Considering doing a 24v setup.

SternWake · Sep 4, 2016

True these 9 cell laptop battery packs were cheapo @22$. The individual 18650 some no name brand. They could only power the laptop for 15 minutes when i replaced them.

My usb meter says they deliver about 240 mah to bt speaker before.quitting.

My panasonics do.1650 mah.

I need button tops. Added a blob of solder. Last 9 cells decided to not to even waste the solder they tested so poorly.

Testlas.use something like 2400 18650 cells.

Apparently the new tesla gigafactory will be switching to 21. Mm diameter cells instead of 18 650.

ZoNiE · Sep 4, 2016

It's amazing that a 300 mile per charge faster than hell $90K car is powered by AA batteries, 'Aint it?

SternWake · Sep 4, 2016

AA batteries are 14 mm diameter, 50 mm long.

14500 size. Ive got a . lithium 14500 for another flashlight. 2x as bright as a alkaline AA.

All sorts of size formats using diameter and length in mm.

That tesla will be switching to larger format than 18650 means .???.

IGBT · Sep 7, 2016

We run a 24V battery bank. The Magnum MSH4024 4kW inverter runs on 24V and is more efficient than the 3kW 12V model. The Midnite Classic 150 solar charger has no problem with 24V bank charging (it can even do 48V). We use a Vanner 60 amp equalizer connected to both batteries to provide 12V at 60amps for things that need 12V (the furnace fan, water heater controls, led lights, 12V lighter sockets). The NovaKool compressor fridge runs on 12V or 24V so we run it on 24V.

One advantage you get with 24V is wiring from the inverter to the battery can be smaller, or you get lower losses with the larger wire. 140 amps at 12V running a microwave would mean 100 watts lost in a section of wire with 0.005 ohms resistance while at 24V the current would be 70 amps and the loss would be just 25 watts in the same size wire.

AngryVanMan · Sep 7, 2016

I use 18650's in my e-bike battery packs, if you want pre-assembled packs with a battery management system (BMS) installed for you I"d look into that route. There are companies that will put them together for you made to your specs. The largest single batteries I have now in that format are 16AH at 58.8V (51.8V nominal) which is about the same as 69AH (real amp hours, no Peukert effect) at 12V. It is a brick that is about 11"x5.5"x3" and weighs about 15 lbs. I would only use Panasonic/Sanyo/LG/Samsung cells, my bikes are on Samsung packs now. All the bicycle packs I have combined are about equivalent to a 250AH 12V bank - they fit in a small backpack and weigh about 50 lbs total. They are expensive compared to lead - but very, very awesome.

I'm using lithium in my van but probably not 18650's.

As for DC voltage, I think 24VDC is still practical if you want to stick with DC appliances, and a better system overall if you plan on having high amperage loads in the van. Once you get above 24V, you start phasing out some DC options and looking at running more and more items off of an inverter, which becomes more of a residential solar/battery system at that point.