Jump to content


Photo

? Safe replacement for Ultra Fire 14500 3.6V 900mAh


11 replies to this topic

#1 Shin Ryoku

Shin Ryoku

    Member

  • Members
  • 18 posts

Posted 21 February 2016 - 11:23 AM

I have a modified Nerf Demolisher which works well with standard AAs or 2-3 Ultra Fire 14500 3.6V 900mAh batteries used with spacers.

 

I am concerned about the safety of the Ultra Fire 14500 3.6V 900mAh batteries since they seem to lack a protection PCB.

 

Is there a suitable replacement that will give me the same shooting distance as 3 Ultra Fires + spacer but with a safer design?  If so, a purchase link to a reliable store would be appreciated.


  • 0

#2 shandsgator8

shandsgator8

    Member

  • Members
  • 603 posts

Posted 21 February 2016 - 01:50 PM

A high quality 7-8 AA cell NiMH battery pack should give comparable results and be a lot safer.

 

I'm not too familiar with protected lithium chemistry cells. I get the feeling they're not ideal for our applications since they're not widely used; maybe someone else can explain why. Nickel chemistry based cells (NiMH or NiCd) are pretty safe, but heavier and bulkier. You could try Lithium Iron Phosphate cells (LiFePO4?) which are more forgiving than other types of lithium cells, but I don't know much about using them for Nerf. I think they're most widely in the SC battery size, which would not be ideal for use in a Demolisher.


  • 0

#3 jwasko

jwasko

    PowerBeard

  • Moderators
  • 1,021 posts

Posted 21 February 2016 - 02:19 PM

I may be able to make a suggestion, but what motors are you using? Stock motors, or something else?


  • 0

-Jwasko, STILL Sole Surviving member of Steel City Nerf and Sober Sister of the Sex Dwarves
We NERF ON all day, and FUCK OFF all night


#4 Shin Ryoku

Shin Ryoku

    Member

  • Members
  • 18 posts

Posted 21 February 2016 - 02:23 PM

I may be able to make a suggestion, but what motors are you using? Stock motors, or something else?

 

I don't know the specifics of the motor.  Drac did the overhaul and said that I could use either 2 or 3 of these with a spacer: http://www.amazon.co...a730bdd8db839b8

 

But I see that those don't have a protection PCB, so I'm looking for an alternative.

 

 

A high quality 7-8 AA cell NiMH battery pack should give comparable results and be a lot safer.

 

That would require further modding, no?  I'm looking for something that I can use as is.


Edited by Shin Ryoku, 21 February 2016 - 02:23 PM.

  • 0

#5 jwasko

jwasko

    PowerBeard

  • Moderators
  • 1,021 posts

Posted 21 February 2016 - 02:54 PM

I don't know the specifics of the motor.  Drac did the overhaul

You may want to email or otherwise contact him to ask what motors are in there, then. You really should know.

 

Otherwise, I'm going to link you to something I posted a little while ago: http://nerfhaven.com...r-imr/?p=350880

 

In short: Yes, unprotected Ultrafires are dangerous but protected ones might cut out. Unprotected IMRs won't cut out and yet are much safer than trust/ultrafires as long as you get them from a reputable seller (i.e., don't buy cheap knockoffs).


  • 0

-Jwasko, STILL Sole Surviving member of Steel City Nerf and Sober Sister of the Sex Dwarves
We NERF ON all day, and FUCK OFF all night


#6 shandsgator8

shandsgator8

    Member

  • Members
  • 603 posts

Posted 21 February 2016 - 04:51 PM

It would only require modding to the extent you'd need a way to place the 7-8 AA cells within the Demolisher. Electronically, it should be a drop in mod, based on what you've said.


  • 0

#7 Shin Ryoku

Shin Ryoku

    Member

  • Members
  • 18 posts

Posted 22 February 2016 - 08:13 AM

So you can either use protected trustfires and possibly have your blaster cut out in the middle of a zombie horde.

 

Or use unprotected trustfires and have your batteries heat up and/or discharge until they damage themselves (at which point you will have to buy new ones because they won't be able to hold a charge anymore).

 

Edit: Or use something else, like these IMR 14500s. This is apparently a reputable dealer, too, so they won't be knockoffs.

