I want to know if anybody stacks 18350's in their Zmax,or Vamo. I got a mod a few week ago and it uses stacked 18350's and I just love how it preforms. I can tell a diffrentance from my 18650 mods. I don't want to stack 18350's in my Zmax's or Vamo if it is going to screw them up because I haven't had any problems with them in the time I have had them. So if any of the great people here on ECF have any info on stacking batteries that would be awesome.
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yea i stacked batterys in my vamo's and zmax's with no problems,just never mix cells at different charged status (one charged one half drained etc)and you shouldn't have any problems
but that aside stacking any batterys can be a added risk alot of people choice not to do so.
but that aside stacking any batterys can be a added risk alot of people choice not to do so.
Thanks for the input. I have two sets of 18350's that I only use for stacking. So I pretty much have that covered. But I don't understand the add risk factor. Does stacking batteries increase the amp out put or does that stay the same for what ever the unit is set at? Any way thanks for the info it was helpful.
Stacking 2 cells will effectively double the voltage. The current will depends on the load or regulator. In your case (Zmax and Vamo), there's a regulator, so the current would actually be reduced by about half. To minimize any risks, it's best to stack only protected cells.
I should add that I don't know whether the ZMax and Vamo actually supports stacking (e.g. 8.4V input). Please make sure they do before trying.
Vamo is designed to work with stacked batteries.
Protected batteries are NOT recommended.
You should be using IMR (high drain) safer chemistry batteries.
Why?
I figured with protected cells, the protection circuit should break the circuit in case of over-discharge of either cell. So it seems to me they're safer. But I suppose they (low-drain cells) can't supply enough current in some cases to be useful. But 2 stacked 2000+ mAh 18650's should be fine in most cases, assuming a rated they're rated for 1C max discharge or better.
Hmm... come to think of it, no one would stack 18650's, so you're right. At 1C, protected 18350s wouldn't provide much power, even if they are safer. So unless there are such things as high drain protected cells, IMR are the only practical solution.
Do I have it right?
I do use exclusively IMR cells, but always individually.
Actually, I think I can remember seeing a protected Panasonic CGR18650CH....
But yes, Folks have come to the forums wondering why their protected 18350's wouldn't fire. Protection kicking in I'm sure.
With the IMR's you have a safer chemistry and the Vamo protection circuit takes care of the rest.
Another issue would be length.
2 18350s longer than 35mm probably wouldn't fit.
Yeah, probably.
I can't see how it can protect in situations where one cell has fully discharged and the other hasn't.
Good point.
It can't.
That's why you should use matching pairs when stacking.
A Vamo will shut off @ 6.4V stacked and that doesn't mean both batteries are @ 3.2V.
to answer and early question part of the added risk of stacking the battery's with different voltages is do to the fact that the higher charged battery will be pushing that higher voltage through the lower voltage battery causing several problems that could lead to venting of the cell.
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