Ben Nelson's Electro-Metro Build thread

[MPaulHolmes]

That's hilarious.

[bennelson]

Originally Posted by exrdega

how about NOFNGAS

Heee hee.
I DO like noFNgas! But I am not sure it would get through the censors!

The little battery monitor I have been using works great. I could tell which was the bad battery to swap out.

Unfortunately, I accidentally swapped out the wrong battery!
Oh well, this weekend, I will just have to put the new right one back in!

I have been using the Metro quite a bit lately, including one day of hauling a LOT of video equipment: 2 full light kits (80 lbs, 4 feet long...) full size pro video camera and tripod, 2 C-stands, audio kit, 2 40lb sand bags, etc, etc.
Man, I really had it packed in there.




The photos show the car BEFORE I had the four foot square reflector and a couple other things in there, including foamcore that ran up and over the top of my head!

[Nerys]

Why not just use independent auto chargers? $34 a pop at HF run then to a power strip and plug "that" in at night. So each battery has its own charger and will stop when fully charged. No over charging.

also consider possibly (this gets more complex) an inverter and "one" charger onboard. use the inverter to charge any "one cell" that is lower than the rest of them to compensate and keep from "over discharging" that cell. ie maximizing your range and lowering you cell damage. I am not fully sure how to do this especially in any sort of "automated" manner.

[bennelson]

Individual chargers is a fine way to charge an electric car.

I would want better chargers than the simple ones from Harbor Freight, but you have the right idea.

For me, any change in the charging system simply means added cost.
Also, you would want to make sure the chargers are automated - they run when power is applied, WITHOUT having to press any buttons.
I have a couple of standard car battery chargers right now that are designed to charge AGMs, but I have to press the battery selection button twice, the battery size button twice, and the charge button once! I wouldn't want to do that on 6 or 9 batteries every time I plug the car in!

Also, standard car chargers get bulky. They take up space, and need to be out in the open for airflow.

[Nerys]

ahhhh good point I do not think the HF charger I was thinking of does that. it is fully auto but you do have to press "go" basically.

there are auto charger but they are usually low amp ie 1 2 amps ie too long to recharge ALTHOUGH since you charge at 10 amps thats only what 1.3 amps per battery? so some fully auto stopping float 1amp chargers might actually work out nicely for you.

these chargers are about the size of a VHS cassette so just put on "on top of" each cell.

I really wish I could make one of these. but I need at least 75 miles range fully loaded so leads just won't cut it :-(

[bennelson]

The serial charger that I have been using can charge up to 20 amps AT SYSTEM voltage.

Currently, that means 20 amps at 72volts - so EACH battery could get up to 20 amps at 12V+.

1 or two amps would be WAY too slow.
My batteries hold roughly 100 amp-hours each. If the batteries are run half-down, you need to "re-fill" 50 amp-hours, or 50 hours at one amp - Two days plus....
An exception to that would be something like an electric riding lawn mower. If it takes 3 days to charge, so what? I don't mow the lawn any more often than once a week.

My friend Tom has an AC Dodge Neon. He has about 27 batteries or so, EACH one has its own little charger right on top. I think those chargers are 10 amps each. They are fully automatic, and switchable between 120 and 240V.

[dave koller]

NOCO 12-48 Volt, 40 Amp Genius 4 Bank Battery Charger

Price is high but for LA it is probably the best - Google it and read up.... 3 of them does 12 batteries.. Never over charges - keeps them equal...

[Nerys]

oh wow!! yeah 1amp each would suck at that level :-)

[bennelson]

Guess what just came in the mail today!?
The new plates!

[MPaulHolmes]

No He didn't! hahaha. Awesome!