As many patient people on Yahoo's US Electricar Group know, I've been unable
so far to get my pack charged via the onboard system. I wanted to make sure
there wasn't a fundamental problem with the pack itself, so I dropped it
this morning and did a bunch of cleaning and testing. Here are photobucket
pics: http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x20/magellan35/
Turns out I have 50 Hawker PC925s. Are these the legendary Hawkers that are
generally considered ideal for a Prism? I hope so.
I found a few corroded connections (one severely) and cleaned them with
baking soda and water, a brush and a wet-dry vac, followed by a voltage
check of each battery (after sitting for 2 weeks uncharged). I read the
following voltages by series and sequence.
Series 1:
18) 9.89 (negative cable for series 1)
17) 11.98
16) 10.94
15) 11.99
14) 12.07
13) 11.06
7) 11.02
6) 12.08
5) 11.95
4) 12.00
3) 12.08 (connects to #25 via master pack switch)
25) 10.72
24) 11.96
23) 11.00
36) 10.05
35) 12.04
34) 12.00
33) 12.00
39) 12.08
38) 11.02
37) 12.05
50) 12.07
49) 12.05
48) 12.06
47) 12.05 (positive cable for series 1)
----------290V for entire series-----------
Series 2:
46) 12.16 (negative cable for series 2)
45) 12.24
44) 12.08
43) 12.18
42) 11.12
41) 10.17
40) 12.24
32) 7.84
31) 12.00
30) 12.20
29) 12.22
28) 12.25
27) 12.28
26) 12.20 (connects to #2 via master pack switch)
2) 12.24
1) 12.15
10) 12.32
9) 12.28
8) 12.18
12) 12.29
11) 11.08
22) 7.82
21) 12.23
20) 10.20
19) 12.22 (positive cable for series 2)
----------291V for entire series----------
It seems noteworthy that several of the weak batteries are those to which a
cable (rather than buss bar) is attached. Is there a certain logic to that?
Of course I'm concerned about batteries #22, 32, 18, 36, and several others
in the 10v range. I imagine #s 22, 32, and 18 at least are write-offs. Is it
likely that I can make any of them serviceable with individual charging?
I've had #32 on a little 12v "smart charger" for two hours now and still
only see 8.67v.
My game plan at the moment is to build zener-regs for the whole pack, charge
and/or change out the weakest batteries, clean and re-torque every
connection, hoist the pack up and reconnect the cables, find out why it
won't charge, fix that problem, charge, then drop the pack again, check
voltages, and perform discharge tests on each battery. Sound logical? What
should I add or do differently?
Lon Hull
Portland, OR
_______________________________________________
For subscription options, see
http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/ev
so far to get my pack charged via the onboard system. I wanted to make sure
there wasn't a fundamental problem with the pack itself, so I dropped it
this morning and did a bunch of cleaning and testing. Here are photobucket
pics: http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x20/magellan35/
Turns out I have 50 Hawker PC925s. Are these the legendary Hawkers that are
generally considered ideal for a Prism? I hope so.
I found a few corroded connections (one severely) and cleaned them with
baking soda and water, a brush and a wet-dry vac, followed by a voltage
check of each battery (after sitting for 2 weeks uncharged). I read the
following voltages by series and sequence.
Series 1:
18) 9.89 (negative cable for series 1)
17) 11.98
16) 10.94
15) 11.99
14) 12.07
13) 11.06
7) 11.02
6) 12.08
5) 11.95
4) 12.00
3) 12.08 (connects to #25 via master pack switch)
25) 10.72
24) 11.96
23) 11.00
36) 10.05
35) 12.04
34) 12.00
33) 12.00
39) 12.08
38) 11.02
37) 12.05
50) 12.07
49) 12.05
48) 12.06
47) 12.05 (positive cable for series 1)
----------290V for entire series-----------
Series 2:
46) 12.16 (negative cable for series 2)
45) 12.24
44) 12.08
43) 12.18
42) 11.12
41) 10.17
40) 12.24
32) 7.84
31) 12.00
30) 12.20
29) 12.22
28) 12.25
27) 12.28
26) 12.20 (connects to #2 via master pack switch)
2) 12.24
1) 12.15
10) 12.32
9) 12.28
8) 12.18
12) 12.29
11) 11.08
22) 7.82
21) 12.23
20) 10.20
19) 12.22 (positive cable for series 2)
----------291V for entire series----------
It seems noteworthy that several of the weak batteries are those to which a
cable (rather than buss bar) is attached. Is there a certain logic to that?
Of course I'm concerned about batteries #22, 32, 18, 36, and several others
in the 10v range. I imagine #s 22, 32, and 18 at least are write-offs. Is it
likely that I can make any of them serviceable with individual charging?
I've had #32 on a little 12v "smart charger" for two hours now and still
only see 8.67v.
My game plan at the moment is to build zener-regs for the whole pack, charge
and/or change out the weakest batteries, clean and re-torque every
connection, hoist the pack up and reconnect the cables, find out why it
won't charge, fix that problem, charge, then drop the pack again, check
voltages, and perform discharge tests on each battery. Sound logical? What
should I add or do differently?
Lon Hull
Portland, OR
_______________________________________________
For subscription options, see
http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/ev
