(ET) First snow report from the blower

[Chris Zach <czach computer org>]

Finally had the first snow here in MD. Some thoughts on the blower with 
POR15 and the 26ah aux battery pack:

1) POR15 is God. Or close to it. This is powdery snow that usually 
accumulates in the chute. Tonight, there was NOT ONE BIT OF SNOW IN THERE.

Painting the inside with POR15 makes it slick as glass. No, greased 
smeared glass. The snow literally has nothing to adhere to, so it just 
falls off if you try to press it on.

I would strongly recommend that everyone go out, get a little can of 
POR15, and paint the inside of your chute. Think exceptional. Think no 
more wax.

2) The battery monitor is a good thing. That one battery is still low, 
it's pulling it's light on when going up hills in L. Not good. Still, 
I'm glad I have the light to keep the load off the battery. Will replace 
it in a week or two.

3) The aux battery pack (3 26ah Hawkers, connected via the accessory 
port) works wonders. The massive sags are reduced and buffered, and I 
was able to plow the driveway with no problem. I think AGMs in parallel 
with the T105s are a great idea. In the weight box now are the 3 AGMs 
(with 40amp fuse), and 4 more that are not hooked up for power but 
provide ballast. I'll put another string online next week.

4) On charge the Elec-Trak seems to pull about 1,000 watts, with a power 
factor of .92.

Chris