DIY Lithium Battery - What could go wrong??

The video opens with Linus explaining the fun idea of overclocking a power wheel toy by swapping in a high current lithium battery pack. He introduces the plan to build a DIY 24 volt battery pack using 7s3p configuration with 18650 cells and a Verusend style modular kit, aiming for much higher speeds than the stock motor can handle. The presenter walks through the parts selection, noting the need for a suitable charging setup, a battery management system, and the risks involved in wiring cells in series and parallel. Early on, he emphasizes safety and the potential for short circuits or even an explosive failure if any connection is made incorrectly, framing the project as a test of what could go wrong. By the end of day one, the crew has assembled the pack base and started wiring cells, while anticipating a test drive on their modified jeep power wheels. The video then covers the practical challenges of charging a nonstandard 7s configuration, including the lack of a compatible charger, and the decision to cannibalize a charger for higher voltage input, followed by a tense moment where they test the battery in a controlled setting. The result is a dramatic ride, showing the pack delivering substantial speed increases, a warm-toasty battery, and a candid reflection on the experiment’s safety tradeoffs. The close ties the build to a broader DIY ethos while reminding viewers of the real-world consequences of improvisation with lithium cells, concluding with a plug to sponsor Memory Express and a call to subscribe for more experiments and safety-conscious projects.

Topics · Science & Technology · DIY & Engineering · Electronics · Safety & Risk