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Old 09-11-2013, 01:16 AM   #278 (permalink)
Night_Sailor
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
For this approach to make sense financially, you would neither either (or both) of:

1) fuel that is much more expensive than it is now;

2) a supply of free or cheap batteries.

Fortunately, I've found (2).

Today, with two 6v "junk" batteries (from the forklift company) in series to make 12v, then in parallel with the existing 12v starting battery, I did a 46 mile / 74 km alternator-less round trip.

Starting voltage: 12.68
Ending voltage: 12.40 (batteries resting for 1 hour)

11.7v is "empty", so I used 26% pack capacity in that trip, with light accessory load: wipers occasionally; heater fan occasionally; lights; occasionally; plus engine overhead, turn signals & brake lights.

Assuming similar electrical loads, my total range to 100% depth of discharge is about 177 miles / 285 km.
This is how you kill batteries. You do not want to deeply discharge them.


You should increase your battery bank size and discharge only 20% for max battery life. That means a larger battery bank which means more weight. I suppose lithium batteries would be an option, albeit an expensive one.
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