Solar Battery Bank (lithium cells)

thingiverse

Living in Wales can sometimes feel like dwelling on the moon's dark side. So when the sun breaks through, I make the most of it by utilizing my solar setup. The issue with traditional lead acid batteries is that they take an excessively long time to recharge. In response, I began experimenting with repurposed lithium laptop batteries. This particular pack was designed to replace my water pump battery (12v 5Amp/hr mobility scooter battery). The circuitry allows the output voltage to be controlled, enabling me to charge a variety of devices beyond just powering a 12v pump. The pack performed successfully in trials, charging significantly faster than expected. However, after two consecutive recharges, the last cell in the series malfunctioned and died. This happened twice, leading me to suspect that the problem wasn't with the circuitry but rather with the batteries themselves. I'm planning to try out new cells, as I believe the old laptop from which I sourced the trial cells may have contributed to the issue.