Hi Everyone, Well, as some of you are aware, the thunderstruck gang is hoping to bring Tropica #3 to Woodburn this year. We have had the tropica for under two weeks, and have been busy on it for the entire time. Work has ranged from taking out scratches on the bodywork to re-working mounts on the corvette rear end. I have been busy all of today putting new SVR batteries in the battery tunnel. This is being done last minute as I only picked the batteries up last night:) Now that they are all wired up, I am floating them while Brian and Rick finish putting the rear end back together. Quick question from the battery gurus... We have two strings of 10 batteries, with leads coming out from each connection. Right now I have them buddy paired, and they have risen in 20 minutes to 14.4-14.9 volts each on just 1.5 amps per buddy pair. I am holding them there for now, and letting the current fall. Should I take them out of buddies, buddy them in 24 volt blocks, keep the strings separate, or just continue like I am? Also, what sort of charges should I do for the first few cycles. I can hit them as hard as 30 amps if I separate the packs, or should I do the nice slow charges. What about finishing? an amp for a couple hours letting the voltage rise over 15? or just try and hold them steady at 14.8 or so for awhile? I should have a bit of time tonight to pull off some easy cycles, as the rear end is getting put back together, and with any luck, none of the shafts will bend, none of the main supports will flex, and with lots of luck none of the belts will slip. the torque of four motors at 800 amps apiece is a bit rough on everything:) Hey, if you aren't flexing and breaking stuff, you aren't going fast enough:) Thanks, -Thomas Cook
