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From: "George Lendich" <lendich@optusnet.com.au>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
References: <list-1815503@logan.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Finally built - 3.7 lb, 600 cranking amp,  11.5 A-hr battery
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 07:54:14 +1000
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 Bill can you isolate it from low voltage and over charging?
George ( down under)

> 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. :-)
>
> I'd flight test it myself, but I'm still building the wings on my RV-7. 
> ;-)
>
> Bill Dube'
>
> bike@KillaCycle.com
>
> At 10:05 AM 2/6/2007, you wrote:
>>That is indeed impressive, Bill. Weights about 10 lbs less than the 
>>Odyssey PC680, equivalent cranking amps, bit more voltage, so a bit better 
>>power, only 5 A-hr less than Odyssey.  So looks like you could double the 
>>weight 7.4 lbs and have MORE A-Hr and still 1/2 the weight of the Odyssey.
>>
>>If I were to make a suggestion, it would be to look at the marketing 
>>advantage of having more A-hr than the Odyssey at 1/2 the weight (If it 
>>scales that way).  The aircraft market and racers are probably two areas 
>>that would be interested in that kind of weight savings at that price. 
>>Just my 0.02
>>
>>
>>Ed
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Dube" <billdube@killacycle.com>
>>To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
>>Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 11:21 AM
>>Subject: [FlyRotary] Finally built - 3.7 lb, 600 cranking amp, 11.5 A-hr 
>>battery
>>
>>
>>>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: 
>>><http://www.a123systems.com/html/products/ANR26650M1specs.pdf>http://www.a123systems.com/html/products/ANR26650M1specs.pdf
>>>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 (Be sure to watch 
>>>the movie clip.)
>>>
>>>
>>>Bill Dube'
>>><mailto:bike@KillaCycle.com>bike@KillaCycle.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
>>>Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/
>>
>>
>>--
>>Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
>>Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/
>
>
> --
> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
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