increasing NiCad battery capacity

[Norm]

It was proposed that 11 cells in series for a 12 volt Ni-Cad batteries would
be charged and have greater capacity in the ideal range of voltage
since all my Ni-Cads have all been re arranged with 10 cells in series and
it is easier to do them this way ....for a work around this I made a little
battery pack to add to each battery pack.....I goofed on this one should
have made seperate one for each of 2cells in parallel but you can get the
general idea.....
 
Norm.

[ghurd]

I like the 11 cell NiCad pack because of the voltages.
G-

[Norm]

Yep...I like the 11 because of the voltage too, especially when it
comes to an inverter that uses a narrower range of voltage.

For a 20 cell I could just parallel 2 cells with quick connects on top and bottom.
for any of the ones I already have made as I deem necessary in my case for
the 3 LED PB lights I don't need them they only drop from 13.5 to 12.8 in 8 to 10
hrs. then I charge them back 2 units at a time in 10 minutes.

But I think I'll try converters to 11 cells when I experiment with an inverter and
a 13 watt 110v CFL !

You got me convinced before I've even tried it....Thanks Ghurd !
Norm.
BTW
 http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
David Butcher couldn't believe that I could pedal generate 100 watt /hrs.
in one day
when I've only been posting 50 watt/hrs per day
it was simple....I just pedaled for 2 hrs. instead of 1hr.
ever since then he's left it at 100 and won't enter any more until I give him
a "good story" but then I can't get him thru his E-Mail either

.......So I guess I'll just record my watt hrs. on my calender here.
according to my digital speedometer the big wheel has traveled 150 miles
at 5mph ....each mile is about 10 watt/hrs.....5miles per day !
  Making you tired ?
Norm.

[Fused]

Hi Norm
Let us know how they work!

Great way to recycle and exercise, let alone make usable power.

Fused

 

[dave ames]

hi norm,

http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
David Butcher couldn't believe that I could pedal generate 100 watt /hrs.
in one day

had a look at your virtual gym..good fun!

our pedal power "guru" may have a hard time believing you, but we don't!  i bet your current ECM rig is far more efficient than anything he is building.

it's all good fun!
cheers, dave

[Norm]

Thanks for the replies....going to try my special battery 12v 20 amp/hr with an
inverter to power a 13 watt CFL.....charged to 13.5v. see how long it last.
 Then a special add on 16 paralleled cells  in series and charged to 13.5v again
and see how long it last the second time may take a couple of days but will get
back to you on the results.

Norm.

[dnix71]

I'm building battery packs for an ebike and at 24v nominal I settled on 23 cells. That should allow taking the pack just below 1.1v/cell and still be in the same range as the sla it will be paralleled with.

The battery charger that comes with the bike goes to almost 30v which is 1.3v/cell on the 23 cell NiCad pack. 1.45v is actually "100%" but that should be close enough for used cells.

[Bruce S]

Hey Norm;
 Those look great!
I didn't like the instability of the 11 cell sets, But I'm no where near as good at this; as you are.
For lighting, I use the 10 cell setup, just like the cells built for the Philippines trip, I then link them up for extra Amperage.
And to make my soldering life easier I use 12 cells for the inverter sets. This is a little high, but once the inverter is on, the voltage is low enough not to give over-voltage errors, at least my smallish ones don't haven't really tried them on the bigger 1200 watt unit.

Cheers;
Bruce S
 

[Norm]

I tried my ....
"Thanks for the replies....going to try my special battery 12v 20 amp/hr with an
inverter to power a 13 watt CFL.....charged to 13.5v. see how long it last."
Just 1/2 of it (10 amp/hr.) started at 13.3 took an hour for the 13 watt CFL to
suck the voltage down to 11.9 but when disconnected ....jumped back up to 12.2v
and now 16 hrs. later it's at 12.7 ....so going to hook it up again to see how long....
BTW when does a small inverter (145watt) kick out because of low voltage?? ...or is that hard
on the CFL if the secondary voltage get too low.
Since the inverter is small just has fins to keep it cool ....no fan motor so I plugged it in
to the CFL table lamp by the couch and the wife didn't know it until I told her.
.....and I did it all myself ! pedal power lights! I feel sure that I could easily power this light
being able to keep the battery up in voltage probably even get ahead of it !   and take a
coffee break .....coffee made thru pedal power.....
BTW do you have a 12 coffee maker and how many $$$? and what watt altho I imagine the
lower the watts....the longer it takes?

Norm.

Oh yeah I was so anxious to see how the battery,inverter,CFL would work that I put alligator clips on the cigarette lighter
plug 2 little loops of wire for the ground ....so one goes to that loop on one side and the pos.
goes to the loop on the other side !    WHOOPS oh no wrong wrong as it melted the 16 guage
wire at the terminal that it was looped over....and with a puff of magik smoke quickly disconnected
itself....luckily the wife wasn't there right at that time.... when she did appear the smoke had
dispersed only the smell remaining..... "what's that smell ? Were you using the soldering iron? "
......(me), Yeah....   ( Her) Oh! ....did you unplug it? ......Yep !

[ghurd]

12V coffee maker?  $20 to $40?
I have a 4~5 cup Max Burton brand. 
It says 200W, 12 minutes(?), and "do NOT opeate without water".
New... in a really old box.   
I never tried it, and I don't want it.

I think its an older version of this-
http://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/6973.htm

G-

[Norm]

So it's for sale?
sounds like fun
The most fun I have is when the power goes out
and I have all my batteries charged up.....now with
my pedal power I can even charge up my batteries
even when they aren't....
I've virtual traveled 170 miles in 34 days.
BTW Thinking of getting a new furnace and I imagine
the blowers and blower motors are much more efficient
where the motor only uses a like 300 watts?
Norm

[Norm]

I'm building battery packs for an ebike and at 24v nominal I settled on 23 cells. That should allow taking the pack just below 1.1v/cell and still be in the same range as the sla it will be paralleled with.

The battery charger that comes with the bike goes to almost 30v which is 1.3v/cell on the 23 cell NiCad pack. 1.45v is actually "100%" but that should be close enough for used cells.

Excuse me for missing you earlier....yes 1.3 /cell is a nice voltage puts them in the the optimum
range as far as can figure I usually charge charge my 3 PB LEDs with 2.6 amp/hr up to about 1.35/cell
with about 60 ma. they hold up for 8/12 hrs. very well.  (10s 2p)
   Have got my 20 Amp/Hr. battery  (10s 16p) ready to try out on the 140 watt inverter/13 watt CFL
but will have to wait until tomorrow to try....figure it will last at least 4 hrs. or longer?
 Then for the extra 16p in series to it. Should have the results both ways by thursday .
Thanks for the comment dnix71 !
Norm.

[ghurd]

"So it's for sale?"
Sure.  Why not.
Consider it sold to Norm.
G-

[TomW]

"So it's for sale?"
Sure.  Why not.
Consider it sold to Norm.
G-

G;

Be sure you get enough for it!

Times be tough.

Tom

[ghurd]

Times be tough.

And its a lot worse than it was, at least here.   
G-