[ref http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Difference-in-water-use-per-cell-for-GC-batteries-tp4677201.html Difference in water use per cell for GC batteries ]
In my 15 years of wet-cell driving, I had used-up, and changed out several packs http://brucedp.150m.com/blazer In the beginning when I received my EV from the converter with a 120VDC T125 configuration, I charged it on Level 1 for years. Later after I dropped lot$ to upgrade the pack to 132VDC T145, and install 6 on-board chargers for a 20+kW charging ability, the rare long trips charged fast (6-12kW), but the majority of the daily driving was off L1 charging. My last pack change before I lost my EV in an accident, I went with a T105 equivalent US2200 batteries. These were lower capacity but had a higher cycle life, and I charged them at L1. They lasted the longest but had less range. A work around is to use these 105 min batteries but more of them, as in a higher pack voltage (instead of a 120VDC T125 pack, go with a 144VDC T105 pack = same range but more cycle life). Those times I charged at higher currents did require more distilled water after I had finished a long-trip (i.e.: I had made 160+ mile Silicon-Valley to Sacramento round trips, or to Monterey, San Luis Obispo, +more). And when I had a regular routine of daily driving and charging at L1, I used much less distilled water. But when the pack had reached the end of its cycle life, some cells would require more water than others (the pack is getting tired/old = time to replace the pack). *You will now have to monitor your water levels much more closely, until you do change out your pack. When you add distilled water to those dying cells does some gray muck swirl up as you fill them? That is a strong signal that battery is on its last leg. Also, you should check your charging voltages as, as a cell/battery ages, its finishing voltage is different than when it was new. This why having an on-board charger that can be easily adjusted to the an aging pack is a good thing and worth any added charger model cost (i.e. why I liked the manzanitamicro.com pfc chargers better than my other charger brands/models> you pay more, you get more). If you think your pack should still have more miles in it (meaning it seems to be prematurely aged), then you should look at what battery brand and model you use (Trojans= best & expensive, USBattery= a better deal but a little less life, other brands=don't expect a long cycle/pack life, etc.). Also, look at your chargers (what voltages they were charging at, were they adjusted to match the pack as it aged (this is more effort, but it squeezes out the most pack life), did you have any 'oops' where you may have messed up (a few of these will prematurely age a pack), did you not use distilled water (never do this), etc.). IMO, I would say you have gotten your money out of that old pack, and should get a new pack so you can continue to enjoy your baby :-) For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Difference-in-water-use-per-cell-for-GC-batteries-tp4677201p4677202.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
