Excel spreadsheet or Access database to keep track of batteries?

Hope this would be the right place to post this. Did a search but didn’t find anything.

Since I’m getting alot of new batteries, pack pulls, old batteries, etc., I wanted some way to keep track of them. Before I try and re-invent the wheel, does anyone have an Excel spreadsheet or Access database that they use to keep track of their batteries (date purchased, 1st use, charging, etc.) they feel like sharing?

Thanks!

I just started my Access db. It's way too crude at this point. Really I should be ashamed. If you asked six months from now, I'm sure I'd have something worth sharing.

Well I have an excel file with two sheets one for Lithiums and one for NiMH that I made for my needs. If you want sent me your email and I can sent it to you, then you can change it to your liking.

@leaftye Cool. I’m thinking I may just write one in Access as I’ve written databases before but the last ones I did were in Symantec Q & A long time ago. It should come back to me though :wink:

@Jargon Thanks for your generosity. I’d be interested to see what you have, maybe make changes, & if it’s ok w/you, share with others? PM sent w/e-mail addy.

Aftburnr

I mailed you the spreadsheet and feel free to make any changes to it and share. That is the point of the forum anyway to share, expand and evolve the hobby.

Access is pretty good with relational databases.

I basically have mine set up as a spreadsheet with a form. I need to make it more relational, and also add a table for charging data like pre-charge voltage, post-charge voltage, charging date and mAh. Plus a form and query to do mass updates, like when I'm too lazy to enter anything but a charging date for all my cells. I'm sure I'd do some scripting since I always do...perhaps starting with pre-filling fields.

Thanks Jargon but I didn’t see a file attached, I e-mailed you back…

@leaftye Sounds like a nice plan. My programming was done in a flat file database. Access is quite a different animal but the same too lol

Excel can do a lot more than a spreadsheet should if you're handy with functions and scripting. Lookups, auto fill, report generation, automation including external programs, UI customization...I've had some fun with it.

Access forms bug me a bit. It makes me want to access the db via a web interface. Then I remember how much coding all that is, and the frustration of work going bad due to changing software versions, or lost due to bad drives and a nonexistent backup routine, and it makes me think I might be better off using index cards and a pencil. :D

The easiest way to serve up an access database via web interface is put your database on a server that runs Cold Fusion, but they are always expensive, too expensive in my opinion (I used to run my own).

Jargon, why don’t we start a Collaboration spreadsheet from yours like the LED Database that RaceR86 started?

Cold Fusion is crazy expensive. I haven't used it in a very long time...like since 2001.

I don't need easy. I okay with raw code if I play with it long enough to get used to whatever language is being used.

Here's simple spreadsheet I use to track the health of my batteries.

Had to dumb it down for it to work in Google spreadsheets.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvnQ-uCiUvKjdDZGUURJSU10U0xMNjZEaDRqQ0MxTWc&usp=sharing#gid=0

BTW - the data is BS, the dates are fabricated to give you an idea how it works

Thanks for that.

I guess to start we’d need to see if there is general interest somewhat on the same level as the collaboration spreadsheet. If only a few people are interested in harvesting batteries, then I imagine there would not be much momentum to keep the spreadsheet updated. I haven’t harvested anything myself so I can’t contribute anything at the moment. I just missed a bunch of packs at the recycling depot last week, bad timing.

Guys if anyone want my Excel just pm me and then you can also share as well and also use/mod and turn to a Collaboration spreadsheet if you wish.

I'm curious why we need a collaborative database.

It is obvious to me why one would keep track of the health of our batteries, keep inventory, etc. however, I see very limited benefits of sharing this info with the rest of the group. The health of the batteries would be largely due to the wear & tear sort to speak, # of re-charge cycles, quality of cell, & age of cell. So it would be really difficult to use that data from someone else and compare it or use it against your own data.

It would serve even less benefit if the cells compared/shared are from laptop pulls as we don't know the age or condition of the cell pulled.

Here would be one example:

Someone purchases a battery pack from an eBay seller, pulls the cells and finds them to be a high quality 2900 mAh cell. He puts the information in the database rather just mentioning it in a thread. Anyone looking for a similar cell might find what he is looking for along with the seller in the spreadsheet.

Another example, the converse: Someone finds poor quality cells. Puts them in the database, then other potential buyers can avoid that source or that type of battery pack. All the information is in one central location rather than mentioned in Ad-Hoc threads that are hard to find.

Why not? What are date codes for? What are discharge tests for? What are hobby chargers and other analyzers for, of which many members have alrready and post results from on a regular basis?

Thanks for the explanation. I see your point with regards to sharing information on where to buy quality cells or avoiding certain vendors for underpar cells.

I'm still stuck on the laptop pulls thing. My original assumption was that most cells being pulled are from old/discarded laptops and buying new would be defeating the whole "getting something free for nothing." So I guess if you are comparing new laptop batteries then it would make sense. However in my opinion if we were to compare the info on old/discarded battery packs, there would be too many variables for the data to be meaningful.

I think that there are pros and as you point out cons. However there might be value to even knowing about some of the old battery packs. For example if I’m at our local recycling depot and I see an Asus pack from one of their eBooks, I could look it up and perhaps it would tell me that that particular model had some decent 2600mAH cells in it. Then I might want to grab it and take it home and test the contents and see if I can get one or two goods ones out of it.

This idea only came to my mind after the recent news about Hong Kong not shipping batteries. Personally I pretty much need the newer high capacity cells. Just last night for example I had to descent from altitude for about 4km in the dark. For that I had a flood on my hip belt, a good thrower on my head (on Turbo mode), and a good flashlight ready if I needed it. Each one had the same battery in it, a Panasonic NCR 18650B. I really can’t see myself using older laptop pulls for that sort of thing, even if it just meant the inconvenience of having to stop more often to swap a cell out. But I guess I’d do it if I had no choice.

BTW, I checked with GP’s Canadian warehouse today and they confirmed they still just distribute the 2200mAh 18650 cells, which is too bad, as that would at least have been an alternative for Canadians. I’ve got some of those 2200mAh cells (or maybe they are even just 2100mAh) and these days they just don’t seem to cut it, especially when you can get the same from almost any laptop pull.