WOW! Energizer Bunny Variable Voltage Mod

[asnider123]

Unloaded sent me this Energizer Photo Frame Battery Pack to see what I could make out of it. It contains 3-18650 LiIon batteries, a charging circuit (complete with wall wart), and was designed to put out 12v at a very low current. Here's what if looked like originally:


As you can see, it's almost all batteries, but a little room at the curved end for a VV circuit, etc


First thing I did was install a 5a push-button horn-type switch


Then I mounted a 510 extension as the atty connector, so it would leave clearance in care you wanted to use a tank on it


I used the good old 350T VV circuit (top) and an indicator LED at the bottom


Let's see what it looks on the back (see the tiny hole at the top-left? That's the VV screwdriver adjustment)


And a front pic


And the bottom, showing the charger connector and the LED


I set it at 4 volts and Bob's your uncle


With 3-18650's inside, it should have REALLY excellent battery life, then just plug it in at nite and yer ready to go the next morning.

I have no idea of it's voltage range, but it hits fine in the 4-8 volt range. Never turned it down further so I must plead ignorance

Like it? Clean, huh?

 

[Yenki69]

Great work, i like it !

one question, on the voltage regulator, you dont put any cooler due to overheating?

 

[mv2envy]

Are those batteries in series or parallel? If they are in series, then its a waste because they will not increase run time at all! That linear regulator will only take the extra voltage and turn it into even more heat when compared to a 2S setup.

 

[asnider123]

Well, they are, indeed, in series .. the built-in charging circuit and overload circuit is designed for 10.8 volts approx.

Heatsink .. no heatsink (stupid HK company, ordered heatsinks but it's been 2 months and no heatsinks yet), but I did suspend the tab (not touching anything) and left it uncoated, so it should cool adequately I hope (unless you're a vaping monster). I have used the same circuit in many mods, no failures yet from overheating, so ??????

Thanks

 

[Dalton63841]

That particular reg has a higher rating, and won't overheat from the intermittent use.

The other guy is right. In series the batteries have the same mAh as a single 18650. What you might do is remove one of the 18650's, and put a switching regulator in that space. A switching reg is around or just over 90% efficient, and will increase battery life significantly.

 

[asnider123]

OK, here's another idea.... I do have a TI04050CAD booster .. should fit in this if I do away with the FET. Also I have a circuit board from an eGo 600 ... with built-in charging circuit. Now, if I reconfig batteries to all run in parallel, add the TI booster chip, and use the eGo board for the charger, I think I will have a 6000mAh mod with a built-in charger. So what's wrong with this scenario? Thanks

 

[unloaded]

Didn't take ya long to dive into that one. PWM with the batts in series should get ya very long runtimes even at 6v. Have you tried to find current limit yet? It's looking good already but there are so many options it kinda drives ya batty. I've got one of these left and haven't started on it yet because I can't decide which way to go. I'll check the rack at Wallyworld to see if they have any more.

 

[asnider123]

Hi Unloaded, it's really cool. People have been suggesting we wire up the batteries in parallel instead, this will give us 6000mah of power Of course, other components will need to be changed to a TI booster so we can still have a VV mod. I am trying to figure out charging circuits for a 6000mah battery LOL

Current limit: with original board: 2 amps, now with 350t: 3 amps, with TI mod who knows?????

Guess this is the Energizer v1 but it works like a horse LOL, pretty, huh? How much was WW selling them for? I am going on thurs to our WW and I will check on them. I really like em a lot!

Alan

 

[Dalton63841]

If you use the Evercool mod, you will get GREAT battery life, AND a higher Amp limit. The PTN04050C only has a 2.5amp limit.

 

[asnider123]

If you use the Evercool mod, you will get GREAT battery life, AND a higher Amp limit. The PTN04050C only has a 2.5amp limit.

Well, the only prob is that I have the 04050's already, looking to mod a mod with on-hand components. 2.5a should be fine for personal use, I'm thinkin', and in parallel, those batteries are gonna last a long, long time between charges.

Besides, the PTR08100W evercool mod requires 2 batteries in series, from what I understand, 4.5v is the minimum voltage. It is not a booster.

I have one of the 8100's around here somewhere (my grandson got into my goodie box, been finding parts all over the house GRRRRRRR) .. will look into it further. Thanks

 

[Dalton63841]

As long as you don't use dual coils, the 2.5A limit is just fine. I use that chip for EVERYTHING. I was just telling you the most opportune chip to use with something that has multiple 18650's LOL.

 

[kempo63]

Another great mod. I would bet anything that you used to tear apart your family's toaster when you were a lil' tyke.

 

[unloaded]

I plan on using a DE-SWADJ3 or similar. I want switching. If running it with 12v in and 6v out the pulse would be hitting on 1/2 the cycle almost doubling the battery life. If it's ran at 4v it would be running a 1/3 cycle giving almost triple the battery life. It should run neck and neck with a 3.7v and the batts in parallel. A lot more flexibilty though and the charger is already setup to charge in series. The only question is current limits. I think I should be OK if the current to SWADJ3 isn't pulled through the circuit and it's just used to charge.

I can't remember exactly what they cost, something around $10-$15. They weren't giving them away but they were at a price I knew I wouldn't get hurt. I was expecting a flat gel battery in them, was kinda suprised to see 3x 18650's in there.

The others I got went to a buddy, we used them for some small remote control units that run on 12v to turn Off/On some motorized (6v) duck decoys. It was much cheaper to buy them with manual switch and convert them ourselves to remote control.

 

[breaktru]

Heatsink .. no heatsink (stupid HK company, ordered heatsinks but it's been 2 months and no heatsinks yet)

Heat Sinks: Heatsinks - Fans, Motors & Thermal Management from Allied Electronics

 

[cos]

Unloaded here is the url for that regulator scroll down a bit til you see DESWADJ3. Its 22.99. but there are some cheaper ones that might spart your interest. I seen one in a Phidius once and it was a tight fit but the guy was very happy with it.
what i like about this one is the pot is worm gear driven. so its bit stronger and voltage wont shift. anyway hope this helps . Snider great job on the mod. love your work
Endurance R/C - Voltage Regulators

 

[unloaded]

Yea, I've been meaning to get a few of those just haven't gotten to it yet.

 

[asnider123]

Update: I will be replacing the 350T regulator with a PWM circuit (when I get some time to work on it). That will extend the battery life about 3 fold, since it will only be running between a 30-50% duty cycle.

 

[CraigHB]

One thing I found an the run-time versus size trade-off is that the 5Ah mod I built using a LiPo flat cell is just too big. Initially I thought I would want the big run time, but now I find I'm willing to trade some off to reduce the size. The new mod I'm working on will be 2.2Ah, also LiPo powered. Just something to consider. Big capacity sounds great in theory, but you can get tired of the larger size at some point.

In any case, that's a brilliant looking pack you've built. You are quite a master. If run time trumps size, that's the one to go with.

 

[asnider123]

Guess we could call it The Brick LOL .. Craig, you are a master of the modding world and I always enjoy reading your posts. Wouldn't this make a fine VV PWM mod?????

And I really think it's a right handsome mod, especially cool with builtin charging Thanks man!!

 

[CraigHB]

PWM is a great way to go. The only reason I like a switching regulator better is because you don't have to compensate for battery fade. However, PWM is the most efficient regulation method, so not only do you have a very high capacity mod, but you are also maximizing run time with a very efficient regulator.

Not sure I understand how you handle charging. Did the unit come with that charging system or did you add it?