Shopping set

Battery Tab Soldering Kit

A 100W iron, pure nickel strip, flux, a multimeter and the safety items for tabbing cells when a spot welder is not an option.

Compiled by Kerem Başbuğ · Last updated October 20, 2026 · How we rank

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Shopping set · 9 items

Battery Tab Soldering Kit

Soldering to cells is a compromise — spot-welding is the right tool — but when you must, the way to limit damage is heat for the shortest possible time. That means a powerful iron, plenty of flux, pure nickel strip that wets quickly, and a multimeter to match cells before you connect them.

1. Iron

FNIRSI HS-02A Smart Soldering Iron

100W means the joint is made in seconds, which is how you keep heat out of the cell.

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2. Nickel strip

SHONAN Pure Nickel Strip 0.15 × 8 mm

99.6% pure nickel wets quickly and carries current without warming up.

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3. Flux

Kester 951 No-Clean Flux Pen

Flux on strip and terminal is what makes the joint take on the first touch.

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4. Solder

HGMZZQ 60/40 Rosin-Core Solder Wire

Rosin-core wire that flows at a lower temperature than lead-free, shortening contact time.

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5. Multimeter

AstroAI AM33D Digital Multimeter

Checks every cell is at a similar voltage before they are connected in parallel.

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6. Lead wire

TUOFENG 22 AWG Silicone Wire Kit

Silicone-insulated leads that survive the heat of the joint.

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7. Heat-shrink

Ginsco 580-Piece Heat Shrink Tubing Kit

Insulates the finished joints and lead ends.

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8. Safety glasses

NoCry Anti-Fog Safety Glasses

Non-negotiable when working near lithium cells.

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9. Work mat

PAFOWO Silicone Soldering Mat

A non-flammable surface under the cells and the hot iron.

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Why these 9 items

The FNIRSI HS-02A delivers 100W, which sounds counter-intuitive for a heat-sensitive cell but is exactly the point: a hot, high-capacity tip makes the joint in a second or two, while a weak iron sits on the cell for ten seconds and cooks it. Flux first, tin the strip, tin the terminal briefly, then join.

Pure nickel strip wets far better than nickel-plated steel and carries current without heating up. Match the strip width and thickness to the pack current; the 0.15 × 8 mm roll here suits most hobby packs.

Safety items are not optional with lithium cells: glasses, a non-flammable mat, and a multimeter to check that every cell is at a similar voltage before they are joined. If the cells you buy come with pre-welded tabs, solder your wire to the tab and keep the heat off the cell entirely — our battery tab guide explains when to choose each approach.

Read the full guide: How to solder battery tabs (and when not to).

Frequently asked questions

Can I solder directly to an 18650 cell?

It is possible with a powerful iron, flux and very short contact, but heat can damage the cell. Buying cells with pre-welded tabs, or spot-welding nickel strip, is safer. If you solder, this set is built to keep the contact time as short as possible.

Pure nickel or nickel-plated steel strip?

Pure nickel. Plated steel is cheaper but has higher resistance, heats up under load and does not wet as well, so the joint takes longer and the cell gets hotter.