Inside an antigravity battery

[Jcary85]

Thought some people might find this interesting. Out of frustration around dead-ish rediculously priced AG batteries, I took an old one apart. Based on what I see, this can easily be balance charged. also the the top posts that spin often can easily be cleaned and tightened. Also, should be easy to put back together. Thoughts on filling voids and circuitry with epoxy once it’s fixed?

 

[Citizen]

Was this one sealed?

 

[Big Kahuna]

Freestyle - AntiGravity Autopsy pics

Thought ya’ll might be interested in seeing what’s inside of one of these "fine, expensive, high end" "AntiQuality" batteries. This particular specimen was purchased new and went into service on 8/21/13. The voltage has been checked religiously, and never dropped below specs. I don’t run...

www.x-h2o.com

Been there, done that!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jcary85]

Was this one sealed?

Ya but the seal on the top post breaks pretty much any time it spins (which is first time u tighten it basically). I’m going to epoxy the top posts on my new one and epoxy the seam to stop post spinning and really seal it

 

[Jcary85]

Balance charging

 

[KMN]

Damn, I've been wanting to do this. I've been looking at making my own with balance charging. We use these damn Anti Gravity batteries and store them at full charge degrading the life. We should be taking more care of these and you never know if you can't balance them.

Good work

 

[Storbeck]

Balance charging

Don't these use Lithium Iron Phosphate cells with different chemistry and different charging needs than Lithium Polymer?

I'm not super familiar with the various different types of lithium ion batteries so maybe you can use the same charging scheme?

 

[Jcary85]

Don't these use Lithium Iron Phosphate cells with different chemistry and different charging needs than Lithium Polymer?

I'm not super familiar with the various different types of lithium ion batteries so maybe you can use the same charging scheme?

Honestly, I’m not an expert. Barely even did any research lol

 

[Storbeck]

Are the actual cells round cylinder canister looking things or polymer pack rectangular things?

 

[Jcary85]

Rectangular. They arent the type that look like AA batteries.

 

[SXIPro]

Good to know they hire 6 year old blind kids to do their soldering.

 

[KMN]

Wonder if that circuit board auto balances. It must, otherwise you don't really need a circuit board.

 

[Storbeck]

Rectangular. They arent the type that look like AA batteries.

Ah, then my original comment is wrong, those would be LiPo

 

[Jcary85]

Wonder if that circuit board auto balances. It must, otherwise you don't really need a circuit board.

possibly - I haven't pulled the board up yet, but there are no ICs on the top. I'd assume there must be something - otherwise why on earth would they even have the balance leads? Could be to balance them at the factory before sealing though.

 

[Storbeck]

Wonder if that circuit board auto balances. It must, otherwise you don't really need a circuit board.

I think the LiPo cells are a lot more finicky than lifepo so they need the board to shut off the battery to prevent over charging or over discharging and generally prevent the cells from getting grumpy *I think*.

 

[KMN]

I've been charging my Anti Gravity batteries as 4 cell LiFe. Wonder if that's correct. What do you guys do?

 

[Storbeck]

Rectangular. They arent the type that look like AA batteries.

I think I'm wrong again, that looks like it says LiFePo.

I thought those only came in a cylinder form factor, but I appear to be batting 1000 on this one.

 

[Jcary85]

oh ya - sorry, i totally knew that. It even says it on the label on the outside of the battery. LifePo. I can still balance charge that, right?

 

[KMN]

oh ya - sorry, i totally knew that. It even says it on the label on the outside of the battery. LifePo. I can still balance charge that, right?

I'd assume so. For sure if you can hook up the balance ports. Now, I don't know if the board will cause any interference with that. It may try to balance whatever you're doing to it.

 

[Jcary85]

I'd assume so. For sure if you can hook up the balance ports. Now, I don't know if the board will cause any interference with that. It may try to balance whatever you're doing to it.

i stopped it cause i had to get back to my actual job (and didn't trust leaving it) but it seemed to be working. voltage was slowly coming up/down and incrementing up. I think thats why this battery failed. one cell was way higher then others which i think made it basically not charge all the cells.