Custom Arizer Solo High Performance Battery Packs (Original thread)

[rcflo]

CentiZen,

Thank you for the inspiration and the data you posted on these batteries in the solo. I successfully replaced my M1A4's batteries today with some NCR 3400's I got from Callie Kustoms. After two back to back sessions on 7, and still on battery level 7, I couldn't be happier. I had no light show bugs of any nature, as i precharged the cells before building the pack. However I had 30 seconds of anxiety after putting it all together and it not turning on, before I thought, hey I should probably plug it into the pass through and the charger and see what happens. which indeed reset the board, and no problems yet.

Will definitely update if something goes wrong, but again, thank you. if it wasnt for your plots, I probably wouldnt have replaced my batteries just yet, and with those specific NCR's. Now I am very happy I did, my solo is finally a camping companion, not just extra weight and glass liability after the first afternoon

Cheers

Update:
Charged back up successfully in under an hour after a couple more sessions.

 

[CentiZen]

Wow that is some great news rcflo! I'm glad to hear that you are getting some good results from them! They are fucking glorious are they not? Just make sure they are charging properly once you've had a couple sessions and then you should be set.

And to update you guys, the batteries came in last night! I've been working studiously all day on them. Just a couple days left I'm thinking.

 

[vman]

CentiZen,

Thank you for the inspiration and the data you posted on these batteries in the solo. I successfully replaced my M1A4's batteries today with some NCR 3400's I got from Callie Kustoms.

rcflo, or CentiZen, or other DIY'ers, I registered just to ask this as my solo battery pack recently crapped out (light show when attempting to charge). Are you guys using unprotected cells with or without a 2-cell protection circuit? I'm itching to order some batteries and get my solo going again, but am unsure if I need something along these lines: http://www.batteryjunction.com/pcb-7-2.html (hope it's ok to link there). I ask because the stock battery pack does include such a circuit.

 

[CentiZen]

Originally all of the packs I was making used a 2 cell protection circuit from Powerizer but it turns out that the protection circuit was actually interfering with the proper performance of the battery. The design of the Solo includes a complete over-charging/discharge protection system so an external protection circuit is overkill anyways.

The circuit is included as a liability protection in case someone pulled the battery out and tried to use it in something that does not have the same level of protection that the solo had.

To update you all, the people who have pre ordered have all been contacted (if I have missed you feel free to contact me) and some of the packages have gone out. Two people have received their batteries and tell me it is a huge improvement and working great. I will start taking direct orders once the preorders have been taken care of.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Dreamerr]

Centi are these plug and play like that link on the regular thread that was put up for me yesterday by clouded vision? I was looking to spend $60 bucks when the time comes and I know yours is less.

 

[CentiZen]

Yeah, mine come to about the same price (48 dollars) plus shipping. And they have over 50% more capacity. That's some funny math.

The ones they are selling are Tenergy 2200's with a new lead. I'm amazed they are charging so much markup on this product. That pack costs fourteen dollars on amazon.

 

[Dreamerr]

I guess $36 for all there hard work of changing the lead to make it plug and play and $10 for shipping which is standard from Canada. I don't get why tenergy doesn't sell the packs with the right end oh well. When time comes I gonna get yours anyhow if you have it plug and play for me. I got a ways to go since I bought mine not to long ago and batteries should last three years I think?

 

[Armerad]

Very interested in purchasing one once they're available.

I'll have to check what my Solo model number is, were you ever able to address the incompatibility with certain models?

 

[CentiZen]

I guess $36 for all there hard work of changing the lead to make it plug and play and $10 for shipping which is standard from Canada. I don't get why tenergy doesn't sell the packs with the right end oh well. When time comes I gonna get yours anyhow if you have it plug and play for me. I got a ways to go since I bought mine not to long ago and batteries should last three years I think?

In a perfect situation and treated very well, the batteries could last for three years. But the solo gets really hot, draws a ton of power and charges the cells very fast. These factors, plus the fact that people are probably going to use it multiple times a day every day, means these batteries are going to die out real quick.

My batteries are exactly the same as the ones they are selling, but with a much higher capacity. Changing the lead on a battery is a five minute process with little effort. Assembling a pack from bare cells is a whole different story, but that is done by Tenergy in this case.

The reason Tenergy does not tip their batteries in small volumes is because there are so many different types and options and offering them all to everyone for single unit purchasing is just not feasible for them to do beforehand.

I'll have to check what my Solo model number is, were you ever able to address the incompatibility with certain models?

Yes, all models are supported now

Anyways, the official pricing of my pack is 48$ per pack with shipping usually being around the following:

Within Canada - 12
Mainland US - 17
United Kingdom - 18

Please contact me if you want to know what the cost is to get a battery shipped to your location if it is not on the list.

To order simply contact me at centizen [at] centizen [dot] ca, or through a private message over FC. Also, just as a heads up, this thread will be replaced shortly.

 

[Dreamerr]

When it is I hope we get a new link please. Wow that must be heavy cause I ordered a base for my solo to charge standing and it was 10 shipping from Canada, but it was light. Did you add the plug to make it easy cent or do we still have to solder?

 

[CentiZen]

The plug is there, you just need to plug it in.

I wish that I could do better on the shipping but the problem is that I don't have a CE certification. Because of this I have to send everything by surface mail because the air carriers will reject them. I am still looking for a better solution, but right now that is the way it is.

 

[jambandphan03]

I'm happy to see the progress I don't need a new battery just yet, but will likely want to get one by the end of the summer, if not sooner. Thanks for all the work and time put into this CentiZen!

 

[stickstones]

thanks for letting us peek behind the curtain, centizen. I am now educated and amazed at the effort, knowledge and time it takes to get something as simple as a battery upgrade completed. I won't complain anymore about the price of these things in stores.

 

[shredhead]

Defiantly pickin up a pack soon.....my m102 only lasts a quick 6 sessions now, still enough to get by tho!!

 

[smokum]

I still havn't tackled the batt pack switch I got from centizen yet in my VERY tired M102.

I'm such a procrastinator and have just been getting by with my POS M105

 

[mephisto]

I am still rockin' 1 of my 2 m102 solos, but nowhere near 6 sessions. If I am lucky, I can get 3 sessions @ 4/5 before it goes back on the charger. I am looking forward to grabbing a couple of your packs, centi. Thanks for all the hard work putting this upgrade together.....

 

[CentiZen]

Hi everyone!

I've requested the moderation team to close this thread to make room for the new one. Please ask any questions you may have or other comments in the new thread.

Thanks!