Enginer kit proper break-in charging cycles

Hunter1 · 08-19-2009, 07:20 PM

Thought I'd try creating a new thread so I don't bother the rest of the people dealing with other issues on the Enginer kit. I've been trying to follow Jack's and Joanna's (Plugmein2) advice and nudging my 2Kwt pack up.

Previously, I was constantly plugging and unplugging the kit for 2 hours. Then letting it balance, reporting the readings, then rinse, repeat. Today, I've been watching it like a hawk, trying to get the overall (lowest cell) up as high as possible so when it balances I end up with a higher pack. After 2 hours I checked on it, and every half hour thereafter. I'm now at just past 5 hours charging straight through. Strangely, each time I've checked on it, it's becoming more and more balanced while still plugged in!

Could this actually mean that I've properly broken in the kit and if so how come my highest cell is 3.397? I figured out that 3.7 is considered high but what is the optimal range to keep the packs charged too? Thanks!

krousdb · 08-19-2009, 08:16 PM

3.75V is when the Balancer will alarm, which is 90% SOC. 3.40V is only about 70% SOC. What is your lowest cell voltage?

Hunter1 · 08-19-2009, 08:21 PM

Thanks for responding!

My lowest cell is 3.3 something. I just unplugged the car cause it's now 6.25 hours and it's making me nervous leaving it plugged in. One of the balancers is now showing a zero, I tried pushing the start/stop button to get the readings and it won't do anything, the other is showing a .011 as the last number and it's high and low are as well in the 3.3 range

krousdb · 08-19-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter1

Thanks for responding!

My lowest cell is 3.3 something. I just unplugged the car cause it's now 6.25 hours and it's making me nervous leaving it plugged in. One of the balancers is now showing a zero, I tried pushing the start/stop button to get the readings and it won't do anything, the other is showing a .011 as the last number and it's high and low are as well in the 3.3 range

Do you have a digital voltmeter? You should verify the readings on the balancer with a voltmeter. It could be that the actual readings are higher. Or it may be that you have to cycle the batteries before you will be able to get to a higher capacity. If you have had them charging for 6 hours, they should be fully charged by now.

cabledave · 08-19-2009, 09:29 PM

5 hours seems like a very long charge for a 2kw system.

Are you sure your charger was working? Did you hear the fan running while it was plugged in?

You might want to try swapping the balancers and see if the one giving you a zero does the same thing on the other set.

Hunter1 · 08-19-2009, 10:59 PM

Last time I checked on it again, same thing, still showing a zero on one of them. So, I unplugged it and plugged it back in. It did it's LIFE thing then I pushed the on/off button once and it cycled. That one is staying in the mid 3.3's pretty much, it had a variance of .025 The other one was pretty much blank and lit the red dot off and on. It had a variance of .007 or so. So, I left it unplugged and think it's okay for tonight I suppose.

I've decided I'm actually going to do a forced trip in traffic at rush hour so I can get a better idea how it performs under normal every day conditions most will encounter. I looked at the clock tonight and said to my roommate "Oh darn, I missed rush hour" I don't think I've ever said that before in my life.

cabledave · 08-19-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter1

"Oh darn, I missed rush hour" I don't think I've ever said that before in my life.

I don't think anyone in LA has said that til now

plugmein2 · 08-20-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter1

i've decided i'm actually going to do a forced trip in traffic at rush hour so i can get a better idea how it performs under normal every day conditions most will encounter. I looked at the clock tonight and said to my roommate "oh darn, i missed rush hour" i don't think i've ever said that before in my life.

lol!!!!!

Hunter1 · 08-21-2009, 01:41 AM

Today, I had to use the freeway but there wasn't any traffic

I'm trying to do that pulse and glide thingie. I am noticing now that I can stay in EV mode a lot more on city streets with even slight uphills under 40 mph if my Enginer is fully charged. Feels awesome, like an electric car, but then today, I did a lot more driving then usual, and had the air on and it was warm (86*) and eventually I got the 3 beep alert that I was running low on juice. So, I turned it off. I kept trying to turn it back on after I thought it charged back up again, but it kept running out of juice.

So I left it off. It felt like eating a great ice cream cone and then all of a sudden your tongue pushes the ice cream ball out and onto the concrete. Party over. Drove home as an ordinary great Prius. Not exactly turning back into a pumpkin, but I did loose my EV grin.

plugmein2 · 08-21-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter1

Party over. Drove home as an ordinary great Prius. Not exactly turning back into a pumpkin, but I did loose my EV grin.

