Hey everyone! I'm working on this cool project involving battery-operated smoke machines that currently use a 12V 12AH lead gel battery. I'm looking to modify them to run on the M18 battery platform. I've been experimenting with a 40 amp step down transformer, and it has some success, but I'm cautious about potentially over-discharging the batteries. Does anyone have tips or advice for navigating a high current situation like this? Would really appreciate your insights!
1 Answer
If you’re concerned about over-discharging with the M18 batteries, don’t sweat it too much. Ryobi batteries have a low voltage cutoff, so you might want to look into those. Otherwise, you can use a low voltage disconnect (LVD) to be safer. Just be sure to set the cutoff slightly higher than the voltage you get when the batteries are 'dead'. Here’s a link to a potential LVD option: [LVD on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Weewooday-Protection-Protector-Disconnect-Disconnection/dp/B08LDGX2RX/ref=pd_vtp_2/132-1870107-6711238).
I’m keen on a similar setup too and have loads of M12 and M18 batteries. Switching to Ryobi isn't an option for me either! But I worry about LVDs drawing too much after cutoff. Can anyone recommend a simpler or cheaper LVD circuit for this application?