18650 battery system

Sharkbait wrote:

It looks to be the same one,but way cheaper Not trying to take business away from other people,but we're all trying to save a buck or two if we can
I just was trying to work out the length of the 18650 batteries compared to the 'C' cells that I use now,because you need 4 'C's for the connection to be made when the battery door is closed,and the way it looks from Jen's post is you only need two of the 18650's

Anyone?

Cheers..Dave

Your correct, you only need 2 x 18650 batteries.. Plus the 2 sleeves

Sharkbait wrote:Hi Jen,thank you for posting this info ,is this the same system?

http://www.urbanoutback.com.au/xtar-wp2-li-ion-intelligent-charger-2-keeppower-pa

It just doesn't have the grey sleeve adapters to fit in the SDC..could you tell me where they sell these please?

Cheers...Dave

As far as we know, finders keepers in Kalgoorlie sell the sleeve adapters..
And yep it looks just like my charger.
At the time when we brought the system, we didn't know much about it,
so i didn't look at any web sites, plus being over in the west its hard to collect any mail. Would have to travel to far..
So if you can save money why not!
For a cheaper charger, which looks the same

Nightjar wrote:Hi Jen,
Where did you buy the battery adaptors?

Finders keepers Kalgoorlie..
Hey Peter did you buy a sdc2300???
If you did..
Awesome

P.s i hope i have answered every ones questions..
So you need 1 charger that can charge the li lon 18650's batteries.. 2 x li lon batteries..
And the 2 x adapter/sleeves..
I know you can buy the charger and batteries else where.. But as far as i know the sleeves from finders keepers..
Good luck everyone..

Prior going to the West in June/July purchased another battery charger from Supa Cheap had them on special at $29 and a set of higher capacity Batteries (5000?) just in case...

If you have not already done so ( buying backups) the purchase of Jens suggestion ie. battery set/charger will allow you to have your original 2300 bats/charger as backups.

Hey Jen,many thanks for your replies and info..muchas gracias

Not yet Jen but fairly sure one will be in arsenal next season. :-)
Maybe not entirely true but the SD 2100 was 6 volt but very soon 12v battery stepped down to 7.2V was the norm.
So now the SDC2300 is 6V being stepped up to 7.4v, was it just cost or caution on Minelabs behalf?
BTW: Bit of trivia, an 18650 battery measures 18 x 65 mm.

Sharkbait wrote:
Haha,Bernie..i don't have any affinity with these guys ( Urban Outback) just that I bought my 'C' size rechargeable batteries called 'Tenergy' from them, which work brilliantly,so I thought i'd have a look and see if they have the same system that Jen posted about Very Happy

It looks to be the same one,but way cheaper Rolling Eyes Not trying to take business away from other people,but we're all trying to save a buck or two if we can Razz
I just was trying to work out the length of the 18650 batteries compared to the 'C' cells that I use now,because you need 4 'C's for the connection to be made when the battery door is closed,and the way it looks from Jen's post is you only need two of the 18650's Shocked

Anyone?

Cheers..Dave

No worries Dave. I'm not one for worrying too much about what might have been. If I get what was ordered and it works according to the plan I will be very happy.

Anyway, as it turns out I found a $1 in the supermarket carpark earlier so now, at worst, I'd only be down $99.

My thanks to Jen and Dave also for the info provided.

Bernie
Determined1

Hey Bernie
You will be pinging the little nuggets really well.
So you wont be down anything soon

Is the higher the mAh the better?

These ones are 6000mAh 6000mAh batteries

Also found this charger to suit those batteries Li-Ion Charger

Would be interested in seeing how mch the sleeve battery adapters are by themselves.

coreytroy wrote:Is the higher the mAh the better?

These ones are 6000mAh 6000mAh batteries

Also found this charger to suit those batteries Li-Ion Charger

Would be interested in seeing how mch the sleeve battery adapters are by themselves.

G'day Coreytroy,

Yes the higher the mAh the longer the batteries last between charges.  As for the adapters we aren't sure if you can get them separately. You would need to contact them.

Cheers.

