Re: (ET) Breaking in a new pack

["David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>]

On 25 Aug 2002 at 16:55, Steve Gaarder wrote:

> I'd like some advice
> on breaking them in. 

First, I'd give them a long, slow equalizing charge before running them 
the 
first time.  If you have a good constant-voltage 36v charger, charge at 
44.1 
volts until current falls to 5 amps.  Then hold current at 5 amps for 
about 2-4 
hours, or until ON-CHARGE voltage stops rising, or until ON-CHARGE 
voltage hits 45 volts.  

If you have a good automatic 12 volt charger, you can do this individually 
to 
each of the three 12v series pairs.

Unfortunately the GE charger is really too crude for this.  If that's all 
you 
have, just charge as you would any other battery and don't sweat it.

The other part of the break-in is to cycle them shallowly at first -- 
staring with 
10%, then 20%, working up to 50% of capacity per cycle.  Batteries that 
are 
new, or haven't been used for a while, are like athletes that have gone 
soft.  
They need to work up to their peak level gradually.

For sure don't over-discharge them when they're new.  That is, don't run 
them 
until the tractor stops.  

The Landis controller doesn't really have anything to do with this.  It's 
mainly 
for sort-of-float-charging batteries that won't be used for several months.

Can anybody think of any other suggestions?

David