I already have 12 18650 batteries, 8 in the mail and I’m looking for a good deal on other set. My ad-hoc solution will stop when the first mail arrives and I’m looking to organize it. So I started to look for some nice box.
Ideally I’d like to have one big box which I open and see all my batteries inside.
I haven’t found any box for more than 8 batteries.
Furthermore, per/cell cost seems to grow with capacity. That’s funny, isn’t it?
I can find:
8*18650 box for $1.64 shipped (0.205/cell)
Multi-box sets don’t get cheaper, several boxes on other sites don’t either, but it was a quick search and I have a feeling that I missed something.
With what I know now I would order several 8-cell boxes. Or a regular large plastic box, where I would store batteries in zip bags, 1 bag per kind. But I’m looking for better suggestions…
I had purchased the “Plano Shot Shell Box” which is too short for 18650 cells. I use it but i can’t close it properly without compressing the cells which I don’t want to do.
Which I believe will do a better job to contain the 18650 cells. The description indicates that the box will hold shot shell (18650 cells) up to 3 1/2 inch (88 mm) long.
I don’t know if you can obtain this from outside the US
Interesting lead, thanks.
Such box is $20 shipped from the US.
But I see boxes from that company available in my country and priced OK. But this is the only compact shotshell box they make and I can’t find it anywhere. At least yet.
EDIT:
I found Plano 1216 and 1217. 1 box is all I need, but with shipping it’s $9.71 or $0.39/cell. Still a lot. If I buy 3 it gets down to $0.23/cell, which would be fine, but I don’t need 3 boxes…still searching.
Depends on how many batteries you have, whether this is a good option or not (IMO).
If you are trying to arrange storage for dozens of cells, I suggest pay slightly more for the 8x18650 cases or 25pc shotshell cases. Having dozens of 2x18650 cases doesn’t really organize or declutter much, it just turns your 50 disorganized cells into 25 disorganized cases. Even moreso if you get the dark-tinted cases that you can’t see easily what cells are inside. (don’t make my mistake, just buy the clear ones no matter how fun the colors look.) If you have (or plan to acquire) more than about 15 batteries, start buying the larger 8x18650 cases IMO. Keep a few 2x or 4x cases for when you need to travel with a few cells, but keep your cells at home organized better with larger cases.
I like those a lot, especially the mechanical hinge as was mentioned earlier in this thread.
I store all my 18650 and 26650 batteries in one box, with polarities all facing the same side. This box lives in a drawer so nothing really moves, and there are no xxx-fire batteries in my collection anymore.
For taking batteries with me I have these waterproof (they are, I tested it) Soshine boxes.
I’m sending mails to local arms shops, I may be able to find something reasonable.
But I can’t believe such boxes are not available (cheaper) from China, yet I can’t find them….
BTW, so far I use zip bags for transport. Not nearly as tough as hard case, but way lighter…is it a bad idea?
I own several of these AA cases - I got them from eBay US shipped from China for a similar price. I really like them if you need to store 8 AA in one case.
But for really cheap AA storage cases, eBay US has one seller that sells those 4xAA cases in a 5 pack for only about $1.50 shipped. So I use those for all my extra AAs.
Zip bags are great for taking li-ion batteries, I do that too, or I use one of these silicon sleeves:
I noticed before that China does not have a good variety of plastic boxes, when looking for cheap and suitable ones I more than once ended up buying locally and a non-chinese brand. One example, I found the spanish brand Tayg making lots of good stuff.
I created a do it yourself sort of storage rack. It is okay for static non-mobile cell storage.
I got this idea from test tube racks used in science labs.
The finished product, although I am not completely satisfied, my painting skills need practice.
While at the dollar store I found this basket for $1
A quick coat of black spray paint (too quick) I did not prep the basket properly.
I had some plywood from other projects I cut the wood to fit, painted black, and used staples to attached the inverted basket.
You can see the paint coming of the vinyl coated wire.
And the test tube style 18650 cell rack is complete.
So this sits stationary on the work bench,
I wonder if plain white would look more appealing , the black paint is peeling from the wire., so it is starting to look not so good.
