[ausev] Cold weather and lead acid batteries

[JohnFM]

That's a pretty good trick. One question, what do you mean by
paralleling it across the charger "input"?


On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 8:01 AM, Ken Thomas <kenscircus at aol.com> wrote:
> I got some resistance wire, 25' of HWR-21168 from
> www.refrigeratorparts.com and a couple pop-switch thermostats, stock
> number 802-STO-60, from www.mouser.com.
>
> All 25' of the resistance wire was snaked around the batteries.  The
> batteries are split into two compartments so a thermostat is installed
> in series with each section of resistance wire.  Each compartment gets
> 1/2 of the 25' but it is all wired in series.  So, either thermostat
> will turn the whole thing off.
>
> The heater wire system draws 1.9 amps at 120 volts or 228 Watts.  The
> wire is 2.5 Ohms per foot.  The thermostats will keep the compartments
> at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  Still a bit cool but much better than
> 30 degrees.  It will never turn on above 50 degrees.
>
> The 1.9 Amps is low enough that it can be paralleled across the charger
> input without undue mains load while charging.  I just leave it plugged
> in all night (which I always do anyway) and it keeps the batteries from
> getting lethargically cold.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ken
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