Rigid or soft cell spacers in compressed assembly

[Skypower]

I have two battery assemblies that are in a spring fixtures using .045” silicone spacers between cells & ends. I’m building more battery assemblies and I’m wondering if a more rigid spacer like Formica would be better for the cells. That way a proud irregularity on one cell would be less likely to invade into another. Thoughts?

 

[Checkthisout]

I have two battery assemblies that are in a spring fixtures using .045” silicone spacers between cells & ends. I’m building more battery assemblies and I’m wondering if a more rigid spacer like Formica would be better for the cells. That way a proud irregularity on one cell would be less likely to invade into another. Thoughts?

I dunno anything but I think the idea is that you're making the cell rigid along it's weakest axis.

In other words they can't make INDIVIDUAL cell walls strong enough without making it weigh a lot more.

At the end of the day the cells are not supposed to change shape. As far as bulged cell deforming a normal cell. I dunno.

I would think if you just push all the cells together with the required compression, all is well.

In other words, go rigid with your spacers.

 

[Ampster]

In other words, go rigid with your spacers.

That is what I did. I only used spacers to isolate the cell cases from each other electrically. I just used very thin plastic cut from file folders.

 

[Skypower]

Thanks gang. Formica it is. Cheap, thin, flame resistant, rigid and easy to work with.

 

[SolaroSsaurius]

Thanks gang. Formica it is. Cheap, thin, flame resistant, rigid and easy to work with.

Curious choice.
Which thickness?

 

[Ampster]

Curious choice.

Ha, I thought plastic file folders would be considered a curious choice. In my case and perhaps the case of @Skypower it may have been a matter of what was in hand.

 

[Skypower]

Curious choice.
Which thickness?

.035” white 4’X8’ sheet $65 at Lowe’s

 

[SolaroSsaurius]

Ha, I thought plastic file folders would be considered a curious choice. In my case and perhaps the case of @Skypower it may have been a matter of what was in hand.

In this case, I fear for the heat and flame resistance...
I'm looking for something cheap, rigid and heat, flame and chemical resistant...

 

[Skypower]

Formica was originally intended as an electrical insulator to take the place of the mineral mica. Hence the name for-mica.
Then someone put it on a bench and said, hey this stuff also makes a nice table top too.
Best color for electrical is probably a light color. Black probably uses carbon black as a pigment and cooked carbon isn’t a good insulator though the color isn’t very thick. White seems to be the cheapest too.

 

[Skypower]

Well that was easy.
Formica cut nice. One sheet makes enough spacers for 64 cells. Made my own tool to score lines to snap.