Should I remove my AC?
#22
Re: Should I remove my AC?
Originally Posted by kenny
So you feel driving with no AC when it is 90 degrees (and using only the fan instead) is damaging my battery?
However, there's also no denying that you are stressing them more than you would if the temps were a little lower. I should mention that the temps in the pack are MUCH higher than 90F (to avoid mentioning the actual scary numbers) .
The greatest enemy of a NiMH battery pack is heat - so the lower the cabin temps the greater the cooling efficiencies within the IMA power control module. Heat causes chemical erosion of the batteries and electro-migration of the surrounding electronics. These symptoms are typicaly irreversible so it is in our interest to ensure that we keep the cabin temps in check.
Cheers;
MSantos
#23
Re: Should I remove my AC?
Interesting information. If I follow correctly the A/C Unit also cools off the Battery Pack - is that correct?
Today we drove from Phx 100 miles into Central AZ and noticed that the A/C began to weaken/not cool as efficiently and the rear right seat and seat back became very warm. Too warm to sit on. If the A/C is not working efficiently then the battery Pack is not being cooled properly - would that be a fair assessment. What else would cause the battery pack to heat up that much?
We had the car in for an A/C check and they said it was working normally. I have told them that after about 1 hour of driving up hill from Phoenix the A/C struggles and now I am noticing the warm seat/seatback.
TIA
Ed
Today we drove from Phx 100 miles into Central AZ and noticed that the A/C began to weaken/not cool as efficiently and the rear right seat and seat back became very warm. Too warm to sit on. If the A/C is not working efficiently then the battery Pack is not being cooled properly - would that be a fair assessment. What else would cause the battery pack to heat up that much?
We had the car in for an A/C check and they said it was working normally. I have told them that after about 1 hour of driving up hill from Phoenix the A/C struggles and now I am noticing the warm seat/seatback.
TIA
Ed
#24
Re: Should I remove my AC?
So we don't know if and external temp of 90 deg F during operation is a damaging temp to batteries.
But we do know that cooler is better.
Hmm. . .
Perhaps I'll compromise and use my AC if outside temp hits 85 instead of 90 or so.
It is possible those Honda engineers assumed humans would never tolerate a 94 deg F external temp without turning on the AC when designing their systems.
All designs are compromises based on assumptions.
But we do know that cooler is better.
Hmm. . .
Perhaps I'll compromise and use my AC if outside temp hits 85 instead of 90 or so.
It is possible those Honda engineers assumed humans would never tolerate a 94 deg F external temp without turning on the AC when designing their systems.
All designs are compromises based on assumptions.
Originally Posted by msantos
Kenny, nobody can conclusively say that you are damaging your batteries by allowing the cabin temps to reach 90 (32C). It may very well be that you'll be an exemplary statistic and never suffer from a NiMH cell failure.
However, there's also no denying that you are stressing them more than you would if the temps were a little lower. I should mention that the temps in the pack are MUCH higher than 90F (to avoid mentioning the actual scary numbers) .
The greatest enemy of a NiMH battery pack is heat - so the lower the cabin temps the greater the cooling efficiencies within the IMA power control module. Heat causes chemical erosion of the batteries and electro-migration of the surrounding electronics. These symptoms are typicaly irreversible so it is in our interest to ensure that we keep the cabin temps in check.
Cheers;
MSantos
However, there's also no denying that you are stressing them more than you would if the temps were a little lower. I should mention that the temps in the pack are MUCH higher than 90F (to avoid mentioning the actual scary numbers) .
The greatest enemy of a NiMH battery pack is heat - so the lower the cabin temps the greater the cooling efficiencies within the IMA power control module. Heat causes chemical erosion of the batteries and electro-migration of the surrounding electronics. These symptoms are typicaly irreversible so it is in our interest to ensure that we keep the cabin temps in check.
Cheers;
MSantos
Last edited by kenny; 08-21-2006 at 07:45 PM.
#25
Re: Should I remove my AC?
Originally Posted by kenny
Should I remove my AC?
In all seriousness, this idea is only logical if you have a reputable mechanic that 1) will buy the AC parts from you for ~$1000, and 2) will do the work for almost nothing. And you probably do not have either of those situations in your favor.
#26
Re: Should I remove my AC?
Originally Posted by AZED
Interesting information. If I follow correctly the A/C Unit also cools off the Battery Pack - is that correct?
Ed, you are correct.
Under normal operating circumstances, the battery pack is indirectly cooled by the AC system (or whatever other means you can cool the passenger cabin with).
It makes sense that the back seat gets warm in extremely warm days. The temps in the power control module can go much, much higher than 200F.
Cheers;
MSantos
Last edited by msantos; 08-21-2006 at 09:27 PM.
Thread
Topic Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dqdave
Honda Civic Hybrid
4
03-08-2006 03:14 PM