Trust J-lo you should....
a lot of the times when I was new, I just smiled and nodded and did what the council members said without really knowing why...
I didn't blow anything up, and the batteries are still working fine...
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I think that the area of confusion is that I am talking about unprotected cells...cells without any sort of pre installed protective circuit in the top of them.
Those are the cells to use the PCB with, for use in recharging. The threads I listed in my last post explain why you should not use individually protected cells in a rechargeable pack...the way they did in the tutorial.
So yes, even though in the tutorial, they are protected from the factory, they are individually protected, which is potentially unsafe for pack-recharging.
So my questions pertained to making a rechargeable pack with using the 7.4v Protection Circuit Board...not a pre installed protection circuit in each individual cell.
Okay, new question.
is there a way to use 4 of these 14500's to still achieve 7.4 volts (or 7.2, whatever,) but have double the mAh? I guess it would be 1800 vs 900.
That seems a bit more acceptable to me. 90 percent of the time it won't matter, but I can imagine going to a haloween party, or out to a Con, with a fully charged saber, and 5-10 minutes with it on here, 5-10 minutes with it on there...by picture time, I power up and my saber dies when I need it! I would like to double the capacity, and I think I have room. 4AA pack hasn't seen any problems as long as you go in 2 columns. I think I would have to fit the PCB on one side, and my soundboard on the other, speaker at the end, and run it against my switch, but if it will fit, I would be happy.
Also I'm looking into that on belt recharger, or will be once I finish this current saber.
Yes. It is not difficult to do. You simply wire 2 cells in series & 2 in parallel.
As a guide for the right pcbs & chargers to use I check the ratings on the packs these guys make then find the parts in the DIY sections.
http://www.batteryspace.com/
I too prefer long run times. On my current project I am using 4 18650s :) Great minds think alike.;) Good luck with your pack.
Causa: If you're concerned about losing batteries at a con, just pack some extra cells. If you're going as a Jedi, putting 2 14500's in one of your pouches would be excellent (and you're actually using the pouch anyway!). Even if you're just in plainclothes I'm sure you can find someplace you can keep them. ;)
My hilt is set up with a recharge port.
It is openable since nothing is attached to the pommel, but I've heard it's generally not something you want to be opening a lot.
My plan is that once I get it assembled and working, not to open it anymore.
I am not too concerned with run times, but if I can increase my capacity and I have extra space in there, I figure why not. I'd rather do it now than upgrade it later.
Okay, I think I have a wiring guide for parallel/series wiring...but now I am lost on the PCB (again >.<)
here is a picture of my confusion. Please imagine the big question mark between the two images.
Your series/parallel diagram is not right.
Sorry for the rough drawing, but you get the idea.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...ieswithPCB.jpg
appreciate it!
Any idea how to wire up the PCB to a parallel/series setup like that?
I found some unprotected cells on another site, but I'd really prefer Tim to sell some :p His store beats the prices for every item I've found, so far.
He sells unprotected cells
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Li...0mAh-P480.aspx
I'll have to read up on the PCB to determine wiring. There is another post somewhere that has the schematic drawn up for it.
yeah, I posted it in the last page, but just with two batteries, not with 2 in parallel/2 in series.