Using laptop batteries

[RickinFl]

I just snagged a few good older laptop batteries (Li-ion, 14.8v, 3600 and 3800 mah) along with a laptop to charge them.

What I want to know is if these can be successfully used to power bike lights, and if there's a good way to get the juice out safely :) I've done some reading on these type of batteries and know that they are a bit more volatile to use than Nimhs or NiCads (something about venting flames <G>).

I did a search of this forum, but didn't find anything, which is strange because I know it must be here somewhere- maybe my search terms were wrong.

Anyway, advice will be appreciated.

Rick

[kf5nd]

Do not use the recalled batteries under any circumstances. Check the Dell or Sony websites against the serial number that you possess.

I had a Dell battery which spontaneously went unstable and starting heating up to a very dangerous level. I was saved by the fact that it was almost discharged, so there was not much energy left in it. Had it been fully charged, it would've burnt up my desk and office

I had it out of the laptop, just resting on the desk. I had not used it in a long time (months), because it was a recalled battery, and I had not yet figured out how to recycle it.

I nudged it, and it fell over. I picked it up, and it was burning hot! The physical shock of being dropped must've been enough to make the chemistry go unstable. Most unusual.

[cyccommute]

I just snagged a few good older laptop batteries (Li-ion, 14.8v, 3600 and 3800 mah) along with a laptop to charge them.

What I want to know is if these can be successfully used to power bike lights, and if there's a good way to get the juice out safely :) I've done some reading on these type of batteries and know that they are a bit more volatile to use than Nimhs or NiCads (something about venting flames <G>).

I did a search of this forum, but didn't find anything, which is strange because I know it must be here somewhere- maybe my search terms were wrong.

Anyway, advice will be appreciated.

Rick

As kf5nd said, check that the batteries aren't recalled first. If they are, either try to get the replaced (probably not possible unless you are the original owner) or pitch them (recycle them;))

If they aren't the bad batteries, a DIY halogen system is the way to go. There's lots of info out there for how to do it.