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Old 10-12-2012, 04:16 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Formula - I'm going to split your posts into a new thread with a link back to this one. I think it's worth separating your process/results as a distinct project that future Civic hybrid owners can look at.
Thanks Metro, I will also flesh out the original post with more detail and background.

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Old 10-12-2012, 11:52 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Good idea - thanks. Keep us posted!
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Old 10-15-2012, 01:43 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Another update:

Getting near the end, the 17th subpack is on the charger right now. The results have been very good so far, the lowest capacity returned after cycling was 6069 MaH, 93% of it's rated capacity. Two subpacks were very weak, with initial discharge capacities of 870 and 593. Both took only about 4300 MaH on their first charge but repeated cycling brought both of them over 6000. Those two subpacks would seem to be the cause of the pack's problems. I'm really excited to see how the pack will perform now.

A few questions that occurred to me during the process:

What are people's opinions on whether the position of a subpack in the pack will affect it's performance? Someone suggested this in another thread, I didn't think it would make much difference but I did notice that the two weakest subpacks are located dead center in the pack, which might subject them to more heat. Of the other three subpacks located in the center of the battery, two had good initial discharge and ultimate capacity, one was fair. Does anyone have any data from cycling another pack that might back this theory up?

Second question: Once I'm done with this process, some subpacks will have been sitting idle for almost two weeks, I was thinking it would be a good idea to top off each subpack before reassembly. Using the Superbrain to do this, would it make more sense to use the charge function or the trickle charge function? Any recommended settings?

And one more thing I was curious about: Has anyone noticed that sometimes individual cells in a subpack sometimes make noises during the charging cycle? A few times I have noticed cells making a sort of popping/hissing noise during charging, usually towards the end of the charge cycle. I didn't notice any cells getting exceptionally hot, I'm just curious if this is normal behavior.
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Old 10-15-2012, 02:42 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Glad to hear you're nearly done!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Formula413 View Post
What are people's opinions on whether the position of a subpack in the pack will affect it's performance? Someone suggested this in another thread, I didn't think it would make much difference but I did notice that the two weakest subpacks are located dead center in the pack, which might subject them to more heat. Of the other three subpacks located in the center of the battery, two had good initial discharge and ultimate capacity, one was fair. Does anyone have any data from cycling another pack that might back this theory up?
My picture doesn't match yours, as far as location vs. capacity:





In my pack there appears to be a trend from best to worst discharge capacity based on row (on average, best at the top, worst at the bottom). But I wouldn't conclude this is a design fault without confirming with data from other peoples' packs.

from Post #91 in http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post285012

Quote:
Second question: Once I'm done with this process, some subpacks will have been sitting idle for almost two weeks, I was thinking it would be a good idea to top off each subpack before reassembly. Using the Superbrain to do this, would it make more sense to use the charge function or the trickle charge function? Any recommended settings?
In the grand scheme of things, I don't think it matters. I'd do it quickly, otherwise you'll be perpetually "topping off" your sticks before reinstalling them. (They self-discharge fairly quickly.)

Quote:
A few times I have noticed cells making a sort of popping/hissing noise during charging, usually towards the end of the charge cycle.
I didn't hear any of mine doing that! (Not that they didn't - I had multiple fans running all the time.) My gut tells me to be wary of those subpacks. If you don't get any replies from the experts here, I'd definitely search or post that question on insightcentral.

Once the pack is back in the car, heed Mr Small's advice: put the pack on a regular grid-charge trickle regimen. And periodically exercise the pack vigorously (full assist to "empty", full regen to "full") to help keep the subpacks from getting lazy & weak.

Looking forward to the next update.
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Old 11-06-2012, 04:45 PM   #15 (permalink)
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I would talk to Eli over at insight central. He is selling completely new battery packs under the name Bumblebee batteries I think. He requires a core, so you could probably trade him your bad stick for a good one for a reasonable price. For what it is worth, I used two 90V 300mA LED power sources as an overnight charger to recover battery performance. It has worked quite well, although my battery was not nearly as deteriorated as yours.
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Old 11-07-2012, 01:20 PM   #16 (permalink)
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What color are your sticks? Is this a 2nd, 3rd, 4th gen HCH? What city and state are? I have 2 used HCH sticks that have been cycled on a super brain 989 Il be willing to deal if needed. These are the paired sticks from a 2nd gen HCH.

Yup, thats the bases. Since the voltage taps are per pair match the best stick with the worse stick and so on, otherwise if one "tap" (TAPS OUT) under aload it will trigger a negative recal.

Others use a 350ma charge to balance the cells, however it seems cycleing helps to bring back those that are low/damaged.
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Old 11-13-2012, 11:46 AM   #17 (permalink)
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No more updates?
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Old 11-13-2012, 01:21 PM   #18 (permalink)
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I am guessing the 17th pack was a real doozy?

I had a guy tell me that there is a plug for the "TAPs' and it wouldnt be too difficult to rig up a plug to back feed it through a charger to avoid removing the cells from the pack.

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Old 11-13-2012, 04:33 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Ok, here's an update: I put the pack back in the car. Zero change. Provided barely any assist at all, went to forced charging, set P1449 within a few miles. Thought twice about pushing the car off a bridge at that point. Obviously there are bigger problems than reduced capacity. I have zero ambition to screw with this thing again anytime soon, if I take it back out to work on it some more it won't be 'til the Spring, if at all.
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Old 11-13-2012, 04:38 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Bummer.

However, the "forced charging" part is normal after doing that procedure on the pack: The computer's memory of the state of charge (SOC) no longer agrees with the actual state of charge. So when it detects the "extra" juice on board, it needs to recalibrate the pack (by forced charging to try to "top it up" and reset then the battery SOC gauge).

I guess there's something else going on with yours, but that part at least was "normal".

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Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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