Recycled USB powerbank for 13300 cells
Description
**What is it?** Low capacity power bank from recycled cells **Why?** My family were throwing away tonnes of single use vapes so i decided to make usb powerbanks out of them to run low power projects. Most standard tubular disposable vapes are identical. Pull the end cap off and inside is a small capacity 13300 cell. If you want a high capacity power bank this isn't it but given the batteries are free the and the circuits are very cheap i figured these would be better than throwing those cells out. if you also have a source of used disposable vapes you might want to give this a go, at your own risk etc. **How do i make one?** The pictures were numbered when i uploaded them but the steps are: 1) Use pliers to pull the batteries out 2) Carefully cut the wires off, pull the tabs out, cut away the tape as needed 3) To clean the glue off the metal i briefly use a lighter on it then wipe it on a napkin 4) Cut the nickel strips to size, leaving a bit on the end to fold over **i** 5) Solder the wires to the nickel strips first, its an utter pain to do after 6) Start from the other end and place the tab on that end then spot weld it **ii** 7) Be careful to keep it all square and do the rest of that side 8) On the other side i do the first and the last cell as it then holds it all in place for you 9) Do the rest of that side. 9) Once you're done welding carefully fold the strips up tight to the batteries. **iii** 10) Check the polarity on the board and poke the wires through the board. You want them to poke out the side with the USB A port on it as there's room for the solder join in the print. Solder those wires. 11) Carefully poke the board into the 'ports' bit of the print. You can push on the back of the USB A socket fairly safely. 12) Make sure the metal lips of the socket are tight to the print then put some glue in to hold the board in place. 13) Carefully slide the batteries into the case. If it catches, remove them and check for burrs / file it down, don't force them. Eventually with some jiggling they should slide right in. 14) Before you glue the tabs inspect it as you push the two parts together and make sure nothing will short. If needed some glue gun glue works to prevent that. 15) Then put two spots of glue into the recesses on the ports part and slide the case so the tabs fill the recesses. I then pushed the tabs in while pressing the parts together until my hot melt glue cooled. **i** i actually made them too long in the pictures and had to fold them back on themselves and add some glue gun glue to make sure they never shorted **ii** If you've never spot welded go read a real guide, please. **iii** If you're unlucky a weak weld will pop off and you'll have to carefully fold it back down and redo it. Alternatively, you can solder to fix them if the welding went really badly. **Buying the bits** I assume you have a soldering iron and solder etc but might benefit from knowing which exact usb board i used and that cheap ali-express spot welders are fine for this... *USB Board:* https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195160194372?var=494973450635 Note: This project uses Micro usb, ordered some usb c for some other ideas i wanna try so might publish those later *Spot Welder:* https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006814571030.html Note: It works but honestly for a few more quid others look nicer
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