Playing with A123 20Ah lithium cells

[oil pan 4]

I checked out that electric bike build using AMP20 cells.
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/vie...8761&start=510
Big difference between me and the bike guys is they want 6 to 30 amps out of their AMP20 packs, I have to have 350+ amps.
Cranking the 6.5L diesel engine with its 22:1 compression is the major load needing around 350amps, this is after the glow plugs glow for 4 to 10 seconds drawing about 100 amps.
Occasionally I use the intake heaters in addition to the glow plugs when its real cold, an extra 100 amps.

Once the engine fires up the batteries charge with at least 60 or 70 amps.

Here is what it looks like so far. The - side of the battery is wired up, just need to secure the wires with ALDL clams and wire in the + side.
The battery box is out of a cesna.

[oil pan 4]

My AMP20 starting battery has been tested.
With my construction methoid using 8mm brass hardware to secure tabs together and secure lug connectors to tabs using 4 lengths of 8ga wire on the grounds and 2 lenghts of 6ga meeting up with 00 gauge power leads. With a 350amp anderson forklift QD has resulted in a battery that can put out at least as many cranking amps a brand new fully charged 44lb optima battery, which is some where around 1200 amps.

[Daox]

You've been using this battery for over a year now. Any updates?

[oil pan 4]

It still works great. Still in the same form with no cover.

[Daox]

Have you checked your electrical connections, see if there is any corrosion between the tabs on the batteries or anything like that?

Also, you're using the AMP20 pack in parallel with your other cylindrical pack, right?

[oil pan 4]

Normally I use the amp20 pack by its self but some times I do add a cylindrical pack in the suburban.
There is no corrosion but 2 tabs arced together and burned up a little when some crack head tried to steal it. Still works. Now I use the anderson connectors constantly, I never leave my LiFePO4 packs in a vehicle any more.
The amp20 pack cost me about $250 or $350 in cells, another $30 or $40 in hardware, $20 for the partial aircraft battery box. $20 for one side of an anderson connector. Then all day to put it together. I value it more than the life of a random crack head.

[Cobb]

Has this any effect on mpg? Can you tell any difference in the cars electrical system? Can you tell if the mpg gain was from weight reduction or less load from the alt on the engine?

I know a similar thread like thiw as in put in the unicorn section since it couldnt prove any mpg improvements. I know from owning a gen 2 insight a bad starter battery can cause you to loose mpg a new one allows the charging system to cycle off and on further saving fuel.

[oil pan 4]

Weight reduction is a proven way to increase fuel economy.
One of the reasons I did this mod was to relocate the battery so I could put in a large air cleaner and turbochargers. But all the turbocharger stuff added back about 100lb.
Adding the turbochargers added at least 2 to 3mpg.

The LiFePO4 batteries reduce electrical load by about 2 amps, or 28 watts. I figure 100 watts is good for about 0.1mpg increase in fuel economy on my suburban.

[oil pan 4]

I think I will add another 4 pack of 20Ah cells to my battery.
So instead of toiling for hours doing the white knuckle assembly of punching holes in the cells and screwing the tabs together I am going to get the proper connector this time. When I originally assembled the battery I didn't know such connectors were for sale to privet individuals or at least I couldn't find a source.

I think these prismatic cells is the way to build battery.

The original 8 cell battery is working great. But when it gets cold you can tell it really has to work to pump out those 350 amps to crank over the 495 cubic inch 22:1 diesel.
Having another stack of cells to share the misery they will make the assembly as a whole last that much longer.

The company I bough my cell connector is based in Israel. So you can fight OPEC directly and by proxy when you buy their products.
See Ebay seller "naama1485"

[oil pan 4]

Another thing I need, can some one point me in the direction of some 12v silicone heater pads?
When I pull the stack apart I want to insert some heater pads between some of the cells to help warm the battery when its really cold out. I am thinking I would power these heaters externally with a sacrificial NiCd or NiMH battery pack, something cheap that does not mind being ran dead and is rechargeable.