The next step is getting the pack setup for charging and actually powering your devices!
I have an up to 10s charger, but these packs are 12s. I am not ready to chop apart my pack, so I decided to set up the charger to charge the left side at 6s3p and the right side at 6s3p. To do this you can only charge each side one at a time, attempting to charge in parallel will cause a major short/spark and overall bad time. While this does not allow for the fastest charging possible, it allows you to not take the pack apart.
This diagram should get you started.
- Full wiring document
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Original VOLT pinout including 12s and 6s
- Volt Pinout
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Step 1: Remove the orange balance tab connector from the VOLT battery, and cut the end off that does not plug into the battery pack. I stripped and soldered each wire to make it easy to attach to my balance leads later.
- Wire removed, next to 6s balance leads.
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- End cut off and soldered.
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Step 2: Solder and heat shrink each wire to the corresponding balance lead wire. Once these 7 wires are soldered (6 cells and a ground) You should be able to read the individual 1s3p voltages for Side 1 (Left side).
With my balance leads, the wiring goes like this.
- Leads
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Step 3: Connecting a new ground lead for the Side 2 (Right side) Balance lead.
Because we are splitting the pack, we need the second balance lead to have a different ground point. Otherwise Side 2 would read all the way up to the full ~48v instead of being a second ~0-24v setup.
UPDATE!!*You should be able to use the existing balance wire from cell 6, and split it to be the ground tab for the second side*You can crimp, solder or weld this lead on. I was able to solder it with my soldering Iron at it's highest, filing the tab to rough it up, and applying lots of flux. I do not think this is the strongest connection, but it is good enough for a balance lead. However if you are going to use this same connection as part of your main charge line, make sure to use suitable gauge wire and a solid connection to prevent a high resistance spot due to a poor connection.
- Filed for solder connection.
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- Balance lead for Side 2
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Step 4 Side 1: Test your connections with your charger. To charge and read Side 1, you should connect the negative lead of your charger to the left negative post on the battery. Connect the positive lead from your charger to anywhere on the cell 6/7 top connection. Plug in your Side 1 balance lead to your charger.
- Connection of main leads to Side 1
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- All 6 cells showing up
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Step 4 Side 2: Test your connections with your charger. To charge and read Side 2, you should connect the negative lead of your charger to somewhere on the cell 6/7 tab. Connect the positive lead from your charger to the top right positive battery post. Plug in your Side 2 balance lead to your charger.
- Connection of main leads to Side 2
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There you have it. You should now be able to set a charge voltage (I use a max voltage of 4.15v per cell), and charge each side to the same amount. Once it is all done the cells are within .01v-.02v from each other. To connect to something else, simply screw on a ring terminal and your favorite wire and connector to the negative post, and one to the positive post, just as you would any other battery.
