Triple Charging Gaps to Vegas...

On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:58:24 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:

When the starter battery in an ICE dies (3-8 years, depending on climate),
much of it\'s materials are recoverable (recyclable). And, the cost to
replace is relatively low ($100 and 15 minutes of your UNSKILLED time).

Recyclable certainly, but cost is closer to $200. Inflation, taxes, and
not much recycle core-charge rebate.
 
On 6/19/2022 9:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:58:24 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:

When the starter battery in an ICE dies (3-8 years, depending on climate),
much of it\'s materials are recoverable (recyclable). And, the cost to
replace is relatively low ($100 and 15 minutes of your UNSKILLED time).

Recyclable certainly, but cost is closer to $200. Inflation, taxes, and
not much recycle core-charge rebate.

$97 (before core charge) for the last one I installed (03/29/2021). Group 24F
(not huge but not dinky, either). You don\'t buy oversized batteries when you
don\'t have cold weather to worry about. And, you don\'t buy overPRICED
batteries when it will be dead in 3-4 years (from the hot temperatures),
regardless.

[And you\'re a fool if you let AAA supply your batteries!]
 
On 06/19/2022 11:58 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 6/19/2022 9:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:58:24 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:

When the starter battery in an ICE dies (3-8 years, depending on
climate),
much of it\'s materials are recoverable (recyclable). And, the cost to
replace is relatively low ($100 and 15 minutes of your UNSKILLED time).

Recyclable certainly, but cost is closer to $200. Inflation, taxes, and
not much recycle core-charge rebate.

$97 (before core charge) for the last one I installed (03/29/2021).
Group 24F
(not huge but not dinky, either). You don\'t buy oversized batteries
when you
don\'t have cold weather to worry about. And, you don\'t buy overPRICED
batteries when it will be dead in 3-4 years (from the hot temperatures),
regardless.

I just had a case of sticker shock when looking at the battery prices
for a Yaris. The various Diehards run around $200. There is a Valucraft
for $100. The 1 year warranty suggests they don\'t have much confidence
in their product.
 
On Mon, 20 Jun 2022 08:00:01 -0600, rbowman <bowman@montana.com>
wrote:

On 06/19/2022 11:58 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 6/19/2022 9:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:58:24 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:

When the starter battery in an ICE dies (3-8 years, depending on
climate),
much of it\'s materials are recoverable (recyclable). And, the cost to
replace is relatively low ($100 and 15 minutes of your UNSKILLED time).

Recyclable certainly, but cost is closer to $200. Inflation, taxes, and
not much recycle core-charge rebate.

$97 (before core charge) for the last one I installed (03/29/2021).
Group 24F
(not huge but not dinky, either). You don\'t buy oversized batteries
when you
don\'t have cold weather to worry about. And, you don\'t buy overPRICED
batteries when it will be dead in 3-4 years (from the hot temperatures),
regardless.

I just had a case of sticker shock when looking at the battery prices
for a Yaris. The various Diehards run around $200. There is a Valucraft
for $100. The 1 year warranty suggests they don\'t have much confidence
in their product.

I wonder what the relative weights are.



--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar
 
On 6/20/2022 7:00 AM, rbowman wrote:
On 06/19/2022 11:58 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 6/19/2022 9:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:58:24 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:

When the starter battery in an ICE dies (3-8 years, depending on
climate),
much of it\'s materials are recoverable (recyclable). And, the cost to
replace is relatively low ($100 and 15 minutes of your UNSKILLED time).

Recyclable certainly, but cost is closer to $200. Inflation, taxes, and
not much recycle core-charge rebate.

$97 (before core charge) for the last one I installed (03/29/2021).
Group 24F
(not huge but not dinky, either). You don\'t buy oversized batteries
when you
don\'t have cold weather to worry about. And, you don\'t buy overPRICED
batteries when it will be dead in 3-4 years (from the hot temperatures),
regardless.

I just had a case of sticker shock when looking at the battery prices for a
Yaris. The various Diehards run around $200. There is a Valucraft for $100. The
1 year warranty suggests they don\'t have much confidence in their product.

Buying a \"good\" battery, here, is folly. When I first moved here (~30 yr),
my first replacement battery was a Diehard ($85) in the spirit of needing
a \"better\" battery in the midwest, northeast, mountains, etc. (for those cold
winter mornings when engine is effeectively larger load and the battery has
reduced output capability).

