A123 26650 Cells: http://www.a123batteries.com/product-p/anr26650m1-b.htm
BMS: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321746365404?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Charger: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321751879896?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The pack only needs to be charged to 43.2v (3.6 x 12) not 43.8 (That is for 3.65 lifepo4 cells) Not sure if this is correct. Please advise me why if it isn’t correct.
The over discharge protection of this bms is too low for the A123 cells (2.1 ± 0.05 V) you will need to monitor this with the VESC low cut off voltage at start 2.6V and finish at 2.5V.
@lox897 you are correct on this
@L3thaltank can you please measure the dimension of the pcb itself and the aluminium heat sink.
get the bms from here http://www.a123rc.com/goods-1596-12S30A+PCMBMS+for+36V12S+Lifepo4+battery+pack.html
source for this voltage cutoff range? I found it to be 2.0V
Check out this PDF: http://www.formula-hybrid.org/wp-content/uploads/A123_AMP20_battery_Design_guide.pdf
pg.59 Appendix A Cell Specifications ANR26650M1B Recommended end of discharge cutoff 2.0V
I have found that the Maximum allowable charge voltage is: 4.2V MAX
so i should be fine charging to 3.65V per cell vs 3.6V.
Source: http://www.radicalrc.com/category/A123-Cells-Packs-199
PCB: Length: 6.625 inches Width: 2.875 inches Thickness: 1/16 inches
Heatsink: Length: 7.875 inches Width:4 inches Thickness: 1/16 inches
This will greatly diminish the life of the pack. Tesla goes from 3.6V to 2.5V and it increases the life of the pack.
This is the manufacturer pdf. http://a123batteries.com/v/vspfiles/images/pdf/26650.pdf
Well thank you for the dimensions and good luck with your pack. 
Why do you think it will greatly diminish the life of the pack? Charging to 3.65V per cell? or discharging to 2.0V?
Can you show me some examples explaining their voltage cutoffs for these cells?
Why would they state a recommended cutoff of 2.0V?
What cutoff do you use with your dual 6s alarms?
laboratory settings are not the same as real world use. A great number of people are using this cells for other applications and all the charge/discharge logging point to the sweet spot of 3.6V - 2.5V range to increase the life of the pack. The over charge will not be as detrimental compare to the over discharge but will affect too.
About the examples, all power tools using this batteries cut the discharge at/or around 2.5V.
That’s the laboratory setting cut off for marketing porpoises. It can be use but not recommend. If you look closely to the 2 top graphics on the pdf you’ll notice on the left side voltage axis. that the initial voltage drops in a exponential way (really really fast) wich means that there’s not that much usable capacity in that voltage range.
The bulk of the usable capacity is in the nominal voltage range. Going now to the right side of the first graph after the 2.5V on the 140W - 180W usage range the discharge curve drops exponentially again wich translate once more in little usable capacity after this voltage range.
The alarm in my pack, I just use as a volt meter just to check the voltage, this alarms just go as low as 2.7V so I don’t use the alarm 
, I have confirm that from 2.8 - 2.5 the pack still have 30% of the capacity.
This is the main issue with the lifepo4 cells that there’s no way to know the depth of discharge, because of the flat discharge curve and the exponential way in wich the capacity finishes.
But if you are going to use a VESC to manage the cut off voltage just use 31.2 V for the start voltage cut off and 30V for the end voltage cut off. That way your bms will handle the charging and VESC the discharging.
Thanks for your input! 
I’m using dual TorqueBoards 12S 120A Car ESC so i might be able to set a correct voltage cutoff, but might not. I need to check the settings.
I eventually plan on investing in 2 VESC sometime down the road as I just spent a bunch of money on this pack and a Hi5ber Raptor that I ordered 
http://www.hi5ber.com/#!raptor/ca1y
That deck is sick
so why did u end up soldering the cells vs sleds? And what type of wire is that?
Here is some more snapshots of this battery build process
I decided the sleds I purchased would be too much of a pain to make them work,especially since I would have to remove the tabs to solder them and then snap them back into place in the plastic holder. Also reading about nickel strip sizing given amperage I decided It would be more reliable to directly solder the cells.
I used 10AWG silicone wire, some turnigy and some superworm.
alright thanks man!
nice work man! like the awg10 wiering!
what watt iron did u use
100 Watt iron with the included CT6F7 Tip https://amzn.com/B002I7X7ZS
you can also buy smaller tips for this iron. I got some from Mouser http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=W100PG
Dang this battery probably costed a hell of a lot… But it will last super long. I think I will stick to regular Li-ion 18650 packs but this is pretty awesome.
Boosted uses these same cells too I believe.
