Soldering Batteries?

sensor330 · 27th May 2008, 04:54

I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting?

After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg.

Scott

***jradomski*** · 27th May 2008, 05:25

Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330)

I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting?

After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg.

Scott

If you are using 5 cells. The voltage is dropping to the expected OC voltage.. The voltage of a battery will vary based on temperature/load.. When you solder you are raising the cells temperature so the voltage in general will increase (how much depends on the chemistry).. drop that same pack in ice water and you will see it will drop...

Packhorse · 27th May 2008, 06:45

I am unfamilia with the Meg batteries but soldering batteries is bad juju unless they have solder tabs.
The problem is the amount of heat applied to the battery. If you really need to solder batteries do it with a really hot iron as fast as you can (1 second max).

David Pye · 27th May 2008, 08:42

Ideally a small spot welder is ideal for this.

I'm sure i spotted a design online for a spotwelder using large capacitors that was ideal for adding solder tags to batteries.

If I find the link, I'll paste it back here.

David

lizardland · 27th May 2008, 08:49

Can't you make up a set with battery boxes lashed together rather than soldering the batteries?

windymiller · 28th May 2008, 13:02

Has anybody tried the cold soldering irons? I have got one from maplins and it supposed to produce no heat..When I make a battery pack i ll let you know how it goes( 1 blown up battery here I come!!)

zoo_diver · 28th May 2008, 14:30

Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330)

I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting?

After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg.

Scott

Just out of curiosity, are you using "c" style batteries?

netmage · 28th May 2008, 14:36

Guys... do a search for "meg battery spot welder"
It's very easy and will have you set forever....

-Tim

Skipbreather · 28th May 2008, 15:12

And for guys building Lithium C packs: Order your batteries WITH TABS! Will make soldering 1000% easier & safer. Tabs make spot welder unnecessary since tabs are already spot welded by vendor.

**mattmexico** · 29th May 2008, 14:58

Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330)

I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting?

After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg.

Scott

yo

I solder my own packs. I own 8 or 10 battery packs and go down with my supply untill I have one set left, then take off, get some Alkaline AA batteries from Costco or Sam's Club, sit down and do the packs. I re-use the metal strips and wrap thebattery packs into clear wide plastic tape. I do get 7.4 - 7.5 volt out of them, verified with external volt - multimeter ( this is out of my head and would need to verify checking my unit log ).

Once in the unit and checking with the Meg voltmeter in Systems Monitor they do not show that anymore but 7.2 - 7.3 volt ( out of my head again but can verify with unit log ).

At times I get a self soldered pack where one of the cels is getting bad premature, so I put it aside, wait till I have only one set left and start all over.

I do get about 20 - 30 hours out of my primary battery and around 35 - 50 hours out of my secondary. I am flying my unit exclusively electronically and do a lot of set point changes. I never turn my HUD off.

I change batteries as they come up to be changed, seldom going under 5.5 volt before changing as the last bit of voltage goes rather quick. Around 5.1 - 5.2 volt I get a battery warning the moment the solenoid is firing.

Old batteries are exposed of propperly as Playa del Carmen is getting into recycling stuff I can find deposit container at certain locations.

