Paul's how NOT to convert a Metro

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by TheSGC

My second run, about 2 hours later and mostly fully charged, was MUCH better. I think the batteries require new "break in" cycles after sitting for just a few days, to wake up.

I have to wonder how much of this is owing to the fresh charge vs. to the heat that builds up in the batteries as a result of use (both discharging & charging). Both would help performance/range.

[vpoppv]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I have to wonder how much of this is owing to the fresh charge vs. to the heat that builds up in the batteries as a result of use (both discharging & charging). Both would help performance/range.

What I would like to know from those of you with experience is the OTHER side of the coin: in the middle of summer, how do your batteries do? I hear that heat is just as bad on batteries. So, in the summer, do your batteries perform WORSE directly after a charge and used then they do when they have been allowed to "cool" after a charge and subsequently used? I am thinking that temperature might be a much bigger factor for batteries than I ever imagined.....

Also, I am researching alum batteries a lot more, and the more I do, the more intrigued I become. It is about 15 degrees out today and I brought in the alum battery I made a while back and it shows 11.60v still. I will deep discharge it several times as recommended and see where that gets me. In any case, I can attest to the fact that this battery is performing better right now than it did as a lead/acid battery. Apparently, the more heavily sulfated the battery is, the better it performs as an alum battery as it uses the lead sulfate as the medium for energy. (I just made that up, but it sounded all techy like I know what I'm talking about).

[TheSGC]

The batteries love the summer, however mine have cooled down quite a bit before I drive off. My charger has finished off with 1-3 AMPs charging current before I go anywhere, and that is usually an hour after my usual 12-13 AMPs charging rate, and the batteries cool down pretty fast, even with the 1" insulation.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by vpoppv

What I would like to know from those of you with experience is the OTHER side of the coin: in the middle of summer, how do your batteries do?

They perform best in the middle of the summer for me. But the average July daily max temp here is 25.6 C / 78 F.

[vpoppv]

So there's some good news and some bad news for me in the batteries department. First off, with a little coaxing, I was able to trade two dead battery cores for two seemingly fine tractor/trailer batteries at my local Napa Auto Parts. Now, while these are technically "starting" batteries, these are some heavy duty monsters, and probably function somewhat as a deep cycle given that some semi drivers MAY run accesories without running the engine (not likely, as I always see them idling, but who knows?). Anyway, they are physically identical dimensions to the Wal-Mart Maxx-29. They have the highest resting voltage of any of my batteries(except the Exide Orbital) at around 12.7-12.8v. These should be excellent batteries for my Toyota. Now as for the Geo, the one battery I was having trouble with is not long for this world: it gets down to 10.27v at the end of the commute. I am SO tempted to just break down and buy a new one to replace it, but I just can't get my mind around the idea that $58 for a new one is more than I paid for all six combined. So I will try to convert that battery to alum and see what happens. I'm nervous about that as I don't have a backup group 24 battery in case it fails. No guts, no glory I guess. Now on the positive side, the battery that would never take a full charge (well, the charger never turned off) was doing better than usual when I left it on all night Thursday night. So I went ahead and let it charge all evening yesterday, and then all night last night. When I got up this morning, the charger had turned off! So if the alum conversion works on the one battery, I should have a good solid pack for the foreseeable future....
PS: on a personal note, I am a full time college student again at Oklahoma State University after a 20 year absence with a goal of a Master's in Special Education. I survived my first week anyway....

[MetroMPG]

Hey - congrats on diving back in to school. Is the trip commutable by EV?

Nice score on those truck batteries. Are they the group 31 (?) size that we're hoping Firefly energy will one day release?

[vpoppv]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Hey - congrats on diving back in to school. Is the trip commutable by EV?

Nice score on those truck batteries. Are they the group 31 (?) size that we're hoping Firefly energy will one day release?

Naw, It's 30 miles one way and 65mph. Maybe for the Toyota....
They're indeed group 31 (same as group 29?), and I scored another one today, though I don't have much hopes for it: I didn't have my voltmeter with me and it reads 2.71v when I got home. On the plus side, I think I get more money for it as a core than a standard car battery that I traded for....

[TheSGC]

Originally Posted by vpoppv

Naw, It's 30 miles one way and 65mph. Maybe for the Toyota....
They're indeed group 31 (same as group 29?), and I scored another one today, though I don't have much hopes for it: I didn't have my voltmeter with me and it reads 2.71v when I got home. On the plus side, I think I get more money for it as a core than a standard car battery that I traded for....

Group 29 is slightly smaller than Group 31. I made all of my battery racks for my MAXX29's and they are about 1/2 inch shorter than Group 31's, and about 1/4 of an inch narrower. Optima D31 should fit though, and I might try and get some from a recycling center to try out.

[vpoppv]

The battery I just got that was at 2.71v has charged all night and is holding steady at 12.80v. I'm shocked. The battery I pulled out of my pack was showing 11.27v after the full charge on Friday, and trickle charging all weekend. I dumped out the electrolyte and put in the alum mixture of 2oz (by weight) Alum to 64 fluid oz distilled water. The battery is showing 11.53v and RISING (??!!). I don't get it. Anyway, wish me luck.....

[Christ]

Rising... there must be some chemical cleaning going on in there that's producing an increasing level of particle motion... sometimes just heating up will raise battery voltage temporarily, so maybe the alum is reacting to something and warming up slightly?