 

 

Thanks for the link.  I definitely don't want option 2 (unprotected trustfires).  I'm willing to buy the IMRs you linked and would appreciate any link to a reliable seller and type of protected trustfires.

 

So far, I've tried two options that don't work at all in my Demolisher.  Those are shown below.  The orange kind (bought in a local brick and mortar battery store) fit in the battery slots but nothing happened (wouldn't fire).  The black ones (bought from Orbtronic) wouldn't fit at all without major force, and I didn't want to break the battery compartment by forcing them.  They are just slightly too big.  Both batteries seemed to charge properly on my charger.

 

Regular AAs work fine, and Drac confirmed that the unprotected trustfires also worked in this Demolisher.

 

 

24896674880_38be7dd1fb_b.jpg


Edited by Shin Ryoku, 22 February 2016 - 08:20 AM.

  • 0

#8 Felix the cat

Felix the cat

    Member

  • Members
  • 43 posts

Posted 22 February 2016 - 06:41 PM

I personally have run the 14500 IMR brand batteries and loved them. They provide more power than trustfires/ ultrafires and can use the same charger (charger depending). They aren't as fragile either. They do cost more than trust/ultra fire batteries but agian, are worth the extra cost.
  • 0

#9 jwasko

jwasko

    PowerBeard

  • Moderators
  • 1,021 posts

Posted 23 February 2016 - 11:34 AM

 

Thanks for the link.  I definitely don't want option 2 (unprotected trustfires).  I'm willing to buy the IMRs you linked and would appreciate any link to a reliable seller and type of protected trustfires. 
 
Regular AAs work fine, and Drac confirmed that the unprotected trustfires also worked in this Demolisher.


I don't know why those brick and mortar ones wouldn't work. The only thing I can think is if he left the thermistor in.  Which...he shouldn't have and that's all I'll say about that.
 
I'd still ask him what motors are in there.
 
I've never bought from the site that I linked but from what I hear it's reputable. They sell protected Li-Ions (should be the same as a protected trustfire) here as well as the previously linked IMRs, and they specifically list the length to be 51mm (um...double check the length on a normal AA compared to that one that won't fit in the battery tray...I think that normal AAs are 50mm).
  • 0

-Jwasko, STILL Sole Surviving member of Steel City Nerf and Sober Sister of the Sex Dwarves
We NERF ON all day, and FUCK OFF all night


#10 Shin Ryoku

Shin Ryoku

    Member

  • Members
  • 18 posts

Posted 24 February 2016 - 08:01 PM

 

I don't know why those brick and mortar ones wouldn't work. The only thing I can think is if he left the thermistor in.  Which...he shouldn't have and that's all I'll say about that.
 
I'd still ask him what motors are in there.
 
I've never bought from the site that I linked but from what I hear it's reputable. They sell protected Li-Ions (should be the same as a protected trustfire) here as well as the previously linked IMRs, and they specifically list the length to be 51mm (um...double check the length on a normal AA compared to that one that won't fit in the battery tray...I think that normal AAs are 50mm).

 

I personally have run the 14500 IMR brand batteries and loved them. They provide more power than trustfires/ ultrafires and can use the same charger (charger depending). They aren't as fragile either. They do cost more than trust/ultra fire batteries but agian, are worth the extra cost.

 

 

Thank you both.  I bought the IMR batteries from the link you gave.  They are arriving tomorrow.  I'll report back on how it goes.


  • 0

#11 nerfsamurai

nerfsamurai

    Member

  • Members
  • 22 posts

Posted 24 February 2016 - 11:28 PM

Drac has a little habit of putting Tamiya motors in his builds. Those run at really low voltages. I'd be very careful when using IMR batteries. Although they are really good. 


  • 0

#12 bex

bex

    Member

  • Members
  • 32 posts

Posted 17 April 2016 - 02:53 PM

I would suggest Lipos. They handle load way better. It takes some soldering, but a Lipo will last longer, is much lighter, and can handle high discharge bursts. The drawback is you can't completely drain them and they take a special charger. I use a voltage alarm on mine. A 1S Lipo is 3.6V and they come in 900mAh. Hobbyking.com is a good online store for them.
  • 0


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users