Re: (ET) AGM, Nicad,NiMH, & regular lead acid golf cart batteries

[David C Robie <mycroftxx1 juno com>]

Answer from one of 'you guys'.

I prefer not to pay big bucks for even miraculously advanced specs.  By
using recycled materials (as both of my operational bigframe tractors are
themselves)  meaning using castoff EV floodeds that are not good enough
for a fullsized EV and even charging them with technologically bypassed
secondhand 50W PV cells, I am paying small bucks.  As to other
advantages, these recycled materials have a good amount of life left in
em which I am using up - which all signs and portents including past
performance augure to take a good number of years to do.  
    Meanwhile, about $900 for AGM (your figure)(about a grand with sales
tax and shipping)  stays in the bank at 1 yr CD rate which is about 5
points now. And the charging electricity, being replaced by PV, stays in
the grid, doesn't spin my KWH meter.
    Another consideration;  12V batteries have a real bad reputation
among most of us who have tried them in the tractors.  And trying a 'new
thing'  like this,  speaking for not only myself but a lot of other EV
guys I know,  we don't know how they will handle the biting cold of our
snowblowing, the ruts and bounces and quickly applied physical and
gravitational stresses of our snowplowing and lawnmowing, or even if our
stone age design brute force chargers are suited to charge them. 
    We are, with Etractors, saving energy.  Saving energy is equivalent
to saving money besides being good for the planet.  Saving energy is also
fun the way we are doing it, as well as being educational.  Speaking for
myself here,  I don't consider it fun to spend a grand for something
unproven in the rough service it gets here that I now get for free.

Let the big corporations try out those new AGM batteries and prove em out
until the price, through volume production comes down to the level of the
decent floodeds that we have already proven will last about 8 yrs in
these tractors.  Then maybe some ET people will inquire about them then
spring for them.  Then those people  won't have to spend the approx
dollar a year it costs em for distilled water.  

Dave
Weymouth MA



On Sat, 16 Sep 2006 21:56:42 -0400 "MakingLightning"
<MakingLightning comcast net> writes:
> How come I never hear people talk about using AGM (absorbed glass 
> mat)
> batteries? They seem pretty neat to me, the only downside is that 
> they are
> about $290 per 12v 800A battery, but they do seem have a lot of 
> plusses.,
> great current, and peak current handling, can orient them anywhere, 
> they do
> not leak, you do not add fluid.
> 
> 
> I would like to hear you guys input and comparison to the regular 
> golf cart
> lead acid, NiMh, and NiCad alternatives.
> 
> Kevin
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu
> [mailto:elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu] On Behalf Of Eric 
> Miller
> Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 5:02 PM
> To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> Subject: (ET) OT:Nicads and HiMH batteries help
> 
>   When looking to purchase Nicads or NiMH batteries or
> cells be sure and read the info printed on the
> package. More importantly the ahr capacity. Compare
> the ahr capacity between different brands. Shopper
> beware. You will see cells cheaper in one store than
> another store but when you compare ahr capacity you
> find one store brand only has half the capacity of the
> other store. So compare and shop wisely. 
>   As for cordlees power toolss again you need to do
> your homework and match the batteries to your needs or
> application. For someone like me who uses their
> cordless tools constantly on a daily bases I use only
> NiMH in my Makita tools. The NiMH costs more they
> provide me with more capacity (run time) before I have
> to switch batteries. In the past with Nicads I had to
> stop work and wait for both of my Nicads to recharge.
> I use my NiMH daily so they never sit long enough to
> discharge. But like David Robin pointed out, if you
> are someone who only uses their cordless battery tools
> once a month or so, you would be better off with the
> less expensive Nicads that will not self dicharge as
> quickly and be ready for use when you need them.
>   I also played with opening my dead battery packs and
> replace just one bad cell using a cell from the
> another pack. But it wasn't long before a different
> cell would die and had to be replaced (daily use of
> course). For me and my application I found it too time
> consuming and a hassle to be swapping out cells on the
> weekends. I find it quicker now to search the web with
> the battery part number to find the best price. But
> again this all depends on your application and how
> much spare time you have for soldering and tinkering.
>   OT:Reading the labels also goes for the the Compact
> Fluorescent Bulbs. I have recommend these CFB to
> friends only to hear them complain the bulbs were too
> dim. Again, read the package and understand how bright
> a bulb is and how bright you need it. For light bulbs
> their brightness is measured in Lumens. The higher the
> Lumens number the brighter the light so don't buy
> bulbs that are too dim with a very low Lumen number
> like my friends did. Shop smart, shop wisely.
>   Eric Miller
> P.S.
>    I too bought some of the Harbor Freight "AA"
> 2000ahr cells for $3.99 for a four pack. 
> 
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