QCX mini combined battery case, desk stand & protector 3D printable #case #enclosure
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Anthony Walley ZS6ARW
I decided to create a desk holder for the QCX Mini that also incorporates a battery pack. As I found out I could also add a recess to turn the radio around and protect the knobs (there is a similar concept on thingiverse that Jim Sheldon shared, thanks Jim) let me know what you think |
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Steve
Very clever, and looks cool too! The best combination. |
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NICE! I like it better than the one I remixed and posted on Thingiverse! You gonna post the .stl for this one on T-verse? Also what is that PC board device next to the battery? A source for that might be in order as well. Jim Sheldon, W0EB
------ Original Message ------
From: "Anthony Walley" <anthonywalleysa@...>
Sent: 6/25/2021 1:51:32 AM
Subject: [QRPLabs] QCX mini combined battery case, desk stand & protector 3D printable #case #enclosure #case I decided to create a desk holder for the QCX Mini that also incorporates a battery pack. As I found out I could also add a recess to turn the radio around and protect the knobs (there is a similar concept on thingiverse that Jim Sheldon shared, thanks Jim) let me know what you think |
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Anthony Walley ZS6ARW
On Fri, Jun 25, 2021 at 04:19 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
Also what is that PC board device next to the battery?Thanks for the positive feedback. The design was intended to allow individuals to add batteries of their own preference. That little square slot can be snapped off if not required. The pics also don't show any wiring etc. That PC board is the Battery Management System (BMS). You need this because it prevents overcharge, over-discharge, short circuit and so on. The low-current versions are sometimes difficult to find. This one https://www.electromannsa.com/products/3s-4amp-18650-lithium-battery-charger-protection-board?_pos=12&_sid=665207520&_ss=r&variant=31826331205704 is a 4 Amp version, in other words it will protect if there is a short that draws more than 4 amps. Hopefully there are 2A versions out there but I haven't found them yet. Without such a device you can theoretically extract 1000A from an 18650 for a short time, with disastrous consequences. I am sure you will find similar items at your locale. With the BMS in place, the side panel can be screwed into the main body and the discharge and charge occurs through the same barrel connector. (I'm not looking for arguments with battery engineers, and I am not an engineer. This solution has worked for me, if you have a better solution, let me know) |
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Steve
Here's a 2 amp BMS on eBay. Just search this title: 3S 2A 9.6V LiFe LiFePO4 18650 3.2V Battery BMS Pack Charger Protection PCB Board Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14
On Friday, June 25, 2021, 07:45:35 AM EDT, Anthony Walley ZS6ARW <anthonywalleysa@...> wrote:
On Fri, Jun 25, 2021 at 04:19 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote: Also what is that PC board device next to the battery?Thanks for the positive feedback. The design was intended to allow individuals to add batteries of their own preference. That little square slot can be snapped off if not required. The pics also don't show any wiring etc. That PC board is the Battery Management System (BMS). You need this because it prevents overcharge, over-discharge, short circuit and so on. The low-current versions are sometimes difficult to find. This one https://www.electromannsa.com/products/3s-4amp-18650-lithium-battery-charger-protection-board?_pos=12&_sid=665207520&_ss=r&variant=31826331205704 is a 4 Amp version, in other words it will protect if there is a short that draws more than 4 amps. Hopefully there are 2A versions out there but I haven't found them yet. Without such a device you can theoretically extract 1000A from an 18650 for a short time, with disastrous consequences. I am sure you will find similar items at your locale. With the BMS in place, the side panel can be screwed into the main body and the discharge and charge occurs through the same barrel connector. (I'm not looking for arguments with battery engineers, and I am not an engineer. This solution has worked for me, if you have a better solution, let me know) |
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Anthony Walley ZS6ARW
Here's the link on Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4893740
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Mark Hatch
Great! And thanks for the pointer to the 2A BMS. Ordered 3 (have 2 minis now, but who knows in the future ;-)
73 Mark AJ6CU |
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David R. Hassall WA5DJJ
Where do I find the STL files to build this one. I really like this design. I have a Creality CS-10 pro that should do a good job of printing it.
