Upgraded batts in scooter - should I get a new charger too?
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:53 pm
Hi all- Posting to say that I've finally solved the "rubbish range problem" on my leccie scooter - it now does 30mpc easily, at a push it'll prolly do 34-35.
First I replaced the 20ah batteries with a set of 28ah ones, then squeezed the original 20ahs into the luggage compartment on top of the 28ahs, so now I have a whopping 48ah, 48v battery.
Here's the new batteries, they sit under the seat (which I had to mangle a bit so it wouldn't crush down on them).
The question is, should I buy a more powerful charger, or even charge them seperately? (would be a real hassle to charge seperately though) I currently have a (guesstimate) 4ah charger and it seems to be taking a bit of a long time to charge up after even short runs, I just did about 10 miles today, put it on at 3.45pm and ended charging after four hours and four minutes (7.49pm - just now in fact!)
Come to think about it that might not be too bad after all, but I'm still kind of worried that what with the batts being different amp-hour ratings I might be damaging them by charging them together. What do people think? I'm considering getting yet moar batts for even moar range (maybe some 10-14ah ones) so it's quite important.
Also is it possible to damage lead-acid batts by charging them too slowly? I saw a youtube vid about a guy in New Zealand who'd built his own electric car and he mentioned that he'd damaged the batteries by charging them too slowly!?!?!?
AND... shouldn't be any problems with hydrogen venting should there? I tend to open the seat a couple of times when it's charging anyway, but they're only 20ah, and I have 15ah batts in my other, small leccie bike and they're in a much more enclosed space.
First I replaced the 20ah batteries with a set of 28ah ones, then squeezed the original 20ahs into the luggage compartment on top of the 28ahs, so now I have a whopping 48ah, 48v battery.
Here's the new batteries, they sit under the seat (which I had to mangle a bit so it wouldn't crush down on them).
The question is, should I buy a more powerful charger, or even charge them seperately? (would be a real hassle to charge seperately though) I currently have a (guesstimate) 4ah charger and it seems to be taking a bit of a long time to charge up after even short runs, I just did about 10 miles today, put it on at 3.45pm and ended charging after four hours and four minutes (7.49pm - just now in fact!)
Come to think about it that might not be too bad after all, but I'm still kind of worried that what with the batts being different amp-hour ratings I might be damaging them by charging them together. What do people think? I'm considering getting yet moar batts for even moar range (maybe some 10-14ah ones) so it's quite important.
Also is it possible to damage lead-acid batts by charging them too slowly? I saw a youtube vid about a guy in New Zealand who'd built his own electric car and he mentioned that he'd damaged the batteries by charging them too slowly!?!?!?
AND... shouldn't be any problems with hydrogen venting should there? I tend to open the seat a couple of times when it's charging anyway, but they're only 20ah, and I have 15ah batts in my other, small leccie bike and they're in a much more enclosed space.