Hi @qbplus9 .
Things are progressing slowly, but I have fresh impetus now that my Build 5 paramotor is on its way! I have accumulated all the parts and tools needed to build my battery pack and I am taking lots of photos with the aim of writing up its construction.
My latest problem is that I have been sold nickel plated steel strips being passed off as pure nickel. I was aware of this risk and so had tested a sample of the strip some weeks ago when I first got it and it appeared to pass. Basically I filed back the nickel coating and put the strip in some salty water. After 24 hours it hadn’t rusted so I figured it was OK.
Yesterday I sat down to start spot welding the nickel strip. I had a quick tidy up before setting to it, and found the test piece - brown with rust!! With the currents required, nickel coated steel is just not good enough.!
There are a few youtube videos on testing for nickel coated steel imposters. I happen to have some “Blu gel” steel blackening solution for antiquing fresh steel and treating gun barrels. It instantly turns steel black – but not nickel! That has allowed me to quickly test the other nickel strip that I have and that’s fine.
So, construction continues…