18650 Battery Pack for Yaesu VX-8dr

I designed this battery case to fit the Yaesu VX8DR ham radio. It also fits the FT1dr, FT2dr, FT3dr, and FT-5dr. It takes 18650 Li-ion cells. I will link to some of the parts I used below. This is designed to use unprotected cells. The protected cells were just a little bit too long and I was not able to fit them into the case. So this design has a BMS added that I found on eBay. I strongly urge everyone to build with the BMS, otherwise someone could get seriously hurt. There's a lot of energy in these types of cells!

I initially thought the BMS I purchased was DOA. It turns out you need to bump the P+/P- contacts with 8.4v (the charge voltage) to initialize the BMS. Then it will allow the batteries to power the radio. Alternatively you can short the P- to B- if you don't have a charger handy. I have used my adjustable bench PSU set at 8.4v to charge the cells. I didn't include any charge contacts on the back of the battery as I primarily intend to remove the cells and use a 4 pocket charger to charge each cell individually.

I would guess the standard yaesu wall wart plugged into the radio will charge the batteries, although I have not yet tested that. As that's not my use case. This design will most definitely not charge in the Yaesu drop in charger because there are no contacts on the outside of the case.

The nickel strip cuts easily with standard scissors. I cut the nickel strip down to smaller strips. Then I used a pair of flush cutters to very gently hold the strips while I used the edge of the flush cutters like a tiny metal brake to get a nice crisp fold. I used a dental pick to push the strips into the slots and bend them to the final shape.

After it's all complete, I use super glue to hold the two halves together.  DO NOT ATTACH to the back of the radio until after the super glue has cured completely.  The fumes from the super glue will leave a residue on the back side of the radio.  Ask me how I know…

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Keystone-209-Cell-Leaf-spring-battery-contact-18650-LI-ION-POWERWALL-20-40-100X/132857197884

https://www.ebay.com/itm/281919785894

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2S-3A-Li-ion-Lithium-Battery-18650-Charger-Protection-Board-BMS-Module-7-4V-8-4V/262511676500

build photo album:
https://imgur.com/gallery/Wb0WsO1

The holes will work with the factory belt clip.