Alltapdout

iTrader: (2)

It is that time of the season when the temp. is droping down outside. My question is: are there any tips or ideas on battery care when racing in cold weather?
I know that a battery loses half its amperage when the temp is 32'F. Do most people keep there battery's inside untill its race time to keep them in a higher ambient temp, or do most of you just run them?

Thanks.

sosidge

Where did you get that figure from? Seems a bit extreme to me.

Just keep them out of the most exposed cold and you should be fine, charging and racing them ill warm them anyway.

Alltapdout

iTrader: (2)

Well now I think about it, and I think that was for liquid filled battery's. So I guess that may be alittle extreme. But I do see a significant difference in "punch" and run time when its cold out.

sosidge

I agree, the packs do seem a bit softer when it is cold.

By the way if you are really having problems Much-More make a cell warming tray.

Drew Manzella

iTrader: (35)

Years ago when we were running dirt oval outside in the cold we all had those cheap, soft coolers. We'd cut a hole for the wires and charge the batteries inside the cooler. The heat generated by the battery while being charged was retained within the cooler.

You can probably pick one up at Walmart for a few bucks. You don't need anything more than a 6-pack size. Something like this:



It might even help to throw some towels in to fill a bit more space and keep it in the house until you leave for the track so as much heat is retained in it as possible.

MikeXray

iTrader: (73)

what about shock oil, I've seen people mentioning going higher when its hot, how much lower do you go when its cool?

tenpins77

iTrader: (7)

i just want to know how you can stand there freezing your A$$ off in the first place

sport10

You generally go down 5 weight in oil from what I remember.

jkirkwood

iTrader: (8)

They say the silicone oils shouldn't change when it's cold or hot but I beg to differ and most team driver's will make adjustments to their setups based on extreeme temp changes. However it's probably no more than 5 wt from 95 deg to 50 deg. Some people will fill it others wont.

I take a heat gun with me to warm up the car a bit if it's really cold. This seems to help with parts breakage as the cars get brittle. If you are really worried about it some people boil arms, pivot blocks to soften them up a bit for colder weather.

Drew Manzella

iTrader: (35)

Not everyone is a wuss.

Drew - Who just got home from the Thunderhill 25 Hour where it was snowing at 4:30AM.