greetings
Matt

27th May 2008, 04:54	#1 (permalink)
sensor330 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 594	Soldering Batteries? I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting? After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg. Scott
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27th May 2008, 05:25	#2 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 3,113	Re: Soldering Batteries? Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330) I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting? After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg. Scott If you are using 5 cells. The voltage is dropping to the expected OC voltage.. The voltage of a battery will vary based on temperature/load.. When you solder you are raising the cells temperature so the voltage in general will increase (how much depends on the chemistry).. drop that same pack in ice water and you will see it will drop... __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.
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27th May 2008, 06:45	#3 (permalink)
Packhorse Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Auckland New Zealand Posts: 106	Re: Soldering Batteries? I am unfamilia with the Meg batteries but soldering batteries is bad juju unless they have solder tabs. The problem is the amount of heat applied to the battery. If you really need to solder batteries do it with a really hot iron as fast as you can (1 second max). __________________ There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.
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27th May 2008, 08:42	#4 (permalink)
David Pye CK#69 Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 267	Re: Soldering Batteries? Ideally a small spot welder is ideal for this. I'm sure i spotted a design online for a spotwelder using large capacitors that was ideal for adding solder tags to batteries. If I find the link, I'll paste it back here. David
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27th May 2008, 08:49	#5 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,387	Re: Soldering Batteries? Can't you make up a set with battery boxes lashed together rather than soldering the batteries? __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk Azerbaijani Association of Technical Divers Publicity Officer and Goat Wrangler
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28th May 2008, 13:02	#6 (permalink)
windymiller All The Gear, No Idea Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: england Posts: 294	Re: Soldering Batteries? Has anybody tried the cold soldering irons? I have got one from maplins and it supposed to produce no heat..When I make a battery pack i ll let you know how it goes( 1 blown up battery here I come!!)
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28th May 2008, 14:30	#7 (permalink)
zoo_diver Is it snack time yet? Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Suffolk, VA Posts: 259	Re: Soldering Batteries? Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330) I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting? After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg. Scott Just out of curiosity, are you using "c" style batteries?
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28th May 2008, 14:36	#8 (permalink)
netmage Tim Owens Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coconut Creek, FL Posts: 704	Re: Soldering Batteries? Guys... do a search for "meg battery spot welder" It's very easy and will have you set forever.... -Tim __________________ "You want a bailout bottle? Go get the pink one from Fill Express, BTCH!" - John Cogan "If I sent my rebreather back, I might live longer, but would I live* more?" - Abbo
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28th May 2008, 15:12	#9 (permalink)
Skipbreather Reads the fine print Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet MK 15.X Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 584	Re: Soldering Batteries? And for guys building Lithium C packs: Order your batteries WITH TABS! Will make soldering 1000% easier & safer. Tabs make spot welder unnecessary since tabs are already spot welded by vendor. __________________ "Entropy RULES! Enjoy the interim."
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29th May 2008, 14:58	#10 (permalink)
mattmexico PROTEC MEXICO Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Classic Kiss Optima RB80 / Clone Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Evolution Prism Topaz Sport Kiss RB80 / Clone Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mexico, Q.Roo, Playa del Carmen Posts: 773	Re: Soldering Batteries? Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330) I've got a question to those Meg diver soldering there own battery packs. What voltage are you getting? After I finish the solder job I get reading usually above 8 volts and after it sits for a bit I notice that the voltage drops in the range of 7.5 - 7.9. This is the first time I've noticed this as I usually make them, check the voltage and then put it in my Meg. Scott yo I solder my own packs. I own 8 or 10 battery packs and go down with my supply untill I have one set left, then take off, get some Alkaline AA batteries from Costco or Sam's Club, sit down and do the packs. I re-use the metal strips and wrap thebattery packs into clear wide plastic tape. I do get 7.4 - 7.5 volt out of them, verified with external volt - multimeter ( this is out of my head and would need to verify checking my unit log ). Once in the unit and checking with the Meg voltmeter in Systems Monitor they do not show that anymore but 7.2 - 7.3 volt ( out of my head again but can verify with unit log ). At times I get a self soldered pack where one of the cels is getting bad premature, so I put it aside, wait till I have only one set left and start all over. I do get about 20 - 30 hours out of my primary battery and around 35 - 50 hours out of my secondary. I am flying my unit exclusively electronically and do a lot of set point changes. I never turn my HUD off. I change batteries as they come up to be changed, seldom going under 5.5 volt before changing as the last bit of voltage goes rather quick. Around 5.1 - 5.2 volt I get a battery warning the moment the solenoid is firing. Old batteries are exposed of propperly as Playa del Carmen is getting into recycling stuff I can find deposit container at certain locations. greetings Matt __________________ N 20' 37.617' W 87' 04.693' www.andreaswmatthes.com
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