I'm still new to my '01 Insight, so please forgive me if I ask a stupid question. I see a lot of discussions about grid chargers, but from what I take of the discussions is that they are for monthly maintenance and not for daily charging.
I live on top of a hill, with a steep driveway, so typically by the time I'm home, my batteries are down about a third. Which means my batteries are trying to charge all the way back down the hill, just in time to climb another hill, then the cycle repeats a couple more times before getting to work every day. I'd get better gas mileage if I could have my batteries fully charge when leaving home. Is that possible and if so what do I need to do?
Does anyone in the San Diego, CA area (North County) have a grid charge that they would rent out???
I'm still new to my '01 Insight, so please forgive me if I ask a stupid question. I see a lot of discussions about grid chargers, but from what I take of the discussions is that they are for monthly maintenance and not for daily charging.
I live on top of a hill, with a steep driveway, so typically by the time I'm home, my batteries are down about a third. Which means my batteries are trying to charge all the way back down the hill, just in time to climb another hill, then the cycle repeats a couple more times before getting to work every day. I'd get better gas mileage if I could have my batteries fully charge when leaving home. Is that possible and if so what do I need to do?
Does anyone in the San Diego, CA area (North County) have a grid charge that they would rent out???
Thank you!
I like to help someone when it's apparent that they have looked around and not found what they are looking for but in your case there are many threads that talk about this, one of these being....
Install a 'calpod' switch - simply a switch in parallel with the clutch switch that, when engaged, disables assist and charge. Disable the IMA when you need to go up your last steep hill before getting home, or something like that so your battery isn't discharged so much when you get home... Basically, the switch will give you more control over the timing of charging and discharging.
Please include your location in your user CP/Profile. Not just SD or north county for assistance.
Thanks
Willie
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01 MT "Little Red Rocket"
The first "TURBOCHARGED" Hybrid, Insight G1- (01/2003)
MaxIMA Battery (Serial #2), on 8/25/12 @ 301,520 miles
Use: 321,000 mi. @ 57.8 LMPG
I think your okay with a discharged battery when your at home. Since your on top of the hill, you can regen (charge) your battery on the way down. (assuming you will being too fast without brakes).
You can force a charge by lightly pressing your brake, while in gear. Press just hard enough to light the brake lights, but not enough to engage the brake pads. You will see your regen light up. You can install a switch for this, but I don't think it's necessary.
When your at a high point you want a partially discharged battery so you can recapture some of the energy on the way down, instead of pushing the brakes to maintain speed. At the bottom your car will automatically use the stored energy maintain the speed you want.
Unless your are not going fast enough going down hill by gravity alone. (or slow enough up the hill). Then you won't need to brake or accelarate at all. That would be the best senario, no braking, or accelarating.
Overnight is ok. over the weekend, that's getting iffy
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FS: Simple Grid Chargers - 00-06 Insight & 03-05 Civic Hybrid HybridAutomotive.com (Now Includes the Insight/Civic IMA Battery Instructions)
Citrus 2000 MT MIMA, Silver 2000 MT Beater
Best Tank: 90.2MPG over 918.7 miles 010MCM/030BCM, No MIMA. Details: My Commute MPGs
Current score: Bought/Selling/Sold/Dismantled six silvers, one blue, and a Citrus to keep for myself.
Leaving the battery in a discharged state is a good thing overall, if you know it's going to be sitting. If you charge it up and let it sit(for long enough), that could count as a cycle. Of course ideally, you would be able to charge the battery back up gently before the car has it's way with it, too.
You're supposed to store Nickel batteries at around 40-50% SoC. Below about 70% SoC, self discharge slows to a crawl - depending on the temperature.
Note that I mean actual battery SoC, not the dash cluster SoC gauge. It effectively doesn't matter what the dash SoC gauge says as far as the car sitting goes.
Just to help clarify the whole grid charge/soak charge thing, since there has been a lot of discussion lately -
A single grid charge and a single soak charge is pretty much not going to do any damage, and could benefit by balancing the cells. However, doing this every day will definitely wear the battery out more quickly. You would basically be doing a mild PHEV set up.
How long will your battery last under these conditions? Nobody knows.
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Bumblebee Batteries, LLC - Helping your hybrid get from point A to point Bee!
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Can I charge my batteries every night?
Of course ideally, you would be able to charge the battery back up gently before the car has it's way with it, too.