Very Nice design. Take care and have fun. 73 Dave WA5DJJ SUPER GRABBER http://www.qsl.net/wa5djj/ |
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Nice job on the .stl file Anthony! I just got done printing the base, the battery box is running now and will be done in a bit under 2 hours with the battery box cap to go after that. I have batteries and the Battery Manager ordered, but they won't be here in time for Field Day tomorrow so will be running 100 percent Solar (I have a nice 100 watt solar array and a charge controller that will run 12V all day long with really nice regulation so can run the radios (either the QCX Mini or my KX2) directly from the solar array's output without having to put a battery between them. I'm going to operate off of my shaded back deck with both the 20 meter Mini and my KX2 for the other bands if I decided to try others besides 20 meters. Especially if 10 meters opens up. Antenna will be my MFJ 80-10 meter portable vertical on a tripod out in the yard and 6 radials. Ought to be fun anyway.
Jim Sheldon, W0EB |
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Anthony Walley ZS6ARW
Here's the link on Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4893740
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Hi Jim: I'm interested in your solar collector and regulator. You know things like pictures, make and models and sources, etc. I dont know much about solar so any help you can give would be much appreciated. Solar and QCX just seem to be a natural. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Jim Sheldon <w0eb@...> Date: 6/25/21 4:35 PM (GMT-05:00) To: QRPLabs@groups.io Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QCX mini combined battery case, desk stand & protector 3D printable #case #enclosure #case Jim Sheldon, W0EB |
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Arv Evans <arvid.evans@...>
Maybe I can help get the discussion started? CMS (Charge Management Systems) can be purchased from on-line vendors for reasonable prices. Big ones like this URL are configurable. There are also less functional CMS boards for a fixed number of cells. These are identified as S1 (one cell) through S12 (12 cells in series). S-nomenclature CMS boards usually run about 1/4 the price of a configurable controller. Or, you can make your own charge voltage limiter using a power MOSFET and/or a string of diodes as the charge limiter. A simple circuit like this can stop your wall-wart from over charging the cell string but you would have to rely on each cell having its own internal discharge limiting capability. External discharge limiting might be just 4 power diodes in series (4 X 0.6 = 2.4V) with the discharge connection. Arv _._ On Sun, Jun 27, 2021 at 1:17 PM wa8yan.radio via groups.io <wa8yan.radio=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
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Anthony Walley ZS6ARW
Heres the latest build: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4900276
I redesigned it to have the opening on the left, and this makes the wiring a whole lot easier. I moved the batteries up as high as they will go so that there is about 5mm underneath for a battery management board. |
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Just got done printing the new Left side battery box/end cap. Big problem, the battery tubes are too small in diameter. 18650 batteries fit so tight it’s next to impossible to remove them after a trial fit, even before connecting any wires. The tubes really need to be at least 1mm larger in diameter and 1.5mm would be even better. Then spot welded strips might even fit down the side.
Jim Sheldon, W0EB |
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Dave VE3GSO
One caution regarding placing batteries in tubes: as batteries age they tend to increase slightly in diameter. At some point the batteries will become unremovable and unusable.
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Dave On Jul 5, 2021, at 09:16, Anthony Walley ZS6ARW <anthonywalleysa@...> wrote:
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Anthony Walley ZS6ARW
(Edited because my first response was typed from my phone and may have sounded a bit terse. It wasn't intended as such, but when one reads text there is no face to see the wry smile) I did this for fun and decided to share with the community. If it doesn’t work for you that’s unfortunate - but I am happy to send you the F360 file and you can mess around with it for your own pleasure, please send us your edits since you will likely come up with something better than the original, which is part of the beauty of sharing. |
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Hey Anthony, when you get time, need a link to the battery management system you show in the pictures. The little ones I got off eBay are no good - they have wrong wiring information and the first one destroyed itself immediately, LOL.
Jim - W0EB |
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Do you have the correct wiring diagram. Mine destroyed itself as well.
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No, I don't. I'm hoping Andrew has a link to that larger board he used and shows in the latest picture in this thread.
Jim |
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jerry-KF6VB
Amazon. For stuff like this, their user review system is invaluable. Ebay
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really doesn't have that. I bought a "Ciglow" 24V BMS there last year for an ebike project, and it worked fine. - Jerry KF6VB On 2021-07-08 07:06, Jim Sheldon wrote:
Hey Anthony, when you get time, need a link to the battery management |
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