LOL!! I know exactly how you feel. It is such a wonderful feeling driving in EV. It is so smooth and quiet. When the ICE has to come on, I feel a jolt then rumble..rumble of the gas engine. It makes me feel like I have been transported back to the 19th century. "Beam me back Scotty!" heehee.

JOANNA

08-19-2009, 07:20 PM	#1
Hunter1 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 32 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Navigation Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts Friends: 2	Enginer kit proper break-in charging cycles Thought I'd try creating a new thread so I don't bother the rest of the people dealing with other issues on the Enginer kit. I've been trying to follow Jack's and Joanna's (Plugmein2) advice and nudging my 2Kwt pack up. Previously, I was constantly plugging and unplugging the kit for 2 hours. Then letting it balance, reporting the readings, then rinse, repeat. Today, I've been watching it like a hawk, trying to get the overall (lowest cell) up as high as possible so when it balances I end up with a higher pack. After 2 hours I checked on it, and every half hour thereafter. I'm now at just past 5 hours charging straight through. Strangely, each time I've checked on it, it's becoming more and more balanced while still plugged in! Could this actually mean that I've properly broken in the kit and if so how come my highest cell is 3.397? I figured out that 3.7 is considered high but what is the optimal range to keep the packs charged too? Thanks! Last edited by Hunter1; 08-22-2009 at 01:22 PM.

08-19-2009, 08:16 PM	#2
krousdb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 405 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: I Package: #7 Thanks: 9 Thanked 297 Times in 185 Posts Friends: 10	Re: Enginer kit proper break-in charging cycles 3.75V is when the Balancer will alarm, which is 90% SOC. 3.40V is only about 70% SOC. What is your lowest cell voltage?

08-19-2009, 08:21 PM	#3
Hunter1 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 32 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Navigation Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Enginer kit proper break-in charging cycles Thanks for responding! My lowest cell is 3.3 something. I just unplugged the car cause it's now 6.25 hours and it's making me nervous leaving it plugged in. One of the balancers is now showing a zero, I tried pushing the start/stop button to get the readings and it won't do anything, the other is showing a .011 as the last number and it's high and low are as well in the 3.3 range

08-19-2009, 09:29 PM	#5
cabledave Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 47 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: Thanks: 3 Thanked 40 Times in 31 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Enginer kit proper break-in charging cycles 5 hours seems like a very long charge for a 2kw system. Are you sure your charger was working? Did you hear the fan running while it was plugged in? You might want to try swapping the balancers and see if the one giving you a zero does the same thing on the other set.

08-19-2009, 10:59 PM	#6
Hunter1 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 32 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Navigation Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Enginer kit proper break-in charging cycles Last time I checked on it again, same thing, still showing a zero on one of them. So, I unplugged it and plugged it back in. It did it's LIFE thing then I pushed the on/off button once and it cycled. That one is staying in the mid 3.3's pretty much, it had a variance of .025 The other one was pretty much blank and lit the red dot off and on. It had a variance of .007 or so. So, I left it unplugged and think it's okay for tonight I suppose. I've decided I'm actually going to do a forced trip in traffic at rush hour so I can get a better idea how it performs under normal every day conditions most will encounter. I looked at the clock tonight and said to my roommate "Oh darn, I missed rush hour" I don't think I've ever said that before in my life.

08-21-2009, 01:41 AM	#9
Hunter1 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 32 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Navigation Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Enginer kit proper break-in charging cycles Today, I had to use the freeway but there wasn't any traffic I'm trying to do that pulse and glide thingie. I am noticing now that I can stay in EV mode a lot more on city streets with even slight uphills under 40 mph if my Enginer is fully charged. Feels awesome, like an electric car, but then today, I did a lot more driving then usual, and had the air on and it was warm (86*) and eventually I got the 3 beep alert that I was running low on juice. So, I turned it off. I kept trying to turn it back on after I thought it charged back up again, but it kept running out of juice. So I left it off. It felt like eating a great ice cream cone and then all of a sudden your tongue pushes the ice cream ball out and onto the concrete. Party over. Drove home as an ordinary great Prius. Not exactly turning back into a pumpkin, but I did loose my EV grin.

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