive and extremely dangerous?
I imagine a munitions box half-filled with sand would be a better alternative.
IMO

Once a thermal runaway begins, its important to keeping the other cells cool and removing the oxygen. I'm sure sand would work great also but without the cooling effect. My setup, I keep two 5 gallon paint buckets one inside the other and both holding water.... right under the area I could push the battery off the table into them... The second bucket is to contain.... if the batteries burn thru the first, both buckets have a piece of tile on the bottoms. I've researched it for I had a little meltdown when I first started making batteries (2020) and seen how fast the can heat up. There was no fire .............I accidently had a wire touch the wrong place.. less then a second the wire lit up and the 2 cells got warm. I do keep a fire extinguisher near by also.

I do like your ammo can with sand also, another good opp.

 

[OBN]

Blue 8 hour battery is almost done, started the 5 hour should have pictures up by Sunday for it.

Poly Fuse can be used, if so it goes in place of the lead strips. Used those on all the batteries I sold for safety reason..made several since without ..No Issues

Do not leave any open/bare spots.. must be sealed

Epoxied together

Taped together then epoxied, tape removed

Voltage check on the BMS B+ B- terminals, 16.56 volts

M-8 4 pin 90 on to test voltage, temporary install ...................Main power wires. P+ P-

BMS Out voltage 0000..Zero, BMS must be awaken by putting on charger

Charger on, green then to red ..charging.. need to check voltage again.

BMS is now awaken..

5 hour battery in the works. Pictures soon. Once the batteries are done will start the shells

 

[Assembler]

Any tips on what wattage of soldering iron to use for soldering the end tabs on the batteries?
Perhaps tips on how to flux before soldering in general?
Thank you.

 

[OBN]

When I did solder them before I got the Battery welder I would lightly sand the a small area of the battery tips with a dermal disc then use some chipquik flux. (any will do) Then load up my soldering iron tip with hot solder. On what Wattage to use, that Im not sure. I have a work station so I know the heat goes to 480 when I used it. I'll have to look up mine wattage to see.

Mine is 70 Watt

I'll do a separate post for the 5 hour battery then the same on the 8 cell. So there is less confusing and not all packed into one post.

 

[Assembler]

When I did solder them before I got the Battery welder I would lightly sand the a small area of the battery tips with a dermal disc then use some chipquik flux. (any will do) Then load up my soldering iron tip with hot solder. On what Wattage to use, that Im not sure. I have a work station so I know the heat goes to 480 when I used it. I'll have to look up mine wattage to see.

I'll do a separate post for the 5 hour battery then the same on the 8 cell. So there is less confusing and not all packed into one post.

Something like this??

Spot Welder Geevorks Battery Welder 10 Gear Output Power Adjust 0-800A 5000W High Handheld Welding Machine for Battery/ 0.1mm-0.2mm Nickel Sheet Sky Blue

https://www.amazon.com/Geevorks-Bat...1mm-0-2mm/dp/B0BWDBJFCF/?tag=treasurenet01-20

 

[Assembler]

Is it needed to use a more expensive machine?
13000W Battery Spot Welder, Awgem 0.1-0.4mm Portable Spot Welder with Rotary Knob 100 Gears, Auto/Foot Pedal Modes, Dual-Pulse Spot Welder for Lithium Battery Repair and Welding

$72.99

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Awge...ual-Pulse/dp/B0GF7HH3F8/?tag=treasurenet01-20