Battery Cell Bus Bars

[Rucker]

Does anyone have a source for battery cell bus bars made of copper cable? I've seen them in videos but can't seem to find a source.
These things have tinned copper terminations, and are just long enough to connect LiFePo battery cells.

[Bert06840]

I use 1 inch wide, 1/8 inch thick aluminum strips from the hardware store. Twice the thickness of the commercial plates, so even lower resistance than the “copper” ones.

Not that it matters much, it’s in the micro-ohm range anyway.

[kazetsukai]

Originally Posted by Rucker

These things have tinned copper terminations, and are just long enough to connect LiFePo battery cells.

I'm making my own with commonly available aluminum strip:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/k...tml#post436132

[Rucker]

Thanks all.

I'm looking for bus bars that have a short piece of stranded copper cable connecting them. Any others able to point me to a source?

[kazetsukai]

Originally Posted by Rucker

Thanks all.

I'm looking for bus bars that have a short piece of stranded copper cable connecting them. Any others able to point me to a source?

Do you mean copper braided bus bars?

[Rucker]

Originally Posted by kazetsukai

Do you mean copper braided bus bars?


Attachment 57687

that is exactly what I meant! struggling with the word 'braided' today. Just searched Amazon, not finding much.

A google search is a little more productive.

[Rucker]

I found a source (Excel). Has anyone used these in their battery build? Looking for a spec or part number.

The purpose is to allow the cells to flex as they cycle through temp and charge. I'm going to insert a layer of something firm between the four cells of the battery build to ensure even compression, and I think I want something other than solid busbar connecting the terminals for long-term reliability.

Anyone else looking at this?

Yes, everyone uses solid busbars, I know.

[Bert06840]

Keep in mind that many LFP cells are actually performing better when under tension. They do expand, and if you strap the casings tight, the internal electrode-to-electrode distance is prevented from expanding as much as they would otherwise.

The BYD units I have, came with a super tight strap around them and they come with a warning that those straps are necessary for operation.

The bus bars, however, have a little kink in them to allow for thermal expansion and contraction.