Hey all, about to purchase a handful of Lipo VTC5(A) cells, used in most high end drills. 3.7V 2600mAh when the draw is in the 2 to 5 amp range. Though expect that energy storage to fall into the floor at high draw applications such as starting a car. Will be lucky if each cell delivers effective 750mAh in the sole starter-motor application. How much energy in MAh, with a few seconds of that and then running peripherals, only one way to find out? 1000 mAh lucky.
Mooch on the lipo battery testing website, and on youtube has found these VTC5As are 35 amp continuous and safely about 60 amp in short bursts, each.
To substitute the winter struggling lead acid battery in the 1 L 1994 suzuki cultus/geo metro. The setup in mind, is essentially going for a cross between a vaping "mech" rig and an ebike.
With the VTC5s going for 2 dollars apiece, a 4s(four in series to get 16V max, 14.4V nominal) quad parellel wired pack, for the all important 240 cold cranking amps easy. A 4s4p cell arrangement.
Should cost 32 dollars and then for the battery cradles, another dollar apiece for the dual holders,, 8 dollars. Depending on where they're sourced.
Comes out at 40 dollars total.
Some ebike enthusiasts might not like these cradles, as it necessitates the cradles wrapped in electrical tape or held with zip ties to keep them from potentially springing out during driving, though it's vital as taking the 16 cells out and charging them at home in those handy 6 cell phone battery banks, will be how they'll get balance charged each day/week depending on how well it holds up.
To do this yourself, if you don't have the empty phone battery banks already, probably closer to 60 dollars for you.
Though with the added versatilty of also not having to worry about charging your phone ever again. To take the sting out of it. When you're carrying 3 phone battery banks with you, at least 1 day out of every week.
To make the required cradle arrangement, 4s4p and the need for a minimum total of 8 of these doubles clearer. Here attached are the all important hi-amp battery cradles that can handle a hundred amps easy. Your typical thin-coil- spring AA style battery cradle, will turn into a toaster at similar draws, so it's these or nothing.
Anyone see any problem with this setup? Willing to wager on longevity?
Expect me to get stranded at night somewhere with the (guessing) 20Amp headlight draw? Depleting the pack?
Suggest a solar array to output 5V 2amp so if stranded, breaking bad style, should recharge the phone battery bank, in a few days? Made Ready then For, a re-enriched (uranium) reload, into the car 4s4p arrangement.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18650-Batte...0yJxlZYO4Vg6EQ