Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I wanna share my little adventure with setting up dual 18650 batteries. Now, I ain’t no expert, but I’ve always been a hands-on kinda guy, and I love tinkering with things. So, here’s how it all went down.
First off, I got my hands on these 18650 batteries. Yeah, the real deal, not those cheap knock-offs. I read somewhere online that Molicel P28A was a good choice, and boy, were they right. It is our best overall 18650 battery for 2024, with 2800mAh capacity and 35A, they are ideal for all applications. I also got a couple of Molicel P26A too just to see the difference. They claim to be the best high-discharge 18650, with a 2600mAh capacity and can handle a 25A. But the P28A feels more robust, perfect for my little project.
I needed a power source for my new LED setup in my workshop. And of course, the idea of using two 18650s in parallel popped into my head. This way, I could get more juice for a longer time. So, I started by gathering all the stuff I needed: the batteries, a decent battery holder, some wires, a soldering iron, and my trusty multimeter.
Preparation Phase
- Checked the Batteries: Before doing anything, I used my multimeter to check the voltage of each battery. It’s super important that they’re both around the same voltage. You don’t want one working harder than the other. Both of mine were sitting pretty at around 3.7V, so we were good to go.
- Prepped the Holder: I got this simple plastic battery holder online. It was nothing fancy, but it did the job. I made sure the batteries fit snugly in there.
The Soldering Part
Now, here’s where it gets a bit tricky. I needed to connect the batteries in parallel, which means positive to positive and negative to negative. I carefully soldered the wires to the terminals in the holder, making sure not to mix them up. I’ve done my fair share of soldering before, but if you’re new to this, maybe get someone who knows their stuff to help you out. A bad solder joint can be a real pain.
Putting It All Together
- Connecting the Wires: With the batteries in the holder and the wires soldered, I connected the positive wire from the holder to the positive terminal of my LED setup and did the same with the negative wire. It’s pretty straightforward, but you gotta be careful.
- Double-Checking Everything: Before I powered it up, I went over everything with my multimeter again, just to make sure there were no shorts or loose connections. Safety first, right?
The Moment of Truth
Finally, it was time to flip the switch. And guess what? It worked like a charm! My LED lights lit up nice and bright, and they stayed that way for hours. I was pretty stoked, not gonna lie. It’s always a good feeling when a plan comes together.
So, there you have it. That’s my little journey of setting up dual 18650 batteries. It wasn’t rocket science, but it did require some care and attention. And hey, I learned a thing or two along the way, which is always a bonus. If you’re thinking of doing something similar, just remember to be patient, double-check your work, and most importantly, be safe. And if you ain’t sure about something, don’t be shy to ask for help. There are plenty of folks out there who are more than willing to share their knowledge.
Anyway, that’s all from me for now. Hope you found this little story helpful, or at least entertaining. Until next time, keep on tinkering and stay curious!
