Reviving FREE Batteries: Test, Make Safe & DIY Capacity Tester!

[@atomic14]

If you'd like to help support the channel and you are feeling flush, then I have a Patreon page: www.patreon.com/atomic14 You can also join us on Discord here: discord.gg/h2DDnDdjD2

[@rickybaker4990]

I would rate this video 10/10 batteries running for their lives

[@atomic14]

😃

[@EgonSorensen]

0:50 - yes, always cut both battery wires at the same time 🔥 Guess you didn't want the extra 'vape' smoke the 2'nd time

[@atomic14]

Definitely going to be more careful next time.

[@DavidRockin1]

LOL 0:50 I LITERALLY DID THE EXACT SAME THE OTHER NIGHT! I ripped out the LiPo batteries from my old vapes. I carefully desoldered all the wires, and was putting on new ones because the old ones were very garbage, tiny or just too small. And I had the two wires soldered on one battery, which were off spooled. And once I measured out the length, I carefully cut both wires at the same time and had a nice little spark. Funnily enough, throughout the entire time I kept reminding myself to be careful AND NOT DO THIS. But at the last minute I did it anyways. But no big explosions, and I've since attached it to a lithium battery controller, and already had it charged and tested on a normal DC fan. So it does seem to work normally, but just my friendly reminder I need to be a bit more careful with these boys. :P great video!

[@atomic14]

So easy to get complacent when you only deal with low voltages - you get into the habit of thinking there's no danger of accidents, and then bang, big sparks.

[@bornach]

@@atomic14 The low voltages are deceptive. It's the low internal resistance of a typical Lipo that is scary

[@andymouse]

Now that's a neat little project !...cheers.

[@atomic14]

Thanks Andy, it's a fun bit of "upcycling", just a shame that people are throwing these things away.

[@andymouse]

@@atomic14 Yep, its a growing problem and my town has gotten worse quite quickly . I've stopped taking them home as I have loads and just bin them instead, not ideal...cheers.

[@ismenc]

This devices also come with a little component sensible to pressure that also manages a status led (not only for the vape on/off but also for battery status). Barely visible on top left at 0:05 Do anybody know what is that component and if can it be used?

[@ChunkySteveo]

You should reduce the charge current from 1A down to about 500mAh for those small batteries. When I find those 'gutter batteries' I slowly charge them at 300/500mAh depending on the size. If you find any of the square tube ones - they usually have upto 1500mAh batteries - very handy finds!!!!!

[@atomic14]

Good point on the charging current. I’ll keep an eye out for those 1500mAh ones - they would be really nice!

[@ChunkySteveo]

@@atomic14 everywhere I walk/run now... I am scanning the gutters and verges like a magpie!! 🤣

[@atomic14]

It's ridiculous, isn't it? - out for a nice walk, look at the trees, look at the sky - no, head down scanning the gutters :)

[@ChunkySteveo]

@@atomic14 I can't unsee them now! I even take the smashed up ones and recycle them - disgusting products that should not be a one time use! 😒

[@bornach]

@@atomic14 I found a discarded vape by checking under the trees

[@skug978]

Thanks a lot for this. Great content.

[@manuelhernandez1332]

Hi Atomic! If I were to use several cells and create a battery, would each of them need a protection board? Thanks!

[@avechess]

Please check if your project "wireless microphone" works with the latest available libraries.

[@atomic14]

Can you raise any issues against the GitHub repo - I've just checked and the code seems to build without any issues. But raise an issue and we can have a look.

[@JamesMyatt1]

Ina219 i2c power monitor is your friend here. Also you should calibrate your multiplying factors by just measuring the current and voltage, rather than just using the markings.

[@atomic14]

Nice - I've ordered a couple of breakout boards.

[@UndernetSystems]

You should consider replacing the charge current resistors to charge at 0.5C or lower. Charging at too high of a current will shorten the lifespan of your battery by a lot. Most lithium batteries like 0.1C charge currents.

[@atomic14]

Very good point!

[@UndernetSystems]

@@atomic14 love your content!

