I’ve got all kinds of loose batteries like I’m sure all of you do or did at one point. What did you guys do to get organized and have all your batteries in one place for easy access?
I just toss ’em in a drawer. Although I do store most of the 18650s in their little cardboard boxes, but still in the drawer.
They make fancy cell holder cases. I have never felt the need.
I got a couple of the 12ga shot shell reloading racks from MTM to hold the plethora of 18650 and old laptop pulls I have, each rack holds 50 cells, a tad loose but stable enough to keep them from toppling. Powerpax holders of various sizes, lots of the little clamshell plastic cases, too. Recently I found some nice 18650 cases on amazon (price has gone up a bit…best for flat tops). They hold six cells but those are made in 4 or 2 cell models, too, clear or black. I like these better than the other larger cases on the market and actually they’ve become my favorite case.
MTM: Amazon.com
Motogroup: Amazon.com
Opened up several Dyson battery packs and saved their cell spacers…some are flimsy and a rather tight fit, some are sturdy plastic coffins, and they use 18650 or 20700 in various models.
And flashlight hosts of course!
Tossing over 400 batteries in a drawer would end up making it hard to find anything specific. Much less match pairs for multiple cell lights.
I have a dresser drawer with all of the NiMH cells. All in the 4 or 6 cell plastic containers. Each container is labeled with a capacity and internal resistance range. Each cell is labeled with the same info but specific to that cell. Of course those containers are segregated by brand.
There is a shelf in the pantry in the basement where it stays cool all year long that has alkaline cells. D. C. AA. and AAA and 9 volt, each has their space.
For the LI Ion cells I store them in metal 5.26 NATO ammo cans. Each one is devoted to one type of cells. 21650, 21700/20700, 18650/18350 each in its own can. The small cells (14500/10440) share a can. The majority of the 18650 and 2170 cells have plastic cases. All labeled like the NiMH cells. Each cell labeled with capacity and internal resistance numbers. I recently went through about 120 laptop pulls and tested for capacity and IR. Then drained them to 3.8 volts. Put them in thick plastic freezer bags and layered them om the bottom of the ammo cans. (I had to pitch about 30 of them for high IR. Not surprising as they are pulls and many over 5 years old.). I have a bunch of 21650 cells in cases, the rest also in freezer bags. Again, fully labeled. At some point I want to get cases for all of them. Much neater and easier to pack if required.
I try to rotate batteries. So after use cells, I shuffle those batteries to the bottom of the stack. I always try to keep two cells for each light charged. Before the recently used cells are put on the bottom of the stack, they are charged to storage voltage.
Container Store 24-Lipstick Acrylic Organizer.
Fits 18650 and 21700 cells.
I use several of these MTM shotshell boxes. They each hold 25 18650s.
Thanks Allan this is exactly what I was looking for!!