It lasted 4 years. *Pro-rated* replacement cost would have been more
than Costco\'s \"new\" ($45).

Switched to Costco batteries with 42 mos replacement warranty.

And, sure as shit, replaced each successive one in that time period.

Now, their replacement (before prorating) is at 36 months. So, I
replace the battery unconditionally at that interval. It is so common
that they don\'t even bother bench testing, etc. Seeing disabled cars
*in* the roadway due to battery failure is just too common in the Summer
months!

SWMBOs new Acura\'s battery failed... in 3 years. Replaced under car\'s
warranty. Three years later, replacement battery shit the bed.
(see a pattern here?)

Ah, but the replacement battery is no longer warrantied as the *car\'s*
warranty (under which it was originally installed) has expired at 5 yrs
(3+3>5).

\"No, thank you, I don\'t want one of your overpriced \'factory\' batteries
(that will likely ALSO fail in the same 3 yrs that the previous two did).
Instead, I\'ll spend half as much at Costco and (essentially) have free
lifetime replacements!\"

[Service agent was surprised that I didn\'t just let him spend a couple hundred
of my dollars... for a battery (+ labor) that would likely not carry a
warranty at the time *it* failed]
 
On Mon, 20 Jun 2022 09:32:10 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

On 6/20/2022 7:00 AM, rbowman wrote:
On 06/19/2022 11:58 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 6/19/2022 9:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:58:24 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:

When the starter battery in an ICE dies (3-8 years, depending on
climate),
much of it\'s materials are recoverable (recyclable). And, the cost to
replace is relatively low ($100 and 15 minutes of your UNSKILLED time).

Recyclable certainly, but cost is closer to $200. Inflation, taxes, and
not much recycle core-charge rebate.

$97 (before core charge) for the last one I installed (03/29/2021).
Group 24F
(not huge but not dinky, either). You don\'t buy oversized batteries
when you
don\'t have cold weather to worry about. And, you don\'t buy overPRICED
batteries when it will be dead in 3-4 years (from the hot temperatures),
regardless.

I just had a case of sticker shock when looking at the battery prices for a
Yaris. The various Diehards run around $200. There is a Valucraft for $100. The
1 year warranty suggests they don\'t have much confidence in their product.

Buying a \"good\" battery, here, is folly. When I first moved here (~30 yr),
my first replacement battery was a Diehard ($85) in the spirit of needing
a \"better\" battery in the midwest, northeast, mountains, etc. (for those cold
winter mornings when engine is effeectively larger load and the battery has
reduced output capability).

It lasted 4 years. *Pro-rated* replacement cost would have been more
than Costco\'s \"new\" ($45).

Switched to Costco batteries with 42 mos replacement warranty.

And, sure as shit, replaced each successive one in that time period.

Now, their replacement (before prorating) is at 36 months. So, I
replace the battery unconditionally at that interval. It is so common
that they don\'t even bother bench testing, etc. Seeing disabled cars
*in* the roadway due to battery failure is just too common in the Summer
months!

SWMBOs new Acura\'s battery failed... in 3 years. Replaced under car\'s
warranty. Three years later, replacement battery shit the bed.
(see a pattern here?)

Ah, but the replacement battery is no longer warrantied as the *car\'s*
warranty (under which it was originally installed) has expired at 5 yrs
(3+3>5).

\"No, thank you, I don\'t want one of your overpriced \'factory\' batteries
(that will likely ALSO fail in the same 3 yrs that the previous two did).
Instead, I\'ll spend half as much at Costco and (essentially) have free
lifetime replacements!\"

[Service agent was surprised that I didn\'t just let him spend a couple hundred
of my dollars... for a battery (+ labor) that would likely not carry a
warranty at the time *it* failed]

Just get a new battery every 2 years. I do it every other annual
service.



--

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts,
but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.
Francis Bacon
 
On 06/20/2022 10:32 AM, Don Y wrote:
Buying a \"good\" battery, here, is folly. When I first moved here (~30 yr),
my first replacement battery was a Diehard ($85) in the spirit of needing
a \"better\" battery in the midwest, northeast, mountains, etc. (for those
cold
winter mornings when engine is effeectively larger load and the battery has
reduced output capability).

