How To Build A Power Bank From Used Laptop Battery?

How to Build a Power Bank from used laptop battery?

Charging device on the move has been made a lot easier over the years with the development of various portable power banks, instead of buying a new power bank you could make it more Eco-friendly by making one from used laptop battery if you have some basic knowledge of rechargeable lithium ion technology.

What if the laptop battery had been damaged? Literally we can still apply it to build a power bank. I know that you might be wondering how that is possible since the laptop battery is damaged already and can barely retain charge. It is possible because most times when your laptop battery gets bad or stops charging, it doesn’t primarily mean the whole battery is dead. It maybe as a result of a broken circuit inside the battery or one or two of the cells inside is dead not all. Since we usually have 6 to 12 cells inside, you can pick out the damaged ones and reuse the rest to build a power bank.

recycle_laptop_battery

Here is a tutorial to show you how to build a power bank.

Materials:

1.Old laptop battery

2.Power Bank Case ( you can buy in Amazon or eBay or Aliexpress from $4 to $5 for 8 slot batteries or you can go for lesser one depends on your choice )

Tools:

1.Screwdriver

2.Wire Cutter

3.Nose Pliers

4.Multimeter

5.USB voltage & capacity tester

6.Gloves & Goggles ( Not necessary but for safety concern )



STEPS:

1.Open the laptop battery case carefully by identifying the weak spot somewhere along the seam, insert a screwdriver and twist to separate.

2.Pry until the pack pops open with gloves and goggles.

3.Cut the wires and joints to separate the batteries.

4.Remove the taps and soldered metal tabs with nose pliers.

5.Apply the multimeter to measuring the voltages to identify the good cells.

Standards for good battery cells:

Identify-good-battery

I. Measure each cell voltage if it's less than 2.5v don't use it.

ii. Any cell that gets hot during charging remove it before closing the case.


6.Insert the good battery to the power bank slot , make sure the polarity is right.

7.Close the case and charge it with reliable USB cable and charger.

8.Test the output voltage and capacity of the homemade power bank with USB voltage & capacity tester.


That is all.