Extracting 18650 batteries from "dead" laptop batteries

[jman]

If you are looking for some rechargeable 18650 batteries - then look to discarded laptop batteries for your source. And free is a nice bonus!

I headed to a local computer shop here in Kaysville and asked them if they have any discarded 6cell and 9cell laptop battery packs. They gave me 3 of them (2x 6-cell and 1x 9-cell). In total that should give me about a 15+ good batteries out of the 21. Btw, one cell equals one 18650 battery.

Here's a tutorial on how to SAFELY remove them. As compared to other 18650 batteries, these are NOT button batteries. Meaning the entire shell is grounded and you have to be careful NOT to scratch off or damage the protective coating on 'em.


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...650-Extraction


I just bought a Nitecore i2 Intellicharger for 18650 for $15. In the meantime, I've just been using the built-in charger on my headlamp. But now that I have a surplus, I need a way to charge more!

[jman]

Here's a few pics of my work:



I retrieved about 17 good rechargeable lithium batteries. The other 5 tested bad.

Retail price for 2 rechargeable lithium 18650 batteries?? $20
Price of retrieving "dead" laptop batteries? Free.
Getting 17 (and counting) 18650 batteries? Free.
Total price of the 17 18650 batteries if at retail price? $170

And here's it in action!



ahhhh yeah!!