I haven\'t bought a car battery in years. The 2007 Yaris died an untimely
death in 2011 so it doesn\'t count. I traded in the 2011 Yaris in 2020 on
a leftover 2018 with the OEM battery intact. The 2018 is still going
strong of course. I never ran it down even on sub-zero mornings. 150
degrees or more under the hood with the car just sitting in the sun is
hell on batteries.
 
On 6/20/2022 6:23 PM, rbowman wrote:
On 06/20/2022 10:32 AM, Don Y wrote:
Buying a \"good\" battery, here, is folly. When I first moved here (~30 yr),
my first replacement battery was a Diehard ($85) in the spirit of needing
a \"better\" battery in the midwest, northeast, mountains, etc. (for those
cold
winter mornings when engine is effeectively larger load and the battery has
reduced output capability).

I haven\'t bought a car battery in years. The 2007 Yaris died an untimely death
in 2011 so it doesn\'t count. I traded in the 2011 Yaris in 2020 on a leftover
2018 with the OEM battery intact. The 2018 is still going strong of course. I
never ran it down even on sub-zero mornings. 150 degrees or more under the hood
with the car just sitting in the sun is hell on batteries.

I would get 5+ years from a (good) battery when living \"north\".
Alternators.... not so much (diode trio failing often but easy
to rebuild)

Here, we plan on 3 years -- despite keeping the car in an insulated
garage (incl insulated door) and only parking it outdoors for the hour or
so each week while shopping. (of course, there is also commute time).

If you are observant and REMEMBER that batteries are consumables,
you\'ll notice when the car starts \"cranking funny\" and take steps
to replace the battery. The folks who just keep acting as if
nothing is wrong are the ones you see \"stuck in traffic\" (or in
some parking lot) when it finally gives up the ghost.

OTOH, if you are naive enough to think a car will ALWAYS \"just go\",
then you probably DESERVE that wake-up call! :>
 
On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 2:01:45 PM UTC-7, rbowman wrote:
On 06/19/2022 01:45 PM, Ed Lee wrote:
On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 12:34:52 PM UTC-7, Ed Lee wrote:
On Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 7:51:55 PM UTC-7, rbowman wrote:
On 06/18/2022 04:04 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 6/18/2022 1:39 PM, Ed Lee wrote:

I drove 12 miles up (2000ft to 4000ft) from Baker and have 6 miles
left. Turn back downhill and back to 16 miles. Pay $200 (24 miles
round trip at $10/mile) for the tow truck to bring me back up to the
turn around ramp.
I\'m not sure I understand that...

From Baker, 16 miles uphill from 2000ft to 4000ft.
OK, so you drove 12 of those miles, then realized you didn\'t have
enough charge left for the remaining 4 (16-12)? So, the \"6\" estimate
\"left\" isn\'t
trustworthy?

I had 6 miles left (the car adjust to uphill estimate). 4 more miles
uphill
and 9 miles level. No way to make it there.

But that suggests you\'d be 7 miles short of your goal. 7 is considerably
less distance for a tow than 20+!

But, turning around (divided highway with limited opportunities to do
so?) increased your range from 6 to 16 miles -- sufficient to make
the 12 miles BACK to your starting point.
First turn-around ramp is 12 miles away. I figure that i could not make
it to the next station 23
Because you started out with less than a full charge?

I charged up to 90%.

I.e., could you EVER make that 23 mile (uphill) trip on a single charge?

Unlikely, even at 100%.

Ah. This suggests you need a new/different vehicle -- or, to rethink
WHERE you want to go with your current vehicle.

We drive very little but would find a 25 mi range limit difficult
to cope with. E.g., a trip to/from the oriental market is ~15 mi each
way. We\'d not be keen on killing time, there, waiting for the car to
be ready for the return trip.

Even our short jaunts for groceries and other supplies rely on being able
to get BACK in the car and head out, again (e.g., drop off the frozen foods
at the house and continue with the remainder of the shopping)

miles away. So, i had to turn back to the Charger in Baker. A tow
truck was nearby and he gave me 20% discount from still highway
robbery of
$240. He said he need to drive 24 miles round-trip, about 30 minutes at
$500 per hour rate. I would not have paid that if i was not in a rush.
Why is that better than just continuing past the turn-around point and
running out of charge a mile or two short of your goal (and getting a
SHORT tow from that point)?

