SciFi Geek
LiFePO4 Pack - Bound & Restrained
Here you see 4ea, 3.2volt nominal 100Ah LiFePO4 cells strapped together into a 12.8vdc nominal battery pack.
The plywood pieces are on the face ends of the outer cells, to keep them from bulging under use, and the strapping keeps the pack nice and tight, so tha the busbars do not damage the internal battery posts.
Later, I'll apply a "Fleece" sock around the pack, and soak it with a fiberglass resin. This will protect the battery from being damaged. The use of the duct tape keeps the fiberglass resin from adhering to the individual LiFePO4 cells, so that if the pack ever had to be pulled apart for cell replacement, it will be much easier to do so.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Even though the batteries haven't even been used, some are already showing a small amount of bulging, merely from standing up, over time the plastic flexes. This allows the internal plates to separate somewhat, will cause capacity loss, and eventual failure from dry spots on the plates. Anyone who uses prismatic cells, please, please restrain your cells or you'll not be happy with yourself later. Cylindrical cells don't seem to have this problem, but who wants to weld up several hundred batteries into a pack, not me.
LiFePO4 Pack - Bound & Restrained
Here you see 4ea, 3.2volt nominal 100Ah LiFePO4 cells strapped together into a 12.8vdc nominal battery pack.
The plywood pieces are on the face ends of the outer cells, to keep them from bulging under use, and the strapping keeps the pack nice and tight, so tha the busbars do not damage the internal battery posts.
Later, I'll apply a "Fleece" sock around the pack, and soak it with a fiberglass resin. This will protect the battery from being damaged. The use of the duct tape keeps the fiberglass resin from adhering to the individual LiFePO4 cells, so that if the pack ever had to be pulled apart for cell replacement, it will be much easier to do so.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Even though the batteries haven't even been used, some are already showing a small amount of bulging, merely from standing up, over time the plastic flexes. This allows the internal plates to separate somewhat, will cause capacity loss, and eventual failure from dry spots on the plates. Anyone who uses prismatic cells, please, please restrain your cells or you'll not be happy with yourself later. Cylindrical cells don't seem to have this problem, but who wants to weld up several hundred batteries into a pack, not me.