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

Your right they are not safe, around here they can be found like coffee beans in Civet Poop. I'm sure they eat the things to get the last drop out. :-)

[@atomic14]

You've conjured some horrible images in my mind...

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@@atomic14 Now every time you see one in the street your going to look for bite marks and hoped it rained the day before. Now i'm reinforcing that image :-)

[@geoffw.5003]

Hi Atomic, thanks for the interesting video. Just for your info, both the Amazon links to the cheapo and the expensive testers appear to point to the wrong products. For me the more expensive one points at a 15A car battery tester. Eeek bit of a difference !

[@atomic14]

Thanks for spotting that - looks like Amazon's one link doesn't always work. They should hopefully be fixed now.

[@geoffw.5003]

Hi Nope, still not correct, doesnt take you to the exact product, just a bunch of results. Getting closer though, the right product is within the list of results !

[@atomic14]

It's an improvement :) Sounds like a lot of my projects, close enough to working to call it a success!

[@geoffw.5003]

Incidentally, did you know the cheapo board has a software calibration procedure. You didnt mention it in the video I think, would have been interesting to see how much it improved the accuracy. Apparently, it can help a bit, but accuracy is still poor due to op-amp offset errors.

[@atomic14]

Interesting - I did not know that - my manual for it is a bit lacking... I'll have to do some investigating.

[@maicod]

isn't a TP4056 sufficient for also low and high voltage protection ?

[@atomic14]

The little charging board is great - it's got all the protection circuitry. But if you want to use the battery without it then there's no protection. Most batteries you buy will come with a tiny PCB with the protection ICs. These free off the street batteries are completely bare - I guess it saves a bit of money for the manufacturer.

[@maicod]

@@atomic14 Hi Chris I think you misunderstood what I tried to ask. If a battery has not protection board and we use a separate protection board like the one you showed but with ONLY a TP4056 and NOT a DW01, I'm thinking that would be safe for under and over voltage of the battery as the TP4056 does both. Wondering why it would also need a DW01 ?

[@atomic14]

The charger boards have both a TP4056 IC and the protection circuit (the DW01+MOSFET), but the TP4056 IC only does charging - it doesn't have any battery protection built in. For battery protection you need the DW01+MOSFET.

[@qtm-tianxiashi]

可以把货发到大陆吗？

[@qtm-tianxiashi]

那发货到大陆吗？

[@piconano]

You have 3 arms but lack bomb disposal skills.

[@atomic14]

Is it the red wire or the black wire...

[@piconano]

@@atomic14 In your case, both 🤪

[@FixitFrank]

Put some gloves on!! Those ecigg batteries can give you nicotine poisoning

[@ismenc]

Wonder how is it legal to sell those single cycle vape things. So bad for environment and such a waste of resources... at least more batteries for our esp's XD

[@atomic14]

It's surprising they don't fall foul of WEEE regulations in the UK/EU - I've never actually been to a vape shop so I don't know if they have facilities for taking back devices for correct disposal. Might pop into a shop and see.

[@noggin73]

@@atomic14 I think by law if you sell batteries you need to provide disposal facilities. I often wonder if those battery jars you see at supermarkets ever catch fire. Great video!

[@thunderinvader9031]

Wearing gloves is a must when dealing with these things

[@atomic14]

They are disgusting.

[@notsurt]

@@atomic14 They can contain nicotine which is toxic and can be absorbed through the skin.

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@@notsurt My mum used to soak cig butts in a bucket of water for days then spray her plants in the greenhouse, that would kill everything.

[@atomic14]

Interesting - make your own bug spray - www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-make-natural-tobacco-juice-bug-and-pest-repellent/

[@bornach]

@@notsurtGood thing the fluid isn't packaged in a convenient delivery device specifically designed to carry the toxic nicotine to your lungs. The product is so wrong on so many levels

[@GlishaSo]

It smoked because you cut + and - together with pliers in 1 row, you need to cut them separately.... like this you look like an amateur. No offense, just professional advice,