Soldering batteries using tab wire

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

fixit7

Member
I was thinking of replacing the 18650s in my Dewalt battery when they go bad.

When using tab wire, what temp do I set my iron for?
The iron is a Hakko wanna be.

My iron goes up to 450C if I am reading the dial correctly. (It had no manual.



I read that you should go hot and fast to avoid ruining the battery.
 
Are you using 18650 lithium battery cells that have solder tabs welded on each end? My soldering iron has a fixed temperature of 370 degrees C for all soldering that takes only one second. Maybe your soldering iron has a light dimmer circuit for variable power without controlled temperature.

You do not want to cause a lithium battery to explode by soldering directly to the ends of it that has no solder tabs. Years ago Ni-Cad batteries were soldered directly to the ends because Ni-Cad does not burn like Lithium does.
 
fixit7 said:
I will find some with solder tabs.
Click to expand...

AG is scaremongering as usual, Li-Ion batteries solder quite easily, clean them first with abrasive paper, and solder them as quickly as you can. We use leaded solder (lead-free solder is useless stuff!), with an iron set to 325 degrees C - I presume AG's is for lead-free, as it's rather hot for leaded.

Mostly though now, we spot weld nickel strips to the cells.
 
In Google, there are articles explaining the damage that soldering can cause to a Lithium battery and people are saying to use gloves and eye protection in case the battery cell explodes. That is why manufactures safely use spot welding.
 
I have never seen nor heard spot welding to a battery cell. Is it fast enough to make a POP sound? If so then obviously there is no thermal damage to the inside plastic insulators of the cell.
 
audioguru said:
I have never seen nor heard spot welding to a battery cell. Is it fast enough to make a POP sound? If so then obviously there is no thermal damage to the inside plastic insulators of the cell.
Click to expand...

It's how battery packs are made, this is the type of machine we have:

SUNKKO 737G 220V Battery Spot Welder Hand Held Welding Machine with Pulse & Current Display

Only US$159.99, buy best SUNKKO 737G 220V Battery Spot Welder Hand Held Welding Machine with Pulse & Current Display sale online store at wholesale price.
www.banggood.com

For those who might like to make one? - you can buy a number of different cheap electronic control modules and make your own using a microwave oven transformer:

14.96US $ 40% OFF|Ny-d01 Spot Welding Machine Control Board 100a Spot Welding Machine Time Current Controller Control Panel Board Module - Spot Welders - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com
 
I may consider making one. How would you hook the circuit up to the oven transformer?

The videos I saw, showed them cutting the transformer up and using 4 gauge wire.
 
All the 18650 cells I have salvaged from laptop batteries are spot welded together with metal strips. I simply solder to the metal strips. When I use a cell with a strip welded on it then it is easy to rip off the strip to use the cell in a cell holder.
 
fixit7 said:
I may consider making one. How would you hook the circuit up to the oven transformer?

The videos I saw, showed them cutting the transformer up and using 4 gauge wire.
Click to expand...

If you google there are numerous examples out there, usually rewinding the secondary with VERY thick wire.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Question
Soldering iron issues
2
Replies
21
Views
3K
shokjok
S
C
  • Question
TCM-200DV no output surface mount soldering
Replies
12
Views
2K
carolmaille
C
L
spot weld wire to wire?
Replies
15
Views
4K
ChrisP58
L
  • Question
Wire for AA batteries
Replies
5
Views
4K
ZipZapOuch
P
Rejuvenating NiMH batteries.
Replies
12
Views
3K
Tony Stewart
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…