Build a battery pack using PVC pipes

Using a 1 1/4 PVC tube, make a D-cell battery pack for 7.2 V at 17,000 millamp hours. This is a nice tubular battery pack.

This instructables was made at Tech Shop , visit techshop.ws

Step 1: Bill of Materials

PVC pipe, 1 1/4" x 60cm in length
1 1/4" PVC pipe caps
1 1/4" test plugs
6 D-cell batteries
wire (~20 gauge)
battery contacts (negative ends I use for both, the spring I find has a better contact) 
urethane sealant  or another epoxy that will stick to pvc + metal + wood.. 
pvc cement 
clamps
solder iron
Drill press
scroll saw or router
2x4 wood block, 1.5"
rubber (1/8")

Comments

[prini]

hi got a question have you tryed making a 12v battery pack?

[DIVYA GARG]

nice

[klaurson]

How about using rechargeable cells? Adding a 12V or 16V lighter socket and a USB port could make this into a useful travel pack for gear.

[Wazzupdoc]

More complicated. K.I.S.S.

[kage_no_mozaiku]

really, it's not that much greater on the difficulty scale and it's also more environmentally sound since rechargeable batteries last longer. for those who wish to go green with this project, klaurson's idea is top notch.

[XboxModz]

Yea. I would much rather use rechargeable batteries for this. Going through all this work just to house throw -way batteries seems a little much, not to mention the epic waste of good PVC pipe, LOL.

[~Frog~]

I think the step about wood blocks can be eliminated by adding PVC connectors / as collars towards the other end ... would balance tubes ... imho .. ~Frog~

[Eric Forman]

If you put this in your luggage I guarantee you'll end up missing your flight :)

If you want this to look less like bomb-like (and waterproofness is not a requirement) I'd suggest drilling large holes through the pipes, staggered at 90 degree angles, to make "windows". That way someone looking at it will see batteries inside.

[Wazzupdoc]

I think you are thinking WAY beyond this project, which is a simple, water-proof battery pack. Check out her other aquatic posts. I love her water-snake!

[Eric Forman]

Yes...I was thinking way beyond this :)

I need a 12 volt supply for a homemade field portable ham radio and this instructable is a fantastic idea! I'm going to scale this down for 10 AA NiMH batteries but I also want to avoid being molested by the TSA when they find a box full of electronics and pipes in my bags. My usage does not need to be waterproof.

[legless]

Then just use clear acrylic tube instead of an opaque plastic tube. All the benefits of the original plus one can see inside it.

[Wazzupdoc]

I'm doing a portable ham rig myself. Here's where I'm going:

a. 1 or 2 12V 5AHr rechargeable gel cells (parallel for 2 = 10 AHr)
b. 100W 12VDC->120VAC inverter for power strip holding plugin transformers for various wall warts for peripherals.

c. RaspberryPi Linux box running WSPR and/or another ham interface.
d. Yaesu 817 ND
e. West Mountain radio/computer interface for digi modes.

Hopefully fully, back-packable with apprt. antennas.
My "monitor" is a $20 B/W 5" TV with RCA inputs and audio.
So far so good. See [e-mail]

[Pfarmkid]

You should make an 'ible about it

Pfarmkid

[Wazzupdoc]

Still awaiting parts, but it's coming together. "ibble following completion.

[onrust]

Test plugs rule!

[Denger]

Thanks for the 'structable and especially the test plug link. I have another application which will use those, and it's nice to see the variety available.

[graydog111]

I am missing something......I can not find anything explaining the plugs on the ends with the V shaped wing nuts. What are they?

[Wazzupdoc]

Interplanetary drive propellers. Any noob should see that! :-)

[mslaynie]

Click the link in the supplies section marked "test plugs."

[graydog111]

Thanks mslaynie.

[mslaynie]

You're welcome! I didn't know either, which is why I clicked. :D

[manoj4330]

That is very nice!!
I think we could make smaller battery pack using rechargable cells like ni/cd battery and use them for toys or other things !!