Mike.

if you are going to Finders for your battries and charger, dont bother, they have sold out, will have new stock in next week, may still have to pre order like i did..... Gim..

Finders sell the tube adapters for $30ea, so $60 for the pair.
They will be restocked on Monday.

coreytroy wrote:Finders sell the tube adapters for $30ea, so $60 for the pair.
They will be restocked on Monday.

 for finding out about the Adapter's price..

Now all members and guest's
Know!!!!!!  
Including Me

The adapters look like a simple DIY job, but finding a rod of solid pvc or nylon the correct diameter(26.2mm), the effort to attempt to DIY these is outwayed by the cost to buy i' say.

It has been a long time coming to have an improvement for the SDC

Yep we bought a set of the adapters, happy days, now it's OOOO just like Tim the Toolman's super charged tools.

cheers dave

Got my kit in the mail the other day
looks well assembled [as simple adaptors go].
Thanks for putting us onto this Jen.
Makes carrying spares around much easier and lighter
Cheers
ChrisM

Made up two adapters out of bits and pieces lying round the shed. The only parts I had to buy were four 15 x 20 upvc reducing bushes at 70c each.
Cut 2 bits of 15mm upvc tube 94mm long and tapped the reducing bushes on the ends. The total length ended up at 100mm (length of two 'D' size batteries).
The bore of the tube has to be opened up slightly for the 18650's to fit and the outside diameter of the bushes has to be skimmed down smaller to fit into the 2300.
I didn't have access to a lathe so had to do it by hand with emery cloth wrapped around a bit of the round white curtain rail.
After getting the sizes right I drilled a hole in the tube for easy removal of the batteries.
A bit of 10mm aluminium round bar 30mm long with the same length of rubber hose tapped in one end completes the setup.

TutC wrote:Made up two adapters out of bits and pieces lying round the shed. The only parts I had to buy were four 15 x 20 upvc reducing bushes at 70c each.
Cut 2 bits of 15mm upvc tube 94mm long and tapped the reducing bushes on the ends. The total length ended up at 100mm (length of two 'D' size batteries).
The bore of the tube has to be opened up slightly for the 18650's to fit and the outside diameter of the bushes has to be skimmed down smaller to fit into the 2300.
I didn't have access to a lathe so had to do it by hand with emery cloth wrapped around a bit of the round white curtain rail.
After getting the sizes right I drilled a hole in the tube for easy removal of the batteries.
A bit of 10mm aluminium round bar 30mm long with the same length of rubber hose tapped in one end completes the setup.

Great design Tutc

I am working on a timber design in one piece, just need to tweek it to fit the sdc battery compartment.

Thanks Coreytroy,
Gotta try and save the pennies now that I've retired.

Will the charger that comes with the 2300 work with these batteries

Idigem wrote:Will the charger that comes with the 2300 work with these batteries

G'day Idigem,

No you need to buy the correct charger for the 18650 batteries.

Cheers.

Mike.

Hi everyone

Well i am not sure about these batteries now..
While i have had no trouble with mine, and my sdc2300 is still working fine.. ( i think )
You may all want to have a read of this thread..
Where Adrian has looked into the voltage side of things.

https://golddetecting.forumotion.net/t24092p60-sdc-2300-on-large-deep-gold#233250

What i don't get is..... How can a Minelab dealer sell something that could damage our detectors, or is it we have to take it at our own risk!
Although we weren't warned about the higher voltage these batteries put out could cause damage to our detectors...
Were just told how good they were and some good results have come out by using them.

So what i am saying is do your homework..

Jen,
I may stand corrected here, any modification to your Minelab Detectors may void warranty?
Having said that most, most owners going back to the first release SD2000 increased the voltage.
My old SD2100 that I ran for 10 years+ originally ran off a regulated 12V (Heavy little sucker) then off a Lucky Lark Battery, which was then used on the 3500, 4000 and finally the 4500, with each detector the voltage could be altered to suit with a small screw driver.
During this period Berndt & Petra owned Reeds Prospecting and they advised me what voltage to use, it was always more than what the machine was originally sold with.
I can recall 7.3V, 8.0V & 8.3V but can not recall which machine they applied too. Also at some stage Berndt gave me a female 5 pin plug and instructions on how to remove the 4 pin and replace it in the Lucky Lark.
Maybe one of the gurus here who fiddles with details can give you the exact voltages each of these machines came with and what they later ran with?
Have never heard of any machine failing using a recognised voltage system.

