David LaFerney
10 mW
I recently added voltage meters to the bikes that I put together for my wife and I...
After a few rides with them, it's clear that whenever you "get on it" the voltage sags around 3-4 volts - probably more at times. So if you consider 3.3 volts per cell to be the danger zone (42.9 for my 13s packs) does that include sag? If so, then do we need to start pedaling and stop gassing at around 46-47 volts to preserve the battery life?
It's not really a big deal even if that is the case - we are riding mostly for exercise, and the motors are more to help make it more fun than to eliminate pedaling - no more long uphill grinds - and no more worry about going too far out and struggling to get back (we aren't kids anymore.) On our typical 10 - 14 mile ride we are only using maybe 2 volts out of an initial 53.3v charge. I've started only charging to 4 volts per cell so that they are at least down to storage voltage when we finish without having to discharge.
If anyone is interested - the volt meters are "waterproof" items off of eBay ($4.24) I made the housings/mounts out of kydex. Very nice addition if you don't already have an actual on-board voltmeter in my opinion.
After a few rides with them, it's clear that whenever you "get on it" the voltage sags around 3-4 volts - probably more at times. So if you consider 3.3 volts per cell to be the danger zone (42.9 for my 13s packs) does that include sag? If so, then do we need to start pedaling and stop gassing at around 46-47 volts to preserve the battery life?
It's not really a big deal even if that is the case - we are riding mostly for exercise, and the motors are more to help make it more fun than to eliminate pedaling - no more long uphill grinds - and no more worry about going too far out and struggling to get back (we aren't kids anymore.) On our typical 10 - 14 mile ride we are only using maybe 2 volts out of an initial 53.3v charge. I've started only charging to 4 volts per cell so that they are at least down to storage voltage when we finish without having to discharge.
If anyone is interested - the volt meters are "waterproof" items off of eBay ($4.24) I made the housings/mounts out of kydex. Very nice addition if you don't already have an actual on-board voltmeter in my opinion.