Handpicked choices to enhance your DIY projects
Essential Tools for DIY Battery and Lithium-Ion Projects
Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just dipping your toes into the realm of battery and lithium-ion projects, having the right battery building supplies can make all the difference. We've sorted through the clutter, analyzed countless options, and handpicked the absolute best in each category to ease your decision-making process. Our role isn't to sell these tools; instead, we aim to present you with reliable, unbiased information that helps you choose the perfect supplies for your specific needs.
As an affiliate, we earn commissions when you purchase through our links, but our top priority remains: to help you successfully tackle your DIY projects. Dive in and let your creativity take flight!
Below, you'll find a concise table of contents designed to help you navigate through our curated selection of tools for DIY battery and lithium-ion projects. Each section focuses on a specific category, making it easier for you to find exactly what you need.
- Salvaging Tools. Tools to assist in the salvaging of used cells and packs.
- Cell Chargers & Testers. The best chargers and testers to make sure that your salvaged cells are optimal.
- Pack Capacity Testers. Chargers to test the capacity of battery packs.
- Internal Resistance Testers. Testers for internal resistance (IR).
- Soldering Irons. Various watt soldering irons.
- Nickel and Copper Strip. The best copper and nickel strip for pack building.
- Shrink Wrap and Insulation. Shrink wrap and insulation for your wiring on packs.
- Starter Spot Welders. Starter spot welders for connecting cells via the copper/nickel strip above.
- Misc Supplies. Pretty much everything else. If you don't see the category you're looking for above, we probably have it in this section.
We also have a list of suppliers that we generally buy with, some of them have been kind enough to give us discount codes for our audience to use. You can find the list of suppliers here.
Salvaging tools
Such a simple tool but I cannot stress how much I end up using these for a lot of other tasks in my life. If you are going to be breaking down a lot of packs I highly suggest getting the more expensive set, they last much longer.
Cell Chargers and Testers
Testers are a product that are very much you get what you pay for. Although you will never get the same accuracy as a lab-grade tester with a hobby one the SkyRC will get you close. The most important thing is only to get the same brand and model if you plan to test a lot of cells.
SkyRC MC3000 - Best
Four bay charger and tester. Supports all chemistries. 3A charge rate, up to 50W charger power, discharge at 2A.
Opus C3400 - Really good
Four bay charger and tester. Supports pretty much all chemistries and cylindrical cells.
Zanflare - Good
Safe, universal four bay charger and tester. Supports pretty much all chemistries and cylindrical cells. Four different charge modes.
XTAR VC8-Plus - Also good
Safe, universal EIGHT bay charger and tester. Supports pretty much all chemistries and cylindrical cells.
Pack Capacity Testers
If you are looking to test the capacity of a fully completed pack one of these are the way to go. If you are buying a pack having one of these to confirm you got what you paid for will pay for itself. Plus other uses like discharging a pack before shipping or running a pack through a full charge/discharge cycle.
Internal Resistance (IR) Testers
Testing IR is in our opinion one of the best ways to judge the health of a cell. Using the IR reading from a charger/tester screen will be nowhere near as accurate as a standalone tester. You can't go wrong with either of the two listed here.
Soldering Irons
Having a good soldering iron is crucial when building packs and working with electronics. I have two different in my battery-building supply kit. First I have a no-name 100W and in addition, I have the Weller 260W. Each is used for different things but in general the higher the watts the faster you can solder.
80W Soldering Iron
Ceramic core, 80W soldering iron kit. 356-896F (180-480C) temperature control.
Metal Strips and Sheeting
Finding solid nickel and copper strips has been the bane of my battery supplies hunt. I cannot tell you how many different suppliers I have tried but you are in luck! Below are the best I have found. I know I have nickel-plated steel listed and the reason is when doing a copper-nickel sandwich it's easier to use than pure nickel strip.
Heat Shrink and Insulators
Using insulating layers and proper tapes is a good way to add some safety to your battery pack. Not only does using multiple layers help avoid certain components rubbing on each other but it will also add a barrier to slow water entering the pack. If wrapped and sealed properly you can make a pack water resistant and add some cushion for bumps and bangs.
Insulator rings
Perfect for the ends of salvaged cells that lost their insulators during salvaging.
Starter Spot Welders
The first tool in your battery-building supply arsenal is a quality spot welder. This is a crucial bit of kit as it will dictate your overall pack quality and look. If you’re building a single pack going for a lower-end portable spot welder is totally fine. If you plan on building many packs best to bite the bullet and get the best spot welder you can.
Misc. Tools
Multimeter
Pretty versatile multimeter. Accurately measures AC & DC current, voltage, capacitance, and more.
Partnered Suppliers
We have partnered with a handful of suppliers, some of them have given us discount codes to give to our readers. Check them out at the links below.
- Battery Hookup: Lots of salvaged battery packs, new cells, and battery auctions. Using this link, or discount code CS5, will automatically get you 5% off your next order.
- BMS Batteries: Great spot for picking up cells for all types of builds, also carries a large line of BMSs and balancers. Use code CS5 for 5% off your next order.
- Current Connected: Awesome store. Offers a lot of supplies ranging from batteries, inverters, solar supplies, and components.
- Santan Solar: Santan sells new and refurbished(tested) solar panels as well as other solar and powerwall-related accessories.
- Solar Supply House: SSH carries a huge selection of solar and storage supplies along with all the accessories you could ever need.