Nightjar wrote:My old SD2100 that I ran for 10 years+ originally ran off a regulated 12V (Heavy little sucker) then off a Lucky Lark Battery, which was then used on the 3500, 4000 and finally the 4500, with each detector the voltage could be altered to suit with a small screw driver.

I think the key on these old systems above was that they were either regulated or the input voltage could be adjusted to suit. The 18650 system has neither of these functions although I don't believe, in my opinion only NOT expertise, that they would harm the SDC.
You just need to be aware that Minelab have said they tested to 7v only and anything above may void warranty. In using them you would need to weigh up the positives, perceived or real, verse the risk of machine failure with possible no warranty. Many will be prepared to take the risk especially if the rewards justify it i.e. more gold finds. There are also a lot of older SDC's coming out of warranty now so for some it wouldn't be an issue?
The 18650's have a nominal voltage of 3.7v (7.4v for 2) which isn't too far out from Minelab’s 7v. The issue is they have a fully charged voltage of 4.2v (8.4v for 2) which may or may not be harmful to your machine. My info is the SDC is internally regulated so to my thinking this would only matter if 8.4v exceeded the max input volts the internal regulator could handle?
One thing to be mindful of with using the 18650's for extended time is that it's recommended to not run them down below 3.3v and running them down below 2.5v (still higher than NIMH rechargeables) can make them unable to be recharged again or basically unusable. At 2.5v or 5v for the 2 batteries would potentially show about 50% or better on the SDC battery meter!
I know this as this topic and Adrian SS's sparked my own interest. I'd most likely use them if I still had the SDC, not that what I'd do means much in the scheme of things.
I have also been of the same opinion as Nightjar. Any mods you do have the potential to void your Minelab warranty whether it be aftermarket batteries, internal mods or even potentially a bad aftermarket  coil. I can't recall where I heard this but it's something I've always thought to be true so I assume I originally got it from a source I trusted?

Hi guys, thanks for the reply Mike.
Jen looks like you made up my mind thank you, will stY with the c ells
Regards Simmo

HomeRulez wrote:One thing to be mindful of with using the 18650's for extended time is that it's recommended to not run them down below 3.3v and running them down below 2.5v (still higher than NIMH rechargeables) can make them unable to be recharged again or basically unusable. At 2.5v or 5v for the 2 batteries would potentially show about 50% or better on the SDC battery meter!

G'day HomeRulz

The 18650's that we used won't drain down to those low voltages, they shut themselves of at around 3.4v in that they just turn the detector off and that's it till you recharge them, true they do charge upto 4.2votls each, but not long after being off the charger they are more like 4.1 or 4 v and as soon as the switch is turned on for the detector and a load is applied they would be well under the 4v mark under load.

The c size rechargables drop down to around 1v each before the detector will shut down, so in effect that is 2v for 2 cells when comparing to a single 18650 that is replacing that pair.

Anyhow it is upto each person wether they are prepared to use a different battery system or not, and I also reckon like Jen says that the Minelab dealer would NOT be selling and recommending something that will do damage. ML warranty, well that is up the ML and as there is no sign of a physical modification in anyway to the battery compartment, well you know what I'm saying....

cheers dave

Do you think the technicians wouldn't know what internal components would let go after having too much voltage applied?
Apparently not all 18650's are created equally either. Ones that have there own protection circuit, like yours, are ideal.
Regardless, as I stated above, I personally don't think you'd have any issues and I would use them. People do need to be aware of possible consequences though.

Hey HomeRulz!!
Where didja go??
Thought you put up some good info there.

adrian ss wrote:Hey HomeRulz!!
Where didja go??
Thought you put up some good info there.

I don't even know why he left

I have run the SDC on 1.5 v alkalines for a while and cannot pick any difference between the detectors performance with those and the 1.23v NiMh