HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
#11
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
Siema Lukasz,
I thought I sent you a Private Message but can't find a record of it in my user panel, probably a "senior moment"
Why don't you try to send me one?
I can provide you with the info, photos and schematics of the charger I built.
To begin with try this thread: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...dummies-30598/
and this: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...charger-30096/
Look forward to hearing from you.
I thought I sent you a Private Message but can't find a record of it in my user panel, probably a "senior moment"
Why don't you try to send me one?
I can provide you with the info, photos and schematics of the charger I built.
To begin with try this thread: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...dummies-30598/
and this: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...charger-30096/
Look forward to hearing from you.
#12
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
Siema Lukasz,
I thought I sent you a Private Message but can't find a record of it in my user panel, probably a "senior moment"
Why don't you try to send me one?
I can provide you with the info, photos and schematics of the charger I built.
To begin with try this thread: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...dummies-30598/
and this: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...charger-30096/
Look forward to hearing from you.
I thought I sent you a Private Message but can't find a record of it in my user panel, probably a "senior moment"
Why don't you try to send me one?
I can provide you with the info, photos and schematics of the charger I built.
To begin with try this thread: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...dummies-30598/
and this: https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f...charger-30096/
Look forward to hearing from you.
thanks sent PM just now
#13
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
Hello all.
I was able to remove the battery and build a simple charger. To what exact levels charge and discharge the battery pack?
Grid charge to peak voltage for about 24 hours.
Discharge to 120V with 2X 100W or 200W Tungsten bulbs - don't get the high efficiency type.
Replace with 2X 60W bulbs and discharge to < 2V (may take > 8 hours)
Briefly grid charge pack up to 132V (should only take a few minutes)
Disconnect grid charger, disconnect 12V for 30 seconds, reconnect 12V.
Start car and allow it to charge to full SOC
Do 5 & 6 a total of 3 times
Reconnect grid charger, top it off with the grid charger (5-8 hours). Conduct 5 & 6 again after grid charging.
Since the battery is disassembled, I skip the charging step in the car with the engine. But do I really have to discharge the battery to 2 volts????
I was able to remove the battery and build a simple charger. To what exact levels charge and discharge the battery pack?
Grid charge to peak voltage for about 24 hours.
Discharge to 120V with 2X 100W or 200W Tungsten bulbs - don't get the high efficiency type.
Replace with 2X 60W bulbs and discharge to < 2V (may take > 8 hours)
Briefly grid charge pack up to 132V (should only take a few minutes)
Disconnect grid charger, disconnect 12V for 30 seconds, reconnect 12V.
Start car and allow it to charge to full SOC
Do 5 & 6 a total of 3 times
Reconnect grid charger, top it off with the grid charger (5-8 hours). Conduct 5 & 6 again after grid charging.
Since the battery is disassembled, I skip the charging step in the car with the engine. But do I really have to discharge the battery to 2 volts????
#14
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
Just follow the procedure Lukasz.
Keep an eye on the temperature and let the fan blow through the pack to ensure inner cells don't get too hot.
I guess you will install a permanent charging harness while replacing the battery so, you can perform steps 5 & 6 with the pack back in situ.
Well done and good luck!
Keep an eye on the temperature and let the fan blow through the pack to ensure inner cells don't get too hot.
I guess you will install a permanent charging harness while replacing the battery so, you can perform steps 5 & 6 with the pack back in situ.
Well done and good luck!
#15
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
I'm going to chime in on this one as it looks like it came from me originally, and I no longer recommend it.
Regarding that specific process, rather than 132V, charge for 2-4 hours before starting in-car. In-car charging is beneficial, but a pain if you can't drive the cooling fan during grid charges and have to remove/install the pack to do so.
Deep discharges to extremely low voltages have diminished value and run a much higher risk of driving an ailing pack to permanent failure.
Multiple shallow discharges are more effective and less stressful to cells.
Generally, low current reversals don't hurt these cells UNTIL they have been reversed to the point that both electrodes are reversed. This occurs at about 50% of capacity, i.e., if a cell has 3000mAh of usable capacity, once you have discharged 4500mAh through it, it will be permanently damaged.
Recondition as follows:
1) Grid charge for 24 hours
2) High wattage (100W+) discharge to 144V - NOTE THE TIME to discharge to this level.
3) Low wattage (<60W) discharge for the sooner of 5 hours or 96V.
