[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: (ET) Report: BB600 NiCD battery performance in my Elec-Trak
Chris:
This is a bit off subject. A neighbor and I just purchased two GMC Electric
G-Vans and I am looking for batteries. It is a 216 volt system and I
understand that it draws about 40-50 amps while being driven about 50 MPH
on
a level road.
It originally came with 36 200 ah lead acid or Ni-Cds depending on when it
was made. I am looking for a source of Ni-Cds.
My tractor is a New Idea EGT 200.
Thanks
Barry Elkin
-----Original Message-----
From: elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu
[mailto:elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu] On Behalf Of Christopher
Zach
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 9:17 PM
To: et
Subject: (ET) Report: BB600 NiCD battery performance in my Elec-Trak
With the fall and winter coming on I thought I would share the results
of running BB600 NiCD batteries in the E20.
Currently I have two strings of 30 NiCD cells in my E20. They all fit in
the rear battery box with a set of 15, then a 2*4 vertical spacer, then
a set of 15, then a 2*4 spacer and the other 30 batteries mounted the
same way. The result is 4 quadrants of 15 cells. This gives me a nominal
voltage of 36 volts, with a capacity of 60ah for the pack.
I could put another 30 cells in the front, but right now I just have a
pair of dead 80AH AGM batteries up there for ballast.
Overall performance is *excellent*. Using a Link 10, I have noticed that
I can pull a good 26ah per string without problems. This is in the
summer, winter, mowing, tilling, snowblowing. The batteries are totally
unaffected by the cold. In winter I put an extra 30 cells in the rear
weight box and run with three strings. With that I can do just about
anything with the snowblower. I have been able to pull over 150 amps per
string peak without the batteries sagging too much.
The E20 charger for whatever reason charges these cells perfectly. I
think it's the 45 volt end charge coupled with the high current charge
up to the taper voltage (around 44 volts or so) that makes them happy.
I typically have to water them once a year, the biggest problem is
washing the dust off the tops before opening the caps. Takes about 15-30
minutes to do.
The biggest problem is that they weigh less than the T105's so there is
less weight in the tractor. This doesn't seem to be a big issue for the
back batteries, but I'm wondering if the front would be heavy enough to
maintain steering traction if I put another 30 up there. Maybe I need a
lead weight under the front or something like that; anyone know if one
can have a weight cast in the shape of the front battery box base? On
the other hand it would be easier on the steering. Hm.
Given reasonable care, I expect this pack to last about 50-100 years or so.
Part of the reason I'm writing this is because I am thinking of removing
the 250 cells that are in my S10 pickup truck. I put them in there
looking for a 30 mile range truck, however trying to charge 250 of them
in series is a lot more complex than 30 of them. So if anyone would like
to try these cells, please let me know. I probably won't swap them out
before the spring, and 250 cells would be enough to do about 3 tractors.
Chris
_______________________________________________
Elec-trak mailing list
Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak