Quote:
Originally Posted by Christ
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In the essence of simplicity, would it be better to just get another lead acid battery to replace the old one? I still have the old one, I was considering cleaning it out and trying to bring it back to life with a new sulfuric solution, or converting it to alum.
(Roundabout way of saying "I give up!!!" or in the words of Charlie Brown "AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!")
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First I appreciate the effort! Too many are unwilling to do the test in the first place. But I have been thinking about the problem and may have a solution. We have a similar problem with the Prius in folks would like to replace the heavy, lead-acid, aux battery with a lighter weight, NiMH assembly.
The solution is a buck-boost, switching power supply designed to let the NiMH function like the lead-acid battery. It handles charging the NiMH battery when power is available but instantly switches to a high-efficiency, high current, step-down circuit when there is a load:
- high current magnetics - needs to be sized for maximum current
- high current Schottky diode - alternative is sync. MOSFET
- high current discharge MOSFETs - to handle starter loads
- low current charging MOSFETs - to recharge NiMH battery
- microprocessor controlled - handles health and status of NiMH
In theory, almost any light-weight, battery technology could be used with this proposed circuit. The race is to find out if the weight of the magnetics, power MOSFETS and heat sinks is less than just using a lead-acid battery. Definitely an interesting problem.
Bob Wilson