battery use in the cold?

[aronde]

I have a 10amphour LiMn battery and I've noticed since winter hits I get a drop off in power when heading up hills in sub or near zero temps. Anyone else have similar experience? I've tried keeping the battery inside at night and still have same issue. Seems ok though when it warms up a bit.

[Joeblake]

When you say "drop off in power", does it just affect acceleration and/or top speed, or does it reduce the range before you have to recharge it?


Have you tried using a hot water bottle? (Seriously).

Joe

[aronde]

I have it on full throttle up the hill and it just dies off then comes back to full power after 10 - 20 seconds. And no have not tried the hot water bottle but it sounds like a good idea!

[Joeblake]

I'm not familiar with the particular batteries involved, but since most batteries involve some sort of reversible chemical reaction, a cold spell can slow the reaction down, then as the battery warms up (probably a by-product of the reaction) things return to normal.

If the hot water bottle idea works, perhaps you could make up a sort of water jacket of plastic tubing which wraps around the battery back, then before you take off, just pour hot water into it. Then when everything is working fine just dump the water out (in a "green" fashion ) to reduce unnecessary weight.


Who knows, perhaps it might even be a useful technique in summer (using cold water) to prevent the batteries overheating under load.

Joe

[Kalgrm]

If the hot water bottle idea works, perhaps you could make up a sort of water jacket of plastic tubing which wraps around the battery back, then before you take off, just pour hot water into it. Then when everything is working fine just dump the water out (in a "green" fashion ) to reduce unnecessary weight.

Kill two birds with one stone and withhold the morning ablutions until the bike ride?

[Joeblake]

Well, I wasn't going to be so indelicate as to suggest it but ...

Joe

[aronde]

LOL - reducing weight is not something I normally worry about. I have a Christiania Trike and two kids to pedal around in it!

[Kalgrm]

Well, I wasn't going to be so indelicate as to suggest it but ...

Joe

"Don't cross the beams!!!!"

[ColinOldnCranky]

"Don't cross the beams!!!!"

Grahame, does anyone even remember that movie? I certainly expect that sigourney weaver wishes we didn't.

[thomashouseman]

"Don't cross the beams!!!!"

Grahame, does anyone even remember that movie? I certainly expect that sigourney weaver wishes we didn't.

Err $16 on blu-ray! http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ghostbust ... -ray/3661/

[martinjs]

Remember the movie? I bought the double pack last year(Ghost buster 1 & 2), with the special green glow in the dark ghost writing on the cover. Still a funny movie.
The sound track to the original had some good music on it too.

Martin