equalizer dreams

[Martin Jackson <mjackson@vcn.bc.ca>]

  Lee Hart writes on "equalizer dreams"

"I think there is also a tendency to over-complicate things. You can 
measure voltage, current, temperature etc. to 0.1% accuracy many times a 
second; but what would you do with the information even if you had it?"

  The EV conversion isn't a well understood, fully developed system. And
  when you have invested $2000 in batteries, especially VRLA-SLA-AGM
  money pits, the more instrumentation you can get, the better. Taking 
  the conservative approach with modest Amps and living within walking 
  distance of John, Bill or Lee, you can do without much instrumentation 
  if you follow 'good practice'. More highly developed Controllers and 
  Chargers could keep real people out of trouble. All the EV knowledge 
  on the list was earned the hard way; they don't have EV mech classes 
  in high school. Yet. 

  The List folks who do use extensive instrumentation are, hopefully,
  getting data that will save them money and improve our understanding
  of battery use. Expensive batteries with dry tops that will power an
  EV up a real hill should be in every EV. But, not if they die in a 
  year. In the long run, good battery management with good performance 
  will be a function of interpreting dynamic data feedback.

"Most of the time, a simple on/off or low-accuracy system will suffice."

  True for neat, methodical, intelligent, experienced people. Actually,
  most of the folks using a lot of instrumentation are doing it for fun.
  I shouldn't say it, but most folks with an EV have it for fun.
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