One of the key components of a DIY electric car is the battery bank. Since the internal combustion engine (ICE) is removed, the electric motor will be the primary power source for the EV. The electric motor needs electricity to work. The only way to delivery electric power to the motor on an electric vehicle is via the battery bank.
An average sedan electric car will have 10 to 15 units of deep cycle battery. To extend the EV drive mileage, all you have to do is add in more battery.
Batteries can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. We are dealing with electricity and chemical hence you should practice some safety precautions. To help you to be safe, the following are 8 easy battery safety tips you can use when working on your electric car.
1) Build a battery box – The batteries on an electric car should be kept in a custom made battery box. There should be a fan to keep the batteries well ventilated in the box. The batteries will produce dangerous and flammable gases when charging. Any accumulation of the battery gas will be hazardous to you and your EV.
2) Wear protective goggles and clothing when handling batteries – One of the main cause of eye injury is chemical in a workshop particularly battery acid. If possible, always wear protective clothes and gear when working on the batteries of your electric car.
3) Always assume the worst – This might be a negative thought but it is a good idea to always assume there are explosive mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen gases present near the battery at all times. This will keep you on your toes. If you are a smoker, this will keep you from lighting up when working near the batteries.
4) Do not remove the caps when charging a battery – Please restraint from removing the caps when charging the battery. This will cause more hazardous gases to be released. Leave the batteries in the battery box. The ventilation fan will vent any accumulated gases.
5) Cover the vent cap area of the battery with a wet cloth – This is a good practice when working on the batteries. By using a damp cloth, it prevents any sparks from igniting the escaping gases. It may seem like an insignificant step, but it will keep you safe around your EV.
6) Make sure the charger is turned off before connecting to battery terminals – Again, this is to prevent the chances of generating electric sparks which might ignite the gases from the battery.
7) Charge the battery at a specific rate and at a specific time – Know your battery required charging time and charging power rating. You do not want to overcharge the battery for a long period of time. You can use a battery charge time calculator for this.
8) Replace bad batteries – If a battery fails to be rated “Good” after 2 charging and load test cycles, replace the battery with a new one. Faulty battery will lower the performance of your homemade electric car.
Most of the battery safety tips above are mainly common sense. There are many other steps you can take to be safe when working on your electric car.
If you would like to know more tips on how to build an electric car in your home garage, be sure to check out Les Oke’s Convert 2 EV e-book. Les has many suggestions on how to find cheap parts for your EV conversion project. For more information, read the Convert 2 EV review on this blog.
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Related web pages:
1) Golf Cart Battery Maintenance Guide To Extend The Life Of Electric Golf Cart Batteries
2) Samuel Watson Premium Electric Car Guide Review