No way. The tow truck would charge 50 miles round trip from Baker. I

There\'s no tow available from the \"other end\"?
The \'other end\' from Baker would be Primm NV on the state line. It shows
a Tesla Supercharger there but I don\'t know if they would deign to
charge an elderly Leaf.
No, not for any non-Tesla.
There is a power outlet at the gas station. Enough for L1 to Jean, then DCFC to Vegas. Got enough to skip PRIMM while waiting for AAA that never showed after three hours.

But you missed the (alleged) Bonnie and Clyde Death Car...

I parked right next to the upcoming EA fast chargers. But i don\'t usually have much luck with EA. I went into the casino for WiFi. They did have some show cars on display. They are too new for Bonnie and Clyde.

Now that i have the battery pulled. A 15A barrel connector mounted on the rear of the cover and tapped into the high side of the power relay. I can start working on the battery sync. Maximum DC charging/discharging is around 60A. So, i have to split the current into the 15kWhr main and 10kWhr aux. I am thinking about 50% to 100% PWM equalizer with the main and aux battery. Perhaps parallel connectors next time, but i will have to live with 15A for now.

Regarding cooling, i am thinking about a portable air compressor feeding air from the front of the battery, and two pressure relief valves at the back.. Potentially 3x15A aux battery connectors in the middle of the relief values.
 
On 06/21/2022 11:08 AM, Ed Lee wrote:
> Regarding cooling, i am thinking about a portable air compressor feeding air from the front of the battery, and two pressure relief valves at the back. Potentially 3x15A aux battery connectors in the middle of the relief values.

Raid the ice machines at Luxor; they\'ll never notice.
 
On Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 8:46:57 PM UTC-7, rbowman wrote:
On 06/21/2022 11:08 AM, Ed Lee wrote:
Regarding cooling, i am thinking about a portable air compressor feeding air from the front of the battery, and two pressure relief valves at the back. Potentially 3x15A aux battery connectors in the middle of the relief values.
Raid the ice machines at Luxor; they\'ll never notice.

We are trying to avoid pumping liquid ice to lithium. In fact, we have a liquid filter at the compress air inlet.

Never mind about the 15A limit. The new tap should carry 30A with 3x AWG18 wires.
 
On 2022-06-18 21:57, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jun 2022 12:05:01 -0700 (PDT), Ed Lee
edward.ming.lee@gmail.com> wrote:

On Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 10:25:01 AM UTC-7, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jun 2022 06:59:20 -0700 (PDT), Ed Lee
edward....@gmail.com> wrote:

On Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 6:35:48 AM UTC-7, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:05:35 -0700 (PDT), Ed Lee
edward....@gmail.com> wrote:

I am bringing my Leaf to Vegas for someone to work on. Unfortunately, many mechanics refused to touch anything EV, even if only to drop the battery down for me to work on.

My Leaf currently have 15kWh, which is fine from the SF area to Bakersfield. However, there are three major charging gap in kWh. Mile gap is misleading. (1) and (3) are around 25 miles.

(1) 20kWh: Baker to Valley Well Rest Area.
(2) 17kWh: Boron Rest Area to Barstow.
(3) 16kWh: Bakersfield to TehaChaPi

With 25kWh (15+10) after upgrade, it should not be a problem for me anymore, but for my fellow older Leaf gamblers.

There are lots of gas stations. I don\'t even have to think about it.

But some people have to think about paying $6 to $7 gas.
Yes, a giant suv or pickup just got expensive to drive very far. That
will hurt lots of people. GM and Ford will need to play catchup when
everyone wants little Hondas and Toyotas.

The war on fossil fuels isn\'t making a lot of friends.

Well, after dropping off my Leaf, i am going to drive my Son\'s Lexus 300 (16 miles / gal) 1000 miles to Seatle, burning 60 gal of gas and $370. I am entitled to it, after saving all the carbon quota with my Leaf for my son to burn.

My Audi gets 22 mpg! But nobody gets great mileage driving the hills
of San Francisco.

I just drove from Geneva to Locarno, which goes through the Swiss Alps.
Amazingly, I got 48 mpg on that trip. My Audi is not a small one!

I got only 41 mpg on the way back. The slope down from the Simplon pass
is too steep to recover all energy invested on the way up.

Jeroen Belleman
 

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