Report/Lithium packs recycling

What

There were 4 packs and some singles of lithium batteries laying around the Base. I took them, cracked open the cases, tried to recharge individual cells. Kept the cells that are able to hold some charge, dumped the others into according type of waste.

Why

• I wanted to assemble a battery pack for our devices.
• Lithium batteries degrade when shelved and uncharged.

How

• Cut the side opposite to terminals with a hacksaw, then pry carefully until it cracks open.
• Measure the pack for undervoltages.
• If no undervoltages, try to charge the whole pack. Note the number.
• Disconnect from the control circuit and cut some metal strips to be able to charge individuals.
• Cycle-charge indivudial cells and mark the capacity measured.
• Keep the good ones and profit.

Equipment used

• IMAX B6 charger
• 3 x 8 cell pack, 1 x 3 cell pack, two cell phone batteries

Result

• Cell phone batteries had cap. 400 mAh, were dumped.
• Out of 27 individual LiIon cells 14 were dead.
• The capacities of the rest lay in the interval of 700 - 1600 mAh (these have original capacity 3000 mAh and more)
• The good ones are being cycle-charged to confirm the capacity for possible re-packing.

} /* black marker /** most of the cells were charged only once or twice and not fully discharged before

Marked as *	Type	Capacity estimate [mAh] **	Located
A1	Li-Po	200	Recycle bin
A2	Li-Po	200	Recycle bin
A3	Li-Po	0	Recycle bin
A4	Li-Po	0	Recycle bin
A5	Li-Po	1600
A6	Li-Po	1400
A7	Li-Po	0	Recycle bin
A8	Li-Po	0	Recycle bin
B1 .. B8	Li-Po	0	Recycle bin
C1	Li-Po	1400
C2	Li-Po	1900
C3	Li-Po	1600
C4	Li-Po	1700
C5	Li-Po	1100
C6	Li-Po	800
C7	Li-Po	1800
C8	Li-Po	1600
D1 .. D3	Li-Po	1700