MK Battery Problems

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Sam,
I didn't see this post until this morning or we could have talked at IRI. We set the CBA for 7.5 amps and 8 volts terminal voltage (end) to simulate the manufacturer's specs and get a good amp hour calculation. Are you keeping your sweeps so you can compare the same battery over a period of time and overlay them? I have many teams that claim bad batteries, but most when they show them to me, have obvious external damage, indicating rough handling.
I cannot stress enough, do not lift or carry by the wires, do not carry with one hand and do not drop into the robot or onto to the floor in the heat of battle. The terminals are soldered internally (no other mechanical connection) and are not designed to handle the full weight of the battery. Lifting or carrying by the wires is a death sentence and it may cause injury if the terminal fails while you are carrying the battery. A battery that has been handled by the wires will show some opening between the terminal and the red or black sealant due to the movement of the terminal. Two hands please for safety sake. These batteries are smooth and heavy, one hand is not enough even for a big guy like me. Dropping the battery can force two plates together causing a short or will cause fractures in the plates and connecting bars causing reduced capacity or failure with temperature.