'Coming in on a Plate and Prayer'

["Bruce Parmenter" <brucedp@care2.com>]

'Coming in on a Plate and Prayer'

I recieved my new pack of US145's, and I planed to start
changing out my old T145's in my S-10 Blazer after 
tonight's class. [ http://brucedp.0catch.com/blazer ]

I figured that I have at least enough life left in this 
old T145 pack to get me the 20 miles to the College.

I have already secured permission to charge while I am
there. I found three locations, but the least visible is the
on the top lot, next to a coke machine. If I can get there
early, I can park close enough to run a cord to the
available outlet. Of course with a back seat full of 100'
cords, I don't think I will have a problem even if I have to
park far away.

I left Redwood City to head to the Los Altos College early,
but even after a full charge the pack felt really tired.
Although I had a 132V on the Emeter with no load, the pack
voltage sagged 120V when only drawing 80 amps. This is not
good.

I had a half way point to charge if I ran into trouble,
and there is always Otmar place as a bale out (which I have
used many times http://www.evcl.com/914/charge.html ).

Since the performance of my EV was now driving like an LSV,
I stayed off the Highway, and took a 25-35mph city route,
Midddlefield Road.  When I got to my half way point (10 mi)
in Mt. View, I got brave and decided to go all the way,
chancing I would make it.

It is slightly up hill all the to the college (from the bay
to the foothills). So, the drive drew more current go there
than a flat drive.

All my 'keep it moving' and energy saving technics were put
into play. But this LSV performance was worry-some. There
just wasn't enough horse power at this lower voltage to go
faster than 35 mph.  Even my shifting up to higher gears
sooner, and letting the speed wind up slower, only delayed
the inevitable.

Sure enough, as I got to the major climb, going up hill at
the College, I heard some sizzling and hissing. I have 
heard this before, I am cooking a battery.

I got to my spot, parked and lifted the rear battery cover.
Sure enough one of the batteries had heated up so hot it 
bubbled water out of the caps on to the top of the battery.
The battery so warm the water was steaming off.

Well, I plugged in, with the long extension cord running
across the parking lot. The pack voltage so low the charge
was pumping maximum out (11 amps from my Zivan 120VAC K2).

I left my EV charging knowing after the four hours of class,
I would have to make a decision of what to do to get home.

After class, the charge was still pumping hard 10.5 amps and
the pack voltage had zoomed up to 138V. Normally at 10 amps
I would get 4 miles back for every hour of charge. 4hrs x
4mi = 16 miles back.  But this was a really sad-sick pack.

So, if I drive back, I chance cooking/smoking a battery. I
always have my AAA plus to tow me back. The recent weather
is below freezing which is really strange for this area. 
Rather than freezing my tush, I though I would chance it, 
and be very careful to draw as little current as possible.

Being late at night (9 pm) does not mean there is less
traffic. But it was down hill most of the way. Instead of
starting in first and changing up to second at 15 mph, I
would start in second, and change up to third at 10 mph.
This shifting up early worked well for me. Not so well for
the people behind me in the right lane (I got lots of 
flying eagles).

But on my way back, the charge did not follow the norm. My
pack quickly sagged to 110V after 5 miles. And progressively
got worse as the drive went on. Driving an 132V EV on only
100V is not real peppy.

A few zigs and a few zags, I avoided an overpass and got
onto middlefield again. Some of that road is at 25 mph so I
was actually doing the speed limit.

My last big hurdle was to climb the last overpass. All my
conserving and being careful would be blown away to 'get
over that hill'. The light was barely with me as I stomped
on the power to keep the momentum going. Stomping really 
had no feel, but the EV did make it over.

Now I was very sure I could make it home. The last mile was
smooth. No burning, sizzling, or spray.  God was my side
tonight.

OK, time to sign off to get some sleep and start working to
tear out that old pack tomorrow.

 :-zzz







-
- % RE for your EV %
- ____ Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter 
~/__|o\__ http://geocities.com/brucedp
'@----- @'---(= EV List Editor
- http://egroups.com/group/EVList
- Renewable Energy (RE) News Editor
-
-

http://www.care2.com - Get your Free e-mail account that helps save Wildlife!