After discharging the lowest cell down to 2.7, the module was rested for 2 weeks and today all of the cell voltages were read again. All of the voltages had drifted back up to around 3 volts with the highest being 3.096 and the lowest, 2.068 volts. The lowest half cell shifted from #5 to #9. The two flood lights were hooked up and the lowest half cell was taken down to 2.5 volts. Then the 40 watt bulb was connected and the voltage started increasing again. Once the voltage stabilizes, the 4 watt night light will be connected and the voltage drained until the lowest half cell is down to 2.5 again. Hopefully after a couple weeks rest, all of the half cells will be below 3 volts and I can start charging all of them up to 3 volts. This is kind of like top balancing the bottom and seems to work best to get them to all level out at the same voltage. Jack Rickard at EVTV reported that he was using 3 volts as his bottom balance voltage but this is before his module caught on fire, so I may check with him to find out what voltage he is using now.

Until next time,

Randy

BATTERIES, BATTERIES, ADD MORE BATERIES!

The last Better Place battery module is currently being bottom balanced so it can be synchronized into the Fiero's battery pack and I thought it would be good to show you where I gained my knowledge on bottom balancing lithium batteries.

Below is the presentation on lithium batteries from EVCCON 2014:

HOME IMPROVEMENT

The Fiero project has been on hold as I am trying to do a little home improvement. Every couple months, I receive a notice from my electric supplier, America Electric Power reminding me that my energy consumption is higher than average for my size home, so decided to upgrade our water heater to one of the new heat pump energy efficient models. I found a great deal online from Goedekers, an online appliance retail company that offered a GE GEH50DFEJSR GeoSpring Hybrid Electric Water Heater for around $500 less than available at Lowes or Home Depot. In addition, since the water heater is listed as Energy Star compliant, American Electric Power is offering me an additional $500 rebate on the unit.

GE GEH50DFEJSR

The unit is also listed as saving the average households $376 every year in water heating expenses and in my case, believe the savings could be much greater.

The weather in Central Ohio is supposed to be in the 70s all week, so hopefully a little more progress on the battery module bottom balancing this week.

Thanks for stopping by,

Randy