Re: Helping the batteries perfom in the cold.

[darrylmcmahon igs net]

Hi Max, 
> To help my E15 work well out there in the cold, does it not make sense to
> keep the thing as warm as toast (ok, say, 65 degrees F) before I put it 
> to
> work?
Yes.
> 
> I imagine that those big bad batteries have huge heat capacity, (I mean,
> specific heat of lead is high) and that they will cool very slowly if 
> they
> come out of the garage at 65. (ANd operation is exothermic; they give off
> some heat as they work, yes?)
Yes, charging and discharging are both exothermic.  It is not 
necessary to 
keep the whole tractor warm, just the batteries.  The motors would 
rather be cold.  Look into getting an automotive battery blanket 
(usually 50 or 80 watts heating elements).  Put one under the front 
batteries and one between the rear batteries.  Putting a thin sheet 
of styrofoam over the batteries (in place of those black plastic 
battery covers) should also make a big difference in terms of heat 
retention.  I use this arrangement in my electric car, and it works 
well in temperatures to -35 degrees.  Batteries have remained at 
+70 degrees F with no difficulties.

> 
> One would, in an unheated garage, want to be very careful about
> ventilation especailly during charging, of course.
Unless you have an airtight garage (unlikely in my experience) and an 
open ignition source beside and above the batteries, I would not be 
concerned.
 

Darryl McMahon             48 Tarquin Crescent,
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