Introduction: Recycle Laptop Batteries - 12V Power Wall/Box! 回收筆電電池 - 12V電源牆/盒!

About: I'm a maker and engineer... I make mad stuff... check out Dubious Engineering on YouTube

I have become a little green in my old age...

Recycling old stuff is good fun... but, as with most of my projects, please be careful! - This one makes use of Litium Ion batteries which can explode and catch fire if mis-treated! (I have demonstrated this in a couple of my YouTube videos!).

This instructable describes in detail all the necessary steps to make your very own high-capacity power box for powering lighting, sound systems, soldering stations, etc... Mine has over 100 x 2000mAh 18650 batteries in it!

Each battery is individually fused and connected to a BUSBAR to ensure an element of safety.

There is a protected missile switch fitted and insulated terminals are fitted.

Charging should not exceed 12.6 volts and depletion should not exceed 9.3 volts.

I have created a series of YouTube videos which really help describe the whole process. Please subscribe to my instructables page and subscribe to my YouTube video channel to see more interesting projects!

在這一把年紀我變成有點環保......


回收舊東西是很好玩的...但是,像我的大部分的研究項目一樣,請務必要小心! - 這項目是使用鋰離子電池,如果處理不當可能會引起爆炸和起火! (我已經在我的幾個YouTube視頻中展示過這一點)。

在這instructable上詳細描述了所有必要的步驟,讓您可以做個自己的高容量電源盒為照明、音響系統、電焊台等供電...我的電池有超過100 x 2000mAh 18650電池!

每個電池個別地接上並連接到匯流排以確保安全的要素。

安裝防護搖頭開關和絕緣端子。

充電不應超過12.6伏特,耗盡不應超過9.3伏特。

我做了一系列可真正幫助我描述整個過程的YouTube視頻。 請訂閱我的instructables網頁,並訂閱我的YouTube視頻頻道,以利查看我更多有趣的項目!

Step 1: Extract 18650s From Used Laptop Cells

Using some large adjustable wrenches, put opposing twisting pressure on the laptop battery in order to encourage the moulded seal to break giving you access to the internals of the battery.

Then, carefully remove the cells, using cutters, remove the charge management PCBs and any wires.

Clean the batteries and test them for voltage with a multi-meter. The voltage should be between 2v and 4.3v if the cell shows lower voltage then 2v it is likely broken and should not be used.

Step 2: Create Tesla Style Battery

Strip some solid copper wire from some household cable. This will be used as a busbar.

Find some thin wire (perhaps 7 core bell wire) strip the sheath and twist together two of the cores. This will become your fuse wire.

Find a decent, hard-wearing box that will fit your batteries.

Align a set of batteries that you want to connect in parallel, solder the negative terminals of all of the batteries together using a busbar. Solder small filament fuse wire (made from bell wire) to each positive terminal of each battery. Then connect all the terminals in parallel with a bus bar. (Please see pictures).

Make three sets of these blocks of parallel batteries. We will connect all of these in series to generate the 12v. Again, please see pictures.

Step 3: Fit a Meter and Terminals to Box

I chose to fit a missile switch (so the box wouldn't be accidentally activated) and I purchased some insulated 4mm banana jacks and a 12v LED meter from eBay.

I then went ahead and chose appropriate places to fit the switch and connectors.

Once fitted, I wired them in place as shown in the circuit diagram - next page!

Step 4: Connect Everything Up and Start Testing

As per the circuit diagram, connect everything up and run some basic tests with the multi-meter. Check the voltage of each pack and finally check the output voltage of the system. Connect in-line the switch and the output terminals.

Step 5: Using and Charging

Do not charge at more than 3 Amps

Do not charge more than 12.6 Volts

(I use an iMax charger as pictured)

I plan to add a solar charge circuit to this in the near future. But for now, this unit is very useful and as such continues to get used!

Reclaimed Contest 2017

Participated in the
Reclaimed Contest 2017