how to build a 12 volt 18650 Lithium battery pack

Hello Operators
For the ham radio operator in the field, portable battery power needs to be light enough, small enough, modular, have enough capacity, and above all it should be possible to replenish it off-grid, and in the field
In this video, I will show you how to build a battery pack using 18650 lithium ion batteries. I will use this pack to power my Yaesu Yaesu FT-817 or other ham radio gear. Naturally, this pack can also be used to power other DC powered gear for emergency power.
What is the QRP Battery pack?
The QRP Battery pack is a lightweight opensource project using commercially available components to build a povket-sized bsttrry pack gor QRP hikibg or other types of gield vommunucatiobs.
The 4S1P system can be built for about $115US. It can also be easily modified for 4S2P (97.6Wh), or 4S3P (146.4Wh). Any of these three systems will power your qrp radio for many more hours than originally designed from the factory. The ability to charge in the field with a solar panel or other 12 volt source means you stay in the field longer while carrying less gear.
Fast-forward one yesr.
On September 28 2016, I published a prototype 4S lithium ion battery called QRP battery pack. I've field tested that pack for a year, before deciding to take what I've learned, applying it all to two new portable power systems. This project takes the original concept a little bit further by introducing lithium iron phosphate cells of various capacities, as energy storage for the off-grid field operator. IMHO, this is less of a battery pack, than it is a portable power system or solar generator.
Plan for this project are two different builds
4S1P/4S2P 10Ah/20Ah LiFePO4 based on Headway 38120 cells with battery management board and dell balancing. This Pat can be upgraded for a 100w radio, or extended for maximum capacity and runtime.
4S1P/4S2P 2.5Ah/5Ah LiFePO4 pack based on A123 cells, with battery management board and cell balancing.
Each pack can be customized by the builder for increased capacity/output rating by adding addition cells in parallel, and upgrading the BMS. The ability to charge in the field with a solar panel or other DC source, means you stay in the field longer, while carrying less gear.
The next video of the series, we will take the entire system out to the field, along with a PowerFilm F15 1200 thin film flexible solar panel.
In the third video in this series, we will build a 5 amp power lithium iron phosphate battery pack based on A123 cells. That fact will be especially interesting for the Sota operators or qrp campers & hikers, looking for a lightweight renewable power source for the summit or the trail.
Episode notes can be read at oh8stn.org/blog...
The Portable Solar Powered GoKit can be found here: • Video
The Man portable off-grid power for amateur radio articles and other electronics projects, can be found here: oh8stn.org/blog...
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Julian oh8stn Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.