[Nyxius]

Great job making it waterproof, but you did way too much work. Cut your tube to 1 inch longer than your stack then use pipe test plugs to both seal and create terminals. The if you are worried about the minor amount or corrosion due to exposed terminals you can put pipe caps over the plugs. That is a simple way to seal it and it is disassemblable. No messy sealants required and it should work down to about 225 feet (~100 PSI) . It'll probably work even deeper than that if you fill it with mineral oil (+ it won't be buoyant).

[Cerebus300]

For instructable creators, a DIAGRAM is very helpful, especially for electrical designs, but mechanical as well. Safety is important, and there are standards for electrical wiring to help with this, as mentioned above, wiring color is one of these.

Of course if you're the only one using the device, you can do what you want, but when sharing with the public, please be aware of these concerns.

And for a perfect fit of the stabilizer/braces, just wrap sandpaper around the pipe as a sanding block!

BTW, I love doing weird stuff with PVC. I didn't know about the test plugs! Have to remember that one. Nice instructable!

[jongervais]

Everyone be careful if you try this with lithium cells. If they explode you have a homemade shotgun instead. Design in pressure relief.

[bostwickenator]

Just had a lithium ion back explosion last week at my office. Fun fun!

[Wazzupdoc]

This is not a rechargeable project!

[bostwickenator]

Do not do this with any battery chemistry that vents hydrogen during charging!!!

[Wazzupdoc]

These are drug store D-cells. Chill. There's no recharge circuit!

[bostwickenator]

No there isn't but that doesn't mean someone else won't think its a good idea. It's a reasonable precaution to tell people. Especially when some people might not know that batteries vent or that PVC shatters into lovely pieces of shrapnel when over-pressured.

[Wazzupdoc]

I like this a lot!. It could go under a larger snake (sub-surface?). I'm working on an underwater system that is a combination bottom data collector with TV camera linked to a top water data radio buoy for remote data collection (slow scan TV TRX?). My prototype is a 4" tubular TV probe. I may switch to 6" PCB to accommodate the 12v gel-cells. Again, nice project and keep up the inspired and good engineering! KB3VLW

[buster1104]

Great Idea. The first thing that popped in my head is that they looked like pipe bombs in series. Maybe mark or paint them some how to designate what they are?

[Wazzupdoc]

Or, just get over the look. This is a simple water-proof battery pack, not an air-travel luggage add-on! Think simple or think less.

[noahw]

Wow, it's amazingly bomb-like.

[kretzlord]

i have to agree, a little too bomb-ish to be of use in public. Even so, it is a very good solution to a common problem (especially if you don't have access to a radio shack). Great job!

[noahw]

Just to clarify, my comment of "it's amazingly bomb-like" was just a silly remark. It is in fact a simple battery pack, and she is a wonderful maker with the best of intentions.

[dkkim]

Indeed it is very ingenious!
When I first saw it, I thought "What a great way to repair my old Petzl headlight battery pack!". Then I thought, "Not a great look for folks who need to fly a lot or cross borders or go on government installations..."
So, I think it's a valid point... Not negative about the creator or its cleverness, just a potential limitation.

[TheOneTrueStickman]

Yeah, I was actually thinking about using PVC for a 12V AA pack for a time-lapse camera dolly I built for a friend but am glad I didn't. He flew to Florida for a gig with it the week after. Not worth the hassle.

The PVC flashlights I'm trying to get off my drawing board should be a little more self-explanatory...

[cengel1]

I'm sure the maker's intent is pure. Nonetheless, if I saw this in public, I would call the police immediately, and they would surely bring in the bomb robot. I work in a government building, and one day something that looks just like this (except metal) was discovered under a bush outside my window. Upon its discovery the building was evacuated and the bomb squad was called in to detonate it. Due to the disruption something like this can cause, it wouldn't surprise me if building something that just LOOKS like a bomb might be illegal.

[kretzlord]

this could be awesome for an underwater ROV