Build Your Own Battery Pack

Battery Build Academy — Camytrade International
Camytrade International — Battery Academy

Build Your Own
Battery Pack

Step-by-step interactive guide. Learn every cell type, choose your design, calculate your pack, select the right BMS — and get a complete shopping list.

🔋 18650 🔋 21700 🟦 LiFePO4 ⬛ Prismatic 📦 Pouch
Step 1 of 9
Cell Type
Step 01 — Choose Your Cell

What Type of Cell
Are You Building With?

Different cell formats have different strengths. Choose the one that matches your project — motorcycle, e-bike, solar, or portable power.

18650 lithium cells
18650
18mm × 65mm cylindrical
Most common. Used in laptops, e-bikes, Teslas. 2–3.5Ah per cell. Easy to source.
21700 lithium cell
21700
21mm × 70mm cylindrical
Higher capacity than 18650. 4–5.5Ah per cell. Used in high-performance EV packs.
LiFePO4 prismatic cell
LiFePO4
3.2V nominal — iron phosphate
Safest chemistry. 3,000+ cycles. Cylindrical (32650) or prismatic. Great for solar & marine.
NCM prismatic cell
NCM Prismatic
Flat rectangular — high energy
Bolt-stud terminals. High capacity per cell (20–400Ah). Used in EV motorcycles and cars.
Pouch lithium cell
Pouch Cell
Flat flexible laminate
Highest energy density. Lightweight. Requires compression frame. Used in drones and EVs.
Step 02 — Choose Your Voltage

What Voltage
Does Your Build Need?

Voltage determines your speed and which controller/motor you can use. Choose based on your application.

NCM Cell Voltage Reference
Full charge: 4.2V per cell
Nominal: 3.6V per cell
BMS cutoff: 3.0V per cell
Formula: S count × 3.6V = nominal
LiFePO4 Voltage Reference
Full charge: 3.65V per cell
Nominal: 3.2V per cell
BMS cutoff: 2.5V per cell
Formula: S count × 3.2V = nominal
Step 03 — Pack Layout Design

Choose Your
Pack Design

The physical layout of your cells affects size, weight distribution, and assembly difficulty.

Step 04 — Pack Calculator

Calculate Your
Pack Configuration

Enter your requirements and we'll calculate exactly how many cells you need, total capacity, weight, and wire sizing.





💡
Configure your pack above to see recommendations.
Step 05 — Battery Management System

Choose the Right BMS
for Your Pack

The BMS protects your cells from overcharge, overdischarge, and short circuits. It must match your cell chemistry, S count, and current rating.

Your Pack Requirements
Complete the calculator step first.

BMS Wiring — What Each Port Does

PortWireFunctionNotes
B+Red thickBattery positive inFrom pack positive terminal
B−Black thickBattery negative inFrom pack negative terminal
P−Black thickLoad negative outTo motor controller / load
C−Black mediumCharge negativeFrom charger negative
BalanceRainbow thinCell group voltagesS+1 wires total (e.g. 21 for 20S)
NTCGreen thinTemperature sensorMount on hottest cell group
Step 06 — Wiring Diagram

Series, Parallel &
Balance Connections

This diagram shows exactly how your cells connect in series (for voltage) and parallel (for capacity), plus all BMS balance wires.

━ Series busbar (nickel strip) ━ Balance wires ━ BMS connections ━ Negative / ground
Series Connection (S)
Connect + of one cell to − of next. Increases voltage. Each S group raises voltage by one cell's nominal. All cells in series must be same capacity and chemistry.
Parallel Connection (P)
Connect + to + and − to −. Increases capacity (Ah). All parallel cells must be within 0.05V of each other before connecting. Never connect cells with different charge states.
Step 07 — Assembly Procedure

Step-by-Step
Build Instructions

Follow these steps in order. Do not skip any step — especially cell matching and BMS connection order.

Step 08 — Safety & Tools

Safety Rules &
Tools You Need

Lithium batteries store enormous energy. Respect the voltage and current at all times. These are not negotiable.

🔴
CRITICAL: Never short circuit a lithium cell. Even a small 18650 cell can deliver 200A+ into a short — causing immediate fire, explosion, and severe burns. Always use a fused circuit.

⚠️ Safety Rules

🧤
Insulated Gloves
Wear rubber-insulated gloves when handling assembled packs above 48V. One hand in pocket rule for high voltage.
👓
Safety Glasses
Cell venting and arc flash can eject material at high velocity. Always wear glasses when spot welding or connecting.
🚒
CO₂ Extinguisher
Keep a CO₂ fire extinguisher within reach. Never use water on lithium fires — it makes it worse.
🌡️
Temperature Check
Check cell temperature after first charge. No cell should exceed 45°C. Hot cells indicate internal damage or shorts.
⚡
Match Cell Voltage
Before connecting cells in parallel, all must read within 0.05V of each other. Mismatched cells cause high current equalisation that can damage cells.
🔋
Never Over-Discharge
NCM cells below 2.5V suffer permanent capacity loss. LiFePO4 below 2.0V. Always trust BMS cutoff voltage settings.

🔧 Tools Required

⚡
Spot Welder
REQUIRED — cylindrical
🔌
Multimeter
REQUIRED — all builds
🔥
Soldering Iron 80W+
REQUIRED
📱
BMS App (phone)
REQUIRED
✂️
Wire Crimper / Stripper
REQUIRED
🔬
Cell IR Tester
RECOMMENDED
🌡️
Thermal Camera
RECOMMENDED
🔧
Torque Wrench (prismatic)
REQUIRED — prismatic
Step 09 — Your Shopping List

Everything You Need
to Build Your Pack

Based on your configuration — here's your complete parts list. All available from Camytrade International.

✅
All items available from Camytrade International. Contact us for current pricing and availability. We ship Canada-wide.
⚡
Pack Designed!

Your custom battery pack configuration is complete. Save your shopping list or contact Camytrade to order your components.

📞 Call Camytrade
Camytrade International — Battery Build Academy — camytrade.ca — 647-960-0983
Need Help?
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