lithium in cool temps.

[Volt_Ampere]

There is plenty of room in my cart for an insulated / heated battery box. If you insulated around the top and sides, it would not take much heat to keep the battery above freezing unless you are in sub-zero temps. It will self heat some when you are driving the cart. A temperature probe and thermostat could control the heater. Yes - you would remove that stuff in the summer. You could use a strip heater like is used to wrap around pipes to keep them from freezing.

[dundeebarnbuggy]

Originally Posted by Volt_Ampere

There is plenty of room in my cart for an insulated / heated battery box. If you insulated around the top and sides, it would not take much heat to keep the battery above freezing unless you are in sub-zero temps. It will self heat some when you are driving the cart. A temperature probe and thermostat could control the heater. Yes - you would remove that stuff in the summer. You could use a strip heater like is used to wrap around pipes to keep them from freezing.

That might be doable! Do they make a strip heater that works on 48v DC or would I need a transformer to get 125 volts from the pack?

[Volt_Ampere]

I think you could run a 120V one on 48V and get enough heat out of it. You will get about 1/4 the rated wattage if it's rated at 120V AC. (maybe a bit less) It's worth a try.

[dundeebarnbuggy]

I use several of these cords on the farm. At 120v they do keep a water line from freezing but still feel cold to the touch in winter. I am starting to wonder if keeping the pack warm for 14-16 hours a day [I can plug into wall juice at night] will use nearly as many electrons as driving it.

[Volt_Ampere]

No problem with the heater using too many electrons during the day. I would hook one up to the 48V and measure the current draw. My guess is maybe a couple amps.

[Doubles Shooter]

Good thread. I'm interested in the cold weather operation too. Hopefully, I'm still a few years away from new batteries, but I want to go lithium for all it's advantages. I use the cart for hunting and now ice fishing. The winters can get cold here. Two years ago it was -2 degrees when
I left the barn and never got above 10. I don't have a heated garage, but could run a heater, but a day in the woods or on the lake ice fishing would need a long extension cord.

[S-N-R Customs]

I have a homemade lithium pack and I’m in CT. I don’t use the Jeep/cart much in the freezing temps (because it F’n cold!!!) but either charge it when it’s above freezing or get something has powered to drive in the winter....


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[dundeebarnbuggy]

Thanks for the replies. Since I go through a pack in 24-28 months, I was just comparing the costs of lithium per lifespan. Apparently the drop ins don't have much of an amp rating [and I am not about to detune my controller] and building my own pack looks like it is quite involved. I can hard wire most anything but am not too good with computer related stuff.