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What did you do to your Boss 302 or S197 today?

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Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
5,237
4,227
Santiago, Chile
25182430_10212830918186505_625958173367283512_o.jpg

Got my car back from the Vinyl wrap guy, got my black hood back with the Boss stripes..... But getting ready for the track, I found a stripped bolt on the driver side brembo caliper.....off to get helicoiled tomorrow.



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Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
Solar charging:
27235621919_681c7f0bf7.jpg
'float' voltage:
24149244347_d0fd0244f3.jpg

Seems like this should be enough when it's overcast to prevent discharging the Braille battery. I used the car on Saturday and Sunday and I measured a low of 12.83V early on Monday. The 3 smaller 7.5W panels got it back up to 12.87V last night. That was the same voltage when I installed it. With the panels disconnected it looks like it should be over 12.90V tonight. I'll try one of the plug in chargers if it's not. I'd like to see a higher state of charge than that since I didn't top it off after installing. I could leave this alone, and this should be enough not to kill this battery over time. I'd rather keep it closer to fully topped off, even if I have to plug it in for 1 day a week.
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
Topped of the charge on the Boss. Probably not going to take her out again until New year's weather pending.

The Braille was on the 1.1A charger on the AGM setting for the last few days and it seems that the high 12.8X volt range might effectively be topped-off. Watching the charger monitoring voltage and amperage Thursday morning, topping-off in the morning only took another ~.4 to .5 Ah. Specified capacity is 21 Ah. So I think the solar panels, maybe even just 1 or 2 might be enough to let the car sit in the winter as long as there are sunny days. 3 or 4 do not seem able to over-charge on consecutive sunny days so it should also be safe, regardless. I'm going to try the 7.2A charger after the next time I drive it on the AGM then AGM+ settings and see if it can take a higher state-of charge. Hard to know when I can't test the electrolyte with the hydrometer.

It should be no surprise, but the smaller battery does quickly come off the 'full' charge just unlocking the car, setting the alarm, etc. Braille's advice to keep it fully charged and not to let sit for over a week is certainly a good idea considering the parasitic losses from these cars. IOW, follow their recommendations!
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
5,237
4,227
Santiago, Chile
Thanks 302Bob, Had a great day today at a Cars & Coffee track day. I ended up wth some bearing problems at the end of the day, but the CAI and TB upgrades with a AED track tune was eye opening! I could go completly even with camaros with 500 rwhp, on the straights which was a surprize.
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
Seems like time on the (small) plug-in charger helped get the Braille battery to a slightly higher state-of-charge. Just measured at 13.09V. I think tomorrow I'll reduce to 2 panels and see what it looks like at the end of the day.

Boss battery still running strong. Gave a full charge yesterday and after ~29 hours (forgot to check at exactly 24 hrs) holding 13.03V. I'll track the leak-down daily again to make sure it's all okay.
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
Been too sick to drive all week. Got these replaced yesterday, and noticed that Longacre made some updates that allow steeper angles. Otherwise, all the parts interchange.
27456949959_95214913c3_z.jpg

First week of 'leak-down' test for the OEM Boss battery looks good:
Disconnected charger Saturday
Sunday 13.03V
Monday 12.98V
Tuesday 12.94V
Wednesday 12.91V
Thursday 12.89V
Friday 12.86V
Saturday 12.84V

The Braille battery on solar panels are able to hold the charge with just a couple hours of good sun. Seems like I need 3 if it stays overcast. The nice thing about the solar panels is that they are almost entirely 'self-regulating' without a charge controller. Even though open circuit voltage (0A) can hit 18V+ (monocrystalline) and 22V+ (amorphous), float voltages can easily be kept in the mid-13V range or allowed to creep into the mid-14V based on the panels/total wattage used. I have it disconnected at the moment and will put it on the larger 7.2A charger on AGM+ setting after I drive it today.
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
5,237
4,227
Santiago, Chile
Go number 7!! we expect great things in 2018!!

Just did mundane things today like buying rear axle bearings etc. Got a wiggle/clank on the rear wheels when I grab them and shake, Already have the new front wheel hubs on the way from Tim at OP
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Been too sick to drive all week. Got these replaced yesterday, and noticed that Longacre made some updates that allow steeper angles. Otherwise, all the parts interchange.
27456949959_95214913c3_z.jpg

First week of 'leak-down' test for the OEM Boss battery looks good:
Disconnected charger Saturday
Sunday 13.03V
Monday 12.98V
Tuesday 12.94V
Wednesday 12.91V
Thursday 12.89V
Friday 12.86V
Saturday 12.84V

The Braille battery on solar panels are able to hold the charge with just a couple hours of good sun. Seems like I need 3 if it stays overcast. The nice thing about the solar panels is that they are almost entirely 'self-regulating' without a charge controller. Even though open circuit voltage (0A) can hit 18V+ (monocrystalline) and 22V+ (amorphous), float voltages can easily be kept in the mid-13V range or allowed to creep into the mid-14V based on the panels/total wattage used. I have it disconnected at the moment and will put it on the larger 7.2A charger on AGM+ setting after I drive it today.
Grant, you get the Flu...?
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca

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