Glueing cells together

[chrispattinson]

Having never glued cells together in the past, I thought I would make the effort this year. Will PVA (white glue used by joiners) suffice?

[jim76]

probably won't hold that great.
I use araldite rapid, it's not as stupidly strong as normal araldite and sets with a slight flex to it. just mix it up and run a thin bead along each cell and press together. Just strap in the car for a couple of hours for it to set!

[BenG]

probably won't hold that great.
I use araldite rapid, it's not as stupidly strong as normal araldite and sets with a slight flex to it. just mix it up and run a thin bead along each cell and press together. Just strap in the car for a couple of hours for it to set!

I second that. Araldite really sticks em together. I did stop doing this though, and it doesn't really seem to have much effect, unless your cells shoot out, they tend to bend less with a nice bead of araldite in the cracks,:D;)

[BenG]

as a thought, why not run insulation tape or simmalar around the outside of your cells.

That works too. and stops em shorting

[notlawnomis]

Isn't that going to stop your cells sitting in the chassis properly Ben, or do you mean the ends??

I've never bothered Chris, if your cells are strapped into your car OK you shouldn't have a problem, unless their not supported properly during storage??

If you what something to do you can paint a few bodyshells for me and get the electrics into my car for the regional?? :D

[chrispattinson]

Is it that obvious Im done preparing for Bury??? haha.

Anyway, you've seen the state of my bodyshells and wiring.

I'll just leave the cells alone then, Ive never had a problem with them before.

[sosidge]

I'm with Simon, no point gluing the cells as they will be held in place by the battery strap, in fact a little movement helps to get them in the car neatly.

[mole2k]

I've never glued together my cells although some people at my club would swear by it. As long as you dont pull at a corally withing holding the cell i've never had any problems with having the cells only held by the battery bar. Although I have see the younger kids bend them in magical ways.

[Elliott Hopkins]

I've used RTV 118 silicone glue before. Slightly posher than clear window sealant. It holds well supporting and supported by the bars, but is flexible enough to absorb any knocks.

I think the clear is better than the white stuff. The clear stuff has a STRONG all pervading smell. So use in a well ventilated area.

I use it at work.

Elliott.

p.s. Thinking about it silicone glue is good, because you can peel it off if you need to modify the cell configuration.

Apply it to both sides of the gap once the cells are built. It should flow through the gaps slightly.

[bigred5765]

hot melt glue guns works best, there cheap quick and strong hold

[Richard Lowe]

hot melt glue guns works best, there cheap quick and strong hold
...and goes soft when the cells heat up :o

I used to use Araldite when I built cells, now I get Nick at Demon to do them. He uses superglue I think and does a really neat job ;)

[BenG]

...and goes soft when the cells heat up :o

I used to use Araldite when I built cells, now I get Nick at Demon to do them. He uses superglue I think and does a really neat job ;)

Yeah, I found that out when I plugged em into a nosram discharge board.

I went to sleep, woke up and £90 worth of stuff is hot glue gun melted to the desk. :o:D

I laugh now, it could only happen to me.

[bigred5765]

god how hot do u get the cells, hot glue has a very high melting point
but i must admit at the mo super glue was on my last cells as i couldn't find glue gun

[dan_kitty]

ive been shirink wrapping mine and then cutting out the ends for equalising.

[BenG]

god how hot do u get the cells, hot glue has a very high melting point
but i must admit at the mo super glue was on my last cells as i couldn't find glue gun

One of the cells was damaged or had shorted somehow (maybe brushed against the metal strips on my desk) so it had a high resistance, and generated more heat.

[losixxx]

shrink wrap mine and use tyre glue, hold's them no problem at all

[Slimboyfat]

shrink wrap mine and use tyre glue, hold's them no problem at all


Yep, if you have to glue thats the easiest way....its what i do.

[Southwell]

Decent battery bars and you will have no problem, i never glue mine.
It's only when you use cheap bars that they bend and warp easily.

[Lee]

Why do you glue them, there is no way they can come out of a modern off road car, i can understand doing it when i raced on road and the cells were taped in:o

[chrispattinson]

Just looking for any last minute prep I could do before the weekend, Ive decided against glueing now.

I find I ahve to use cheaper, thinner battery bars when using the cells in the B4 to prevent them being too wide for the chassis, maybe that says more about my soldering than the battery bars though.

[ashleyb4]

I have glued oen pack of mine but if you use good quality flux and good solder and there built properly and you use good battery bars ( May i suggest the much more battery bars) you should have a problem.

A

[barnyard]

if you find the need to glue cells the best thing to use would be shoe-goo or rtv silicone sealant. the advantage of both of these is they are flexible and can be pealed off without damaging the heatshrink should the need arise.

if using the silicone ensure it is the none conduvtive variety something loctite tempflex or dow-corning 3145. Some kitchen / bathroom sealants may also be suitable.

[MK999]

Shoe Goo is awesome stuff, it's up there with duck tape and fender mender for "must have bodge it kit" :D

[neiloliver]

I sleeve my cells in 37mm x 50mm x 0.15mm thick clear heatshrink then spot them with cyano to ensure correct alignment. Then I use a gap filling, UV curing adhesive between the cells. This is stronger than anything. Much More Racing straight and right angled battery bars complete the job with Corally 4mm tubes. If anyone wants clear heatshrink then PM me, i take paypal :)

The advantage of pre-sleeving is it allows you to strip back down to the original cell if you ever need to, it also protects the sleeve, especially on IB's which have thinner printed sleeve than the GP and Sanyo products.