I've built a backlit movie poster frame using a 12v LED light strip powered by 18650 lithium batteries. I've got two sets of three batteries wired in series and then those sets in parallel. Everything worked fine for about 9 months, but recently, I've had my third battery fail—two of them even exploded! I suspected I got bad batteries from Amazon, but when I looked elsewhere, I found the same exact ones, which seem to be promising way too high capacity and not the right weight. A guy at the battery store told me I'm charging them while they're in series, but I really don't want to disassemble my frames every time I need to charge the batteries. Is there a way to charge them without taking them out? Or should I consider different batteries or a different charger? Any advice?
4 Answers
It sounds like your current setup might be creating a safety hazard. I'd recommend looking into a better battery pack that’s made for this kind of use. You can find packs specifically designed for 12.6v that come with built-in safety features. It might save you a lot of headache and keep things safer!
I think it’s important to note that charging batteries in series can be risky. You might consider redesigning your wiring or using a more suitable charger made for handling multiple batteries safely. Here's a rough diagram for you to check out if it can help!
Instead of dealing with batteries, consider just wiring a barrel jack to a power brick. It removes the whole battery charging issue and could be a much easier solution for your setup!
Definitely think about your safety first! If you decide to stick with the batteries, maybe look at a balance charger that can safely charge your battery packs while they're still connected in series. Just be careful with your setup.
Thanks for the suggestion! I actually found one that fits better in the frame and connects to my existing power jack.