Looking for 18650 insulator disks

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

Does anybody know of a source of those little insulator disks that go on the top of 18650 cells? I know that I have seen them… somewhere… don’t know where.

2

I have used the top and/or bottom rings salvaged from dead cr123s in a pinch.

3

Harvest them from laptop pulls being tossed due to low voltage?

Unless you need a ton of them, some of those with recent packs may have some they can pull from cells ready to recycle.

I’ve only got one more pack to pull, and it is on hold until I confirm the PC is charging. I’d hate to rip a good pack and then find after buying a new battery that it was a broken PC and not a bad pack.

Unfortunately, my small recycling bin only has nicads and watch batteries in it right now.

4

Hi texaspro,

Would any of these work?

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001923/1138101-paper-insulation-gaskets-for-led-emitters-10-pack

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001923/1138102-pet-insulation-gaskets-for-cree-xm-l-t6-led-emitte

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001923/1194800-16mm-insulation-gasket-for-cree-q5-led-emitter-10-

They’re listed for emitters, and I don’t know what the dimensions you need are, but figured I’d link them, in case any of them might work.

Also, I guess the problem is that I don’t know what these things are normally called, but it seems like “insulation gasket” might be close. I did a quick google, but didn’t find the right stuff for batteries, but you might want to try that search, if the FT ones above don’t work for you?

Jim

5

Or, maybe you can “roll your own”:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Versimold-Moldable-rubber-for-custom-gaskets-grommets-insulation-and-more-/121058902141?hash=item1c2fac407d&vxp=mtr

Kind of a pun, but…

Jim

6

http://www.taobao.com/view_image.php?spm=2013.1.0.63.1NZUuY&pic=Wx0GGlFDXA1VUwMGWx0SCwkNGRFcVxxQW1UcCxMFRBkDCFdVV1cRRhpQRDhHJwF2X2tZenwxKjJfXx8pC2sDB0RYQ11FBgYV&title=ye7b2rmp06YxODY1MNX9uLq8q9PDzuW98MasILXns9jIyMv1xKSx6g%3D%3D&version=2&c=MDZhNmMzM2UzZWQ5MjI3ZjNhOTgxZjY5NjRjM2Y0MGY%3D&itemId=12670817495&shopId=66478029&sellerRate=57&dbId=&fv=9

7

How about using Kapton tape?

8

That is the style that I am looking for, but would need an 18mm outside diameter.

9

Hi,

Sorry :(…

And, I can’t believe that these things are so hard to find/source. Did you look at the other link (the roll your own one). I was half-joking, but also half-serious about that one, but seemed kind of expensive to start…

Jim

P.S. I wonder if you might want to open a ticket/product suggestion over at FT? Maybe they can find a source and sell them on their website. I’m assuming others might also be looking (and failing to find these).

10

I think the 16mm may work plus wrapping it with a shrink tubing similar to this.

11

tivo532,

Am I mistaken, or do you shrinkwrap just the top/positive end of the battery?

I’m asking because I haven’t shrinkwrapped (“shrunkwrapped”?) any batteries before.

Thanks,
Jim

12

They need to cover the full width of the battery. The idea is to provide two layers of insulating material over the edge of the cell when you weld tabs onto them. Just shrinkwrap can wear through with rather exciting consequences.

13

I need the metal tabs any source for them ?

14

Building packs, or adding protection boards?

15

Protection boards? Real men don’t use protection… J) I like my electrons raw and untamed!

16

@ohaya - yes just the top end. I only do the positive end if the original insulation is still good and the top end need
additional protection.

@ texaspyro - I agree if you will weld them and use it other than normal use.
:beer: