|
|
12-31-2014, 02:45 PM
|
#15961
|
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,036
|
I had the IMA battery pack replaced on my 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid. It is exactly 7 years old today and has 183k miles on the odometer. The new battery pack was $2480 installed by the dealer. I checked into doing it myself. It appeared easy enough, but the cost of a new battery pack, plus the shipping, would have resulted in almost exactly the same cost, and I would have had to find the time to do it. We plan on keeping the car for another five years/125k miles, so it seemed worth the cost of repair. Other than the recently faltering hybrid battery pack, the car has run very well over the years
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
12-31-2014, 03:47 PM
|
#15962
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,940
|
After a chilly morning walk (I've been slothful for the past couple of weeks between a bad cold and holiday schedule), breakfast, and finishing the morning paper, I took several boxes of donations to Goodwill. Then did a couple of loads of laundry, and while they were running, tallied up my charitable driving miles for 2014 - 5,266 miles (more than half of the total miles I put on my Prius). I'm on several committees that require significant driving - such as 180-mile trips nearly every month. Total of 89 separate trips in 2014.
We'll pop our bubbly with dinner (real MD crab cakes thanks to my sister who sent them as a Christmas gift) and watch football. Since we're in the central time zone, we can watch the Times Square festivities and still be in bed before midnight.
__________________
"One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time one person buys, another sells, and both think they are astute." William Feather
----------------------------------
ER'd Oct. 2010 at 53. Life is good.
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 03:49 PM
|
#15963
|
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,723
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumby
I had the IMA battery pack replaced on my 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid. It is exactly 7 years old today and has 183k miles on the odometer. The new battery pack was $2480 installed by the dealer. I checked into doing it myself. It appeared easy enough, but the cost of a new battery pack, plus the shipping, would have resulted in almost exactly the same cost, and I would have had to find the time to do it. We plan on keeping the car for another five years/125k miles, so it seemed worth the cost of repair. Other than the recently faltering hybrid battery pack, the car has run very well over the years
|
The price for the battery pack plus labor was only $2480? I think that's a very reasonable price.
What I did today: Finished my Christmas shopping.
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 03:53 PM
|
#15964
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,727
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumby
I had the IMA battery pack replaced on my 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid. It is exactly 7 years old today and has 183k miles on the odometer. The new battery pack was $2480 installed by the dealer. I checked into doing it myself. It appeared easy enough, but the cost of a new battery pack, plus the shipping, would have resulted in almost exactly the same cost, and I would have had to find the time to do it. We plan on keeping the car for another five years/125k miles, so it seemed worth the cost of repair. Other than the recently faltering hybrid battery pack, the car has run very well over the years
|
If you get another 125K out of the Civic, and you should easily with routine maintenance, the battery pack will have cost you around $0.02/mile. Certainly worth that cost.
Today, I ran Cat6 network cable inot two bedrooms in this 1999 vintage house. Since we have 8' ceilings, the fire stops in the walls gave us a struggle to drill through from the attic. One more room to go and that is planned for Saturday morning. This will eliminate any need for wireless in all the rooms except where the router is located. I love hard wired equipment!
__________________
*********Go Yankees!*********
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 05:18 PM
|
#15965
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,440
|
Played 4 hours of Pickleball this morning with a MUCH better player than myself. He gave me lots of coaching which was very appreciated since many players at his level don't have patience with those not at their level.
Since I normally play for about 2 hours in much less aggressive games it will be interesting to see if I can get out of bed tomorrow without a lot of moaning and groaning.
I've agreed to another extended coaching session on Friday... Can't wait!
__________________
Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen - that stillness becomes a radiance -
Morgan Freeman
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 05:34 PM
|
#15966
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
|
Honda Civic Hybrid, battery cost of $2480...
Out of curiosity, I look it up. And the Web says, "144 V Nickel-metal hydride batteries with 6.0 A·h capacity". That's $2.87/Wh.
Then, I look up the price of commercial D-size NiMH batteries. Amazon wants $38 for a 6-pack of 10Ah each. That's 72Wh for $0.53/Wh. Hmmm...
I read that Tesla builds its batteries with commercial common 18650-size lithium batteries, and the cost comes close to the $0.40/Wh of the individual battery.
PS. The above battery is for 1st generation Civics. The 2nd generation Civic uses "158.4 V (132 x 1.2 V) Nickel-metal hydride batteries with 5.5 A·h capacity". That's $2.85/Wh.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 05:55 PM
|
#15967
|
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,036
|
Sounds like the guys who take the battery packs apart and refurbish them can make a nice profit.
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 06:02 PM
|
#15968
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
|
... but that may cause conflict with vehicle warranty and liabilities, etc...
I also saw that each C-size commercial NiMH battery has the capacity of 5 Ah, about the same as the amperage of your battery pack. It may just be what Honda uses.
Anyway, I would want to get the used battery pack to break it apart to see what's inside. And I would weed out the bad cells then rewire them to use in my RV.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 06:19 PM
|
#15969
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Thailand countryside, Sisaket province
Posts: 1,331
|
I went ice skating at the rink in Union Square in San Francisco. Discovered this rink a couple of years ago and love just skating around in circles.
__________________
Happy, Wild, and Free
|
|
|
12-31-2014, 08:25 PM
|
#15970
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
|
So, for lack of other more interesting things to do, I researched further and found that the Civic Hybrid IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) battery is indeed made of D-size batteries, and not C-size as I surmised. However, as the price of even rebuilt battery packs is so pricey, I wonder if these are better built than consumer-grade batteries in order to handle higher currents, hence more expensive.
Something more to look into...
PS. OK, here's the difference. Regular D cells can handle 10A current continuously, and 50A intermittently. The IMA battery cells can handle higher currents up to 100A, though I am not sure for how long. It still shows that these are specially built, hence more expensive.
What I find curious is that even at 100A peak current, the power put out by the electric motor is just 15HP. And then, at that max current the battery would be depleted in a few minutes. So, it is mainly used to allow a smaller gas engine to be used for better gas mileage. Or the electric motor provