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Old 01-27-2024, 06:04 PM   #1 (permalink)
twj347
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Canada
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2015 WRX - '15 Subaru WRX
90 day: 30.63 mpg (US)

2008 Suzuki SV650SA - '08 Suzuki SV650SA
90 day: 60.81 mpg (US)
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Heated Battery Blanket and Battery Insulation

I'm considering installing a battery blanket for my car, but not for the usual reasons.

In temperatures below -25°C with a battery that is only 1-3 years old, my car can throw engine codes for low fuel injector voltage immediately after the ignition is turned on. These codes allow the engine to crank, but prevent it from starting. A new battery always solves the issue.

I think it happens when the battery voltage dips much below 12.0 volts under load when the ignition is turned on, which only happens with a very cold, slightly old battery. I keep a small charger on the battery in the winter, but it doesn't really help.

A heated battery blanket should solve the issue, but I sometimes have to leave the car sitting out in the cold for hours without plugging it in, though rarely longer than 8 hours.

So, some questions:

1) Does anybody know how long a lead acid battery takes to cool down to near-ambient temperature, with or without an insulated battery blanket installed?

2) Has anybody experimented with wrapping additional insulation around a battery that has a heated blanket to help keep it warm between drives?

I've also been toying with the idea of installing a capacitor bank in the 10-100 F range, to help prevent the voltage from dipping too much even when the battery is cold. I see there are some units on Aliexpress with good specs for a reasonable cost, but not sure whether or not they'll explode or burn my car to the ground, or if there are other potential downsides.

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