Andrew Oxner wrote:
>
> I'm an experienced electronics tech, but new to EVs.
> Recently I bought a 1991 MR2 conversion with a 196V
> system. The batteries are Optima YTs of 1999 vintage.
> My controller is a Griz and the motor is an Advanced
> DC. The charger is a Manzanita with a home-brew
> regulator box set to bypass current around any battery
> showing more than 14.8 volts. The previous owner
> claimed a 45 mile max range, I'd be happy if it could
> make 25 miles. Sadly, the batteries in their present
> state are pretty much dead at 9 miles. My experience
> has been that the car cannot even get me to work (~10
> miles freeway 750' higher elevation than my home).
> This is NOT what I had in mind, nor even plausibly
> related to what the previous owner claimed. The pack
> is only capable of providing 20-22 Ah or so before
> getting really soft. At that time, if I put a 2A load
> on the bank, three of them dip to about 5-8V while the
> others are around 10.5V. In a 5A static load test,
> similar voltages appear at the 4.5 hour mark. Is this
> typical aging YT behavior, or is my pack limp for some
> other (possibly correctable) reason? If it really is
> dying this soon, what would I have to do to get the
> range I want out of a longer lived battery technology
> (Evercel, etc)? My whole point in driving an EV is to
> be less polluting. Generating a pallet of dead
> batteries every 3 years is out of the question! BTW,
> there are batteries in the tunnel, so sealed
> technology is a requirement. At least conventional LA
> is out.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andrew
>
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Oh so now I know where it went.
Please contact me off line for any questions.
My guess is the charger is set so low that you can't possibly over
charge your batteries. And then you have a undercharge condition.
I have 4 years and over 500 cycles on my Yts, I have been racing it
every year. I abuse them and they still have some life left. With 13 Yts
I had 10 miles of range for about 3 years, now... It still does nice
burn offs....
As I recall your batteries have a few months of neglect on them in
between a very compitent builder, and some pretty good tech support. The
neglect now shows.
Expect to replace them and soon.
--
Rich Rudman
Manzanita Micro
www.manzanitamicro.com
1-360-297-7383,Cell 1-360-620-6266
