Hangar Flying => Hangar Flying => Topic started by: atfloyd on April 23, 2007, 02:38:39 PM
Title: Battery
Post by: atfloyd on April 23, 2007, 02:38:39 PM
Any recommendations for a battery to use in an extended nose EZ.
Title: Battery
Post by: Waiter on April 23, 2007, 04:08:26 PM
The only battery I would EVER use in an airplane.
Odessey PC925MJT
Odessey makes several different sizes. The thing I love about this battery, you can mount it in ANY position, even upside down if you wanted to. No spillage, no acid. and Plenty of OMPH.
You can deep cycle it, no problem, put a charge back on it and your good to go. Of course I know you would never leave the master ON :-)
Waiter
Title: Battery
Post by: GlennBob on April 24, 2007, 12:38:01 AM
I wanted to instal IDIOT lights in my easy, . . in case my alt. died or such and my voltage dropped. I wanted to know right away since I don't have mags, but two lightspeed plazma units. Turns out, . .I already had a B & C voltage regulator and all I had to do was run a wire from ( I think ) the 5th terminal to my light and then to the + pos. of the battery. When the alt is singing, . .the light is off, . .when it's not, . .the light flashes !! ! This is a great reminder if the engine is off and the master is left on. The bulb flashes fast at first and slows as the voltage drops. This should help remind the situation.
Glennbob
Title: Battery
Post by: GlennBob on April 24, 2007, 12:45:34 AM
There was a link that I had about an experimental battery. Do a google on " Kilacycle.com " and watch the video of the electric drag motorcycle. They had some info on a 12volt unit being tested in a Chevy Van, but the link I had expired. Wasn't cheap but was supposed to be super performer.
Glennbob
Title: Battery
Post by: Juan Rivera on April 25, 2007, 08:29:53 PM
I have used two B&C batteries. Never had any problems. I like to support the small companies that make us quality products.
Title: Battery
Post by: Hangar14 on April 25, 2007, 09:14:54 PM
Well, I said I was going to do it and we finally got the prototype built.
We just built a 600 cranking amp, 11.5 A-hr, battery that weighs just 3.7 pounds. I've been testing it in my GMC van for the past week here in the Denver Winter. It snaps the van right over every morning without a problem. The van cranks faster than it did with the standard lead-acid battery.
It is smaller than the Odyssey 680 so it fit in the same battery box with a couple of foam blocks for spacers. The battery has four status LEDs that tell you the cell balancing electronics are working OK. We are using A123 Systems M1 cells with our own custom battery management electronics. The A123 Systems cells are proven to be the safest Li-Ion cells on the market. No problems with fires (like laptop cells) because the chemistry they use is completely different.
The battery can be damaged by running it completely flat (like leaving the master on) and holding the battery below 8 volts for a long time. It can also be damaged by charging it over 15.0 volts. It will likely still function after such abuse, but it won't be nearly as good as it was originally. If you don't abuse it, it should last you for many years.
I think we will be in production in about a month, maybe two.
Specs:
3.7 lbs 600 cranking amps 11.5 amp-hr Approximate maximum dimensions: 3" wide, 5" long, 7" tall (including terminals) Charging voltage = 13.8 to 15.0 volts (anywhere in this range is OK) Nominal voltage = 13.2 volts (Just a touch higher than your typical lead-acid, so it spins the starter a touch faster.) Cell cycle life rated at 2000 cycles (80% DOD, 90% capacity remaining) 10,000 cycles (80% DOD with 50% capacity remaining) @25 C Cell specs:
Maintenance free No heavy metals (iron-phosphate type cells)
At this time, we estimate the retail price will be $595. (Yeah, I know this is not cheap, but this is the state-of-the-art battery technology so the parts to make it are not cheap.)
Here is a picture of the prototype. We have it in a clear Lexan case so we can keep an eye on it. The production battery will have a smaller opaque case with a clear top lid (terminal end.) http://www.killacycle.com/photos/aircraft-battery/Prototype1InVan.JPG
We have been racing these cells in the KillaCycle for about a year, so we know _all_ about them.
<http://www.KillaCycle.com"http://www.KillaCycle.com>http://www.KillaCycle.c om (Be sure to watch the movie clip.)
We figured that most folks would want a battery that had the cranking amps to easily spin the starter and would not care much about the a-hrs.
The cost is directly proportional to the amp-hrs. If we were to go to 16 amp-hrs (it's easy to do) the cost would go up to about $850. The cranking amps would also go up in proportion too. Figure about $1 per cranking amp, and about $50 per amp-hr and you won't be far off. The steps are 2.3 a-hr and 120 cranking amp increments. You pick.
This battery REALLY spins the starter in my GMC van. When I turn on the key in the morning, the battery voltage is typically 13.4 volts (instead of 12.8 volts.)
Anyone in the Denver area that flies daily interested in flight testing one of these? You would get to keep the battery and write anything you want about it (good or bad) as long as it was truthful. You would have to inspect it before and after each flight including noting the voltage and the BMS indicator light status. You must sign the usual liability waiver we are all now accustomed to of course. :-)
You need to isolate it from over and under voltage as much as you would your present sealed lead-acid battery. I would suggest a buzzer connected to a door switch to warn you that you have left the master on. You should also have a warning light on the panel for over and under voltage. You should have these already.
Keep in mind that this battery will withstand over and under voltage. It just "wounds" it much like such mistreatment "wounds" your present sealed lead-acid battery. This battery will take the abuse without creating an additional hazard. Other, less safe, types of Li-Ion batteries will do very bad things (like burst into flames) if you subject them to abuse.
You wouldn't want to use anything other than a warning system for over and under voltage. This would cause a hazard greater than letting the battery "take the abuse". There is no danger in abusing the battery other than reducing its capacity for later use.
To give you an idea of how tough these batteries are, we routinely heat these up to 100 C (212 F) in the bike. We routinely draw 50% more than their rated current. We routinely go below the minimum voltage (briefly.) We have accidentally over charged some of these cells. Yet, despite this abuse, we have never had to replace a single one of the 880 cells in the bike.
These are not the delicate Li-Ion cells that they put in your laptop or cellphone.
Bill Dube' bike@KillaCycle.com
Title: Battery
Post by: GlennBob on April 25, 2007, 10:38:13 PM
Just like the other link, . . .this one is expired too.
Glennbob
P. S. Hope the battery performs better than this ! !
Title: Battery
Post by: Hangar14 on April 26, 2007, 12:15:05 PM
http://www.killacycle.com
Title: battery
Post by: mwilli7119 on April 26, 2007, 12:28:56 PM
I couldn't find anything on the website about airplane batteries. Some very pretty position lights, but no batteries.
Mike
Title: Battery
Post by: miketdrew on April 26, 2007, 03:08:06 PM
Try looking under the Killacycle Photo tab on their website. 12v racing battery.
Title: Odyssey Batteries
Post by: flyingwaldo on April 26, 2007, 03:19:14 PM
I've been very impressed with the Odyssey battery that was recommended when I was looking for a replacement. I got the smaller one, 680 vs. the 925 for ease of mounting right now. Will look into the 925 for the extra weight when switching engines this fall. It's remarkable such a little battery can crank an O-320 so very easily. Can be mounted in any position as it is sealed.
Title: killacycle
Post by: mwilli7119 on April 27, 2007, 09:41:23 AM
Ok, is this for real? Is anybody flying with it? It looks great, but I don't want to killame.