Use (recycled) Lithium Ion Batteries instead of Alkaline (AA, AAA, C, etc)

Project developed by Dan Brinks (talk) 21:17, 4 December 2019 (UTC)

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Abstract

Electric/electronic devices, designed to run on 3 volts (traditionally 2 AA, AAA, C, D alkaline batteries), are quite prolific around the world. Some devices are troublesome to swap batteries on - the time/date must be re-set, or they may be in a difficult to access location. Some devices are designed to operate on 3 volts minimum, and don't work well at all on the 2.4v output from a pair of traditional rechargeable batteries. In this case, users are forced to continue buying and throwing away single-use alkaline batteries. Alternatively, the device may be replaced, with one that works better on rechargeable cells. Either route here results in material being discarded, likely ending up in a landfill.

I propose to use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, in place of traditional alkaline, NI-MH or NiCd cells. Lithium ion cells boast a very high power density, storage efficiency, and a low self discharge rate. This makes this ideal to power many electronics already existing around the world. Some circuitry must be added, as the maximum voltage of a standard Li-Ion cell is 3.7 volts, which could cause problems or even destroy some electronics. Also, Li-Ion batteries to not tolerate being discharged beyond a certain threshold - usually about 2.5 volts. We'll also add a cell protection circuit to prevent the charge from going below critical.

Finally - brand new Li-Ion cells are available on the market - but they are more expensive than traditional alkaline cells by far. For this project, we'll use cells recycled from an old laptop battery pack. Often, when laptop battery packs age or fail, some cells will degrade much faster than others. Even if a pack is completely nonfunctional (in a laptop), often some individual cells within the pack still have useful life. The packs can be carefully disassembled, and individual cells charged and tested. For this project, we'll use "18650" Lithium Ion cells, that were harvested from a non-functioning 2007-era laptop.

The final product:
Dlbrinks 3v lion.jpg

Bill of Materials

Non-Printed Components

These components are needed in this design:

Quantity Name Description Unit cost (USD)
2 Spring type battery connectors Steel spring style battery connectors are preferred, for ease of use and reliability. These are inserted and soldered to in the 3D printed 18650 cell holder. They're available from many sources, with a name like "Metal Batteries Spring Contact Plate". Alternatively, purchase an individual 18650 cell holder, approx. $0.35 US $0.04
1 Li-Ion protection board The protection board prevents the Li-Ion cell from being discharged beyond a safe point $0.19
1 3 volt regulator circuit This can be done with any standard voltage regulator, and the correct resistors. Recommend a low standby current design - 3volt regulators are available as an assembled PCB from many sources (recommend chip 6206A) $0.95
1 18650 Li-Ion cell Try to source this for free, from your (or your friends) non-functional laptop battery, USB power bank, etc. $0.00
30cm Small wire Wire used for electrical connections
10g Solder A small amount of solder used for electrical connections
Total: $1.22

Printed design

Find the printed design on thingiverse [1] - along with URL for BOM components (appropedia won't let me use ali express links)
This design uses about 7 grams of filament, for a plastic cost of approximately $0.15 US.

Tools needed for fabrication of the OSAT

  1. MOST Delta RepRap or similar RepRap 3-D printer (OR purchase of 18650 cell holder)
  2. Soldering iron
  3. Multimeter (not strictly required, but helpful to check connections)

Skills and Knowledge Necessary to Make the OSAT

  • Knowledge of electrical circuits and basic electricity (low voltage)
  • Ability to solder wires

Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions

Print time estimate: 60 minutes Assembly time estimate: 30 minutes In short, we'll be wiring up the appropriate battery terminals to the input of the

  1. After printing the 18650 holder design, insert metal battery spring clips into each end of the cell holder. The pointed contact end, with the hole for a wire, should be toward the bottom of the cell holder. Bend these metal tails outward, so they're exposed on either end of the battery holder, and can be soldered to.
  2. Solder short wires to the battery terminals.
  3. Wires should wrap around, under the battery holder, to a hollow area where the Li-Ion protection circuit can be mounted. Solder the wire from the positive battery terminal to the contact marked B+ on the board, and solder the wire from the negative battery terminal to the contact marked B- on the board.
  4. Power will come out of this board on the P- and P+. Solder short wires to these pads.
  5. We'll run these output wires underneath the board, and out the side, where our regulator circuit can be mounted.

Assembly Overview and demonstration video

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Common Problems and Solutions

  • All electrical connections in this design are polarized! Pay attention to the positive and negative terminals/signs on PC boards/battery

Cost savings

  • If your solution is not a low cost one then it is not really appropriate.
  1. Estimate your costs
  2. Find a commercial equivalent, cite it and put the [url in square brackets]
  3. Calculate $ savings and % savings

Benefited Internet Communities

  • Name and add links to at least 5 using single brackets around [url name]

References

  • The sources of information (e.g. engineering handbooks, journal articles, government documents, webpages, books, magazine articles etc.). References should use the <ref> </ref> and <references/> tags and can be in any format but should include all the information necessary for someone else to find the same information you did. For example: [1]
  1. web page: Department of Energy (DOE) Landscaping and Energy Efficiency, DOE/GO-10095 (1995) Available: http://www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets/landscape.html

Based on the developmental needs addressed (e.g. food, heat, electricity, clean water, health care, etc.) be sure to label your device in the proper categories e.g. use [[Category:Water]]. Be sure to categorize your device so that it will be easy to find – for example “Low voltage connection basics” is categorized in [[Category:How tos]] [[Category:Electricity]] [[Category:Electric lighting]].

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