Long term IMA battery storage?

Milanotorino · 12-08-2011, 02:04 PM

Hi
My 2001 Insight has been off the road for 4 weeks after a deer hit. It may be another 4-8 week before I have time to make repairs. Do I need to do anything to preserve the IMA battery? The car runs, so I could start and run the motor periodically - and maybe force a charge? I think it is the original battery.

Thanks,
Dave in Wisconsin.

**Hybrid-Battery-Repair** · 12-08-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milanotorino

Hi
My 2001 Insight has been off the road for 4 weeks after a deer hit. It may be another 4-8 week before I have time to make repairs. Do I need to do anything to preserve the IMA battery? The car runs, so I could start and run the motor periodically - and maybe force a charge? I think it is the original battery.

Thanks,
Dave in Wisconsin.

Charge it with a trickle charger before you drive it. The car will not be able to charge it high enough to balance the cells. Where in Wisconsin are you? I may know people near you with chargers.

Milanotorino · 12-08-2011, 03:50 PM

Thanks for the help. I am in Spring Green, WI, about 40 miles southwest of Madison.

**Hybrid-Battery-Repair** · 12-09-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milanotorino

Thanks for the help. I am in Spring Green, WI, about 40 miles southwest of Madison.

Sent you a PM to put you in touch with someone who can help.

Milanotorino · 12-14-2011, 02:12 PM

I have another concern about the IMA battery: When the charge indicator gets 2 or 3 bars below half, it drops to one bar and then starts to charge back up. Is this the sign of a battery going bad? I've tried to avoid letting the charge go below half - does that help?

I'm adding up the cost of getting the car back on the road and wondering if I should factor in the need for a new/rebuilt battery soon. Kind of wondering if I should of let it go to the salvage yard, but I really like the car...

Thanks,
Dave

Eli · 12-14-2011, 02:53 PM

That's called a negative recalibration, and it is a sign of battery imbalance or other problem.

Grid charging should help bring some life back if it's imbalance. It is important to grid charge when you start noticing this type of behavior to hopefully bring the pack back into balance and extend its life.

Soon is relative. I would expect you to get another year or two of use out of the battery if it negative recals at 2 or 3 bars below half, that is assuming no grid charge. Possibly 3-4 years with, but it's difficult to tell overall.

**AClewell** · 12-14-2011, 04:19 PM

Don't let your car go to the salvage yard whatever you do. Let us here on IC have a chance to buy her first!

Milanotorino · 12-14-2011, 09:20 PM

I assume grid charge is the same as trickle charge mentioned in post #2 above? Is this charger something I should have and use routinely even if I'm not running MIMA? Where do I get one? Is there a home build option? I'm pretty good at assembling eletronics, but I'm not a EE so I'd need good instructions.

Thanks!
Dave

Oh yeah, I won't let it go to the salvage yard. I'll post here if I get discouraged. I miss it and need to bring it back to life!

gilbertguy · 12-14-2011, 11:08 PM

Mike D is building grid chargers right now:
http://99mpg.com/Projectcars/gridcharger/

Also there is a permiment thread on the grid charger:
grid charger/balancer

Eli · 12-14-2011, 11:17 PM

Yes, same as the trickle charger.

Yes, the grid charger should be seen as preventative maintenance.

You can buy one here: http://99mpg.com/Projectcars/gridcharger/

You can build one using this: http://99mpg.com/Data/resources/down...balancer_2.pdf with this supplement: http://99mpg.com/Projectcars/mimapackwhack/ - "Replacement for 1 Watt LED"