[ausev] Cold weather on lead acid batteries?

[Brian Lasseter]

So now that it is getting cold... what exactly would I be looking for
as an indication that my batteries are losing their effectiveness in
cold weather?

My Xantrex Link 10 battery gauge was pretty good during the summer,
though even when I got home with 3% of the batter left one day, I
could still drive reasonably at 40mph or so.

Yesterday however... I was having a hard time with hills as my car got
down to 19% as I was coming home from my son's daycare.  The voltages
seemed nominal enough at 19% state of charge.   I was still seeing
140volts at a stop (There is a 5 amp drain still on the battery pack
when the car is at a dead stop due to the DC/DC converter, and the
various 12volt loads.)   When stepping on the gas however, the voltage
quickly dropped off to 105 volts as I gave 100amps to the motor going
up the hills going south on Metric Blvd from Parmer Lane.

For reference I run 18x 8volt batteries, in a 144 volt flooded lead acid pack.

Maybe this will get me off of my bum to install the battery temp
sensor into the Xantrex, instead of letting it collect dust in my
garage.   Or maybe I should just change programmed battery temp.  I
think I set it to 90 degrees F when I set up the battery meter.


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

"No Sane man will dance."   -Cicero (106-43 B.C.)