Clutch switch mod...How does it affect Batt Life?

Hodakaguy · 02-25-2010, 08:29 AM

I've been using my clutch switch mod/forced brake switch mod quite a bit. I find that I can easily keep the battery in the top two bars all the time with this mod, that includes going over some rather large hills on my 30 mile commute to work. This got me thinking about batt life.

If the battery is never dropping down very far and then charging back up how detrimental is this to the pack? Will the pack take a set and loose any capacity? Should I drain down the pack once in a while and let it charge back up? Also the forced brake part of the switch allows me to maximize charging whenever possible, how bad is it for the pack to be charging at larger rates a bigger percentage of the time?

Thanks in advance

Hodakaguy

RobertSmalls · 02-25-2010, 11:20 AM

I have the clutch switch mod as well, but as a flatlander, my usage profile is different from yours. I don't do much regenerative braking, since I prefer to preserve kinetic energy by coasting in neutral. I almost never do assist, so the battery is only drained by accessory electrical loads.

Three weeks ago, my battery was topped off at 20 bars. Its SOC has been slowly, monotonically decreasing, and it's now down to about 15 bars.

I don't see much difference between my usage profile and just letting the car sit unused for weeks, which is known to be bad for a battery.

3-Wheeler · 02-25-2010, 02:13 PM

I've been using the Calpod IMA disable since May 2009.

I typically use assist for a short duration in second gear, and would use the same in third if I had MIMA, but don't like to step on the gas that hard.

As for regen, I use it on almost every stop, and try to keep it at or below 4 bars.

After a while however, the battery will get unbalanced and need topping off.

Even with topping off, let's say once a month or so, the battery will start to get lazy and need some exercise. This is where I make good use of the switch and purposely discharge the battery about as far as I can with just the switch, and then top the battery off at night when back home.

When exercising the battery like this, I will repeat this exercising for about one week, draining the battery each day on the way to work. If not, it will start acting up again in about two weeks, even after topping it off regularly.

Jim.

JimIsbell · 02-25-2010, 02:48 PM

How many bars is your "window" of operation (between 20 bars topped off off and RECAL) when it is full up and what is the "window" when it is "getting lazy"?

3-Wheeler · 02-26-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimIsbell

How many bars is your "window" of operation (between 20 bars topped off off and RECAL) when it is full up and what is the "window" when it is "getting lazy"?

Hi Jim,

All I can say is what is recorded in this thread...

Does BCM get confused for you?

I wasn't keeping that close of an eye on the SOC display, to give you exact numbers.

But I certainly can in the future.

Jim.