Making A Whites TDI Pro Battery Pack

[RickUK]

Always handy to have all the details to make batteries for machines that are no longer made,i was lucky that when i got my TDI Pro i was able to get a brand new spare battery as well,so currently have 2 of them but must admit i was getting concerned about what will happen when the batteries do finally give out.....but saying that not heard as such any long term issues with them.

Thanks again for sharing the information and also all the components to build these battery packs.

[TC-AZ]

Joe Beechnut,

Correct me if I'm wrong the TDI uses an 8-cell pk. 2 rows of 4 stacked upon itself. It is rated at 14.4 or 14.8 volts nom., right?

Lastly, I myself would prefer a bigger guage of wire, such as 14 0r 12 for the Amp draw and charging.

Like to hear some feedback on performance in the field on those batteries.

Great job. Thanks for sharing ? 

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

7 hours ago, TC-AZ said:

Joe Beechnut,

Correct me if I'm wrong the TDI uses an 8-cell pk. 2 rows of 4 stacked upon itself. It is rated at 14.4 or 14.8 volts nom., right?

Lastly, I myself would prefer a bigger gauge of wire, such as 14 0r 12 for the Amp draw and charging.

Like to hear some feedback on performance in the field on those batteries.

Great job. Thanks for sharing ? 

Correct on the 8 cells I believe.

This was not my machine, I made them for a friend who has the TDI Pro. At first he wanted a 5 cell LI-ion 18650 battery pack which would have been 18 to 21 volts. But for starters, I talked him into something a little milder. We went with the full charged 16.8 volts battery pack.

I've used 14 gauge Silicon wire before on the battery side when I was doing batteries for the Fisher AQ PI, on the TDI Pro I copied what the stock battery used. I will keep you informed on the performance once Mr. Earl gets out, which I expect this coming summer?

I'm sure the combo will work much better then the stocker for it is similar to the AQ 16.8 volt 18650 batteries that I did a few years ago... 4 and 8 cell. The NiMH/ NiCd Battery pack that came with the Fisher was good for a poor 3.5 hours, (same batteries as the TDI Pro's, stock batteries)..... my shorty Li-ion 4 cell pushed it to 5.5+ hours and the 8 cell got 11+ hours. Also did a few experimental batteries for the AQ playing around with different size Li-ions. I do like the sizes 21700 and 26500 but than the weight becomes a issue.

The TDI Pro batteries were really simple, the AQ batteries I had to design a submersible pod, stock Fisher Battery on the right..

[TC-AZ]

Thanks for the feedback. Those hours you gave are very respectable for battery usage. Keep up the good work.

On my Whites TDI Li ion battery pks; if I'm not using for a couple of months (say 4-6), I will put them back on the charger to top them off. It seems that they deplete sooner than what I expected... Oh Well.

In the near future, I will no doubt put together a new set of Li Ion pks like you shown.  Thanks again

TC-AZ

[Roger]

I have posted this question elsewhere, so please admin/mods remove either if innaproriate.

I have converted a #802-7150 and #802-5321 battery packs now that hold 4x18650 batteries that can be used in my TDI SL in dry weather and the TDI BeachHunter when it rains.

My question is this:  With the extra voltage of the 4x18650s, will the original cable from contacts inside battery compartment of both models to the 2510 connector on main board be sufficient?

Should that cable be changed?  If so, what should the awg be?

I have not seen this issue discussed anywhere despite lots of posts on numerous forums worldwide extolling the advantages of the extra voltage.

Is it safe to use existing wire?

 

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

On 3/13/2024 at 4:14 PM, Roger said:

I have posted this question elsewhere, so please admin/mods remove either if innaproriate.

I have converted a #802-7150 and #802-5321 battery packs now that hold 4x18650 batteries that can be used in my TDI SL in dry weather and the TDI BeachHunter when it rains.

My question is this:  With the extra voltage of the 4x18650s, will the original cable from contacts inside battery compartment of both models to the 2510 connector on main board be sufficient?

Should that cable be changed?  If so, what should the awg be?

I have not seen this issue discussed anywhere despite lots of posts on numerous forums worldwide extolling the advantages of the extra voltage.

Is it safe to use existing wire?

 

Maybe Carl can answer that one for I am not sure what the stock TDI internal wires are. Just my opinion from what I have worked with, 18 gauge is fine... and I think that is what the stock TDI batteries use? As far as internally I never had either the TDI SL or beach hunter. I do know of one BH owner who went to the 4 18650 cell battery packs and he has had no issues. I used his machine a few times out for depth testing.

This I do know ... on the Excalibur I ran a Li-po 16.8 battery, the battery wires were 18g right to the board. Wires never got warm but the board sure does. I've since went to 3 Li-ion at 12.5 volts for the Excalibur. 

If you seen the wires that went to the battery on the Fisher AQ most would freak. Stock the machine runs 16.8 volts (I think 8 NiMH batteries)... The two white looking wires have two smaller wires inside each. One for the current and the other audio. I do believe they are 20g/22g or less. I now run 4 cell 16.8v like yours on the AQ now. Guess I have close to 100 plus hours between two machines.

Just my opinion again, most 18650s have low Amps.. the ones I use most of the time are only 4.9 and 8 with such a short wire .. .. less then 6 inches from the board to the battery I would be more concerned about the heat on the board. I know that worries me on the AQ (132F), but luckily I do hunt in the water. Which I think more or less.. water cooled? Wait, now condensation is a issue..

 

 

[Roger]

Thank you OBN; I am reassured and I continue to have no issues whatsover with the 16V+ battery pack.

Regards,

Rog

[Tony]

I went down this track on the TDIBH a few years ago......just be aware that although components can technically handle the extra voltage, the resultant heat on at least one part of the board is extreme. I had the TDIBH disassembled out of the case and actually burnt my finger on one particular area of the board....it was a real eye opener and I stopped the 14.4v battery setup from then on. Now who knows if this heat is a short term or long term problem but for the extra 10% depth over the stock battery voltage, to me, wasn't worth the potential risk.

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

On 6/19/2024 at 12:48 AM, Tony said:

I went down this track on the TDIBH a few years ago......just be aware that although components can technically handle the extra voltage, the resultant heat on at least one part of the board is extreme. I had the TDIBH disassembled out of the case and actually burnt my finger on one particular area of the board....it was a real eye opener and I stopped the 14.4v battery setup from then on. Now who knows if this heat is a short term or long term problem but for the extra 10% depth over the stock battery voltage, to me, wasn't worth the potential risk.

I remember there were several who took the 16.8v jump on the TDI BH and there were a few who had issues, even lost their machines.

Years ago I did a Li-po Excalibur battery.. 16.8v.. ran smooth with no extra heat, used it for several years no problems.... So figured I would try that with (4) li-ion cells, think they were Panasonic 3400maH 4.9A ..hooked all up and seemed fine, so I walked away and came back about a hour.. I could smell the board as soon as I walked in the room. That old sword model was hanging on for dear life. Amazing it did survive but I decided 3 18650 Panasonics were the best way to go. Now my best combo for the excalibur is 3 small Li-ion cells, 12.6 volts