4) Grid charge for 30 hours @ 350mA or 10,400mAh input at < 500mA
Repeat steps 2-4 a total of 3 times noting discharge time to 144V. You should notice an improvement with each cycle. The first discharge improves the second by a notable amount. The second improves the third discharge a small amount - this is confirmation you are done.
When it's effective, the discharge times to 144V increase, and the discharge times to 96V decrease.
With the time to 144V, one can estimate the actual pack capacity.
IF the above process doesn't yield acceptable results, a fourth very deep discharge is worth trying.
It is critical that a pack be cooled during charging. Period.
Regarding that specific process, rather than 132V, charge for 2-4 hours before starting in-car. In-car charging is beneficial, but a pain if you can't drive the cooling fan during grid charges and have to remove/install the pack to do so.
Deep discharges to extremely low voltages have diminished value and run a much higher risk of driving an ailing pack to permanent failure.
Multiple shallow discharges are more effective and less stressful to cells.
Generally, low current reversals don't hurt these cells UNTIL they have been reversed to the point that both electrodes are reversed. This occurs at about 50% of capacity, i.e., if a cell has 3000mAh of usable capacity, once you have discharged 4500mAh through it, it will be permanently damaged.
Recondition as follows:
1) Grid charge for 24 hours
2) High wattage (100W+) discharge to 144V - NOTE THE TIME to discharge to this level.
3) Low wattage (<60W) discharge for the sooner of 5 hours or 96V.
4) Grid charge for 30 hours @ 350mA or 10,400mAh input at < 500mA
Repeat steps 2-4 a total of 3 times noting discharge time to 144V. You should notice an improvement with each cycle. The first discharge improves the second by a notable amount. The second improves the third discharge a small amount - this is confirmation you are done.
When it's effective, the discharge times to 144V increase, and the discharge times to 96V decrease.
With the time to 144V, one can estimate the actual pack capacity.
IF the above process doesn't yield acceptable results, a fourth very deep discharge is worth trying.
It is critical that a pack be cooled during charging. Period.
#17
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
Thanks for acknowledging that bit. That should be fine. Note that I prefer to stand the pack on the styrofoam end to improve airflow. When it's flat like in your picture, you get a lot of dead air space at the top. When it's on the end, it almost eliminates it.
I'd also really like to hear that you are NOT going to discharge to 2V.
I'd also really like to hear that you are NOT going to discharge to 2V.
#18
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
Thanks for acknowledging that bit. That should be fine. Note that I prefer to stand the pack on the styrofoam end to improve airflow. When it's flat like in your picture, you get a lot of dead air space at the top. When it's on the end, it almost eliminates it.
I'd also really like to hear that you are NOT going to discharge to 2V.
I'd also really like to hear that you are NOT going to discharge to 2V.
I will try to move the battery to a vertical position. And I AM NOT GOING to discharging the battery to 2 V haha .
I will record all discharging to 144V times
Once again thank you for the advice
#19
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
After several hours, the voltage has risen to 184.4V and since then has not increased at all. what's worse Despite the attached charger the voltage dropped to 183.2 V it was like this
165 V - start
184,4 - in about 5-6 hours
184,2 - next hour
183,8 - next hour
183,2 - after night (7 hours)
The pack was cooled all the time
165 V - start
184,4 - in about 5-6 hours
184,2 - next hour
183,8 - next hour
183,2 - after night (7 hours)
The pack was cooled all the time
#20
Re: HCH2 - IMA battery reconditioning
So, 15 hours? Keep going.
Can you feel slightly warmer air exiting the pack?
I forgot this was an HCH2. Process modified as follows:
1) Grid charge for 19-25 hours
2) High wattage (100W+) discharge to 158V - NOTE THE TIME to discharge to this level.
3) Low wattage (<60W) discharge for the sooner of 5 hours or 106V.
4) Grid charge for 25 hours @ 350mA or 8,800mAh input at < 500mA
Can you feel slightly warmer air exiting the pack?
I forgot this was an HCH2. Process modified as follows:
1) Grid charge for 19-25 hours
2) High wattage (100W+) discharge to 158V - NOTE THE TIME to discharge to this level.
3) Low wattage (<60W) discharge for the sooner of 5 hours or 106V.
4) Grid charge for 25 hours @ 350mA or 8,800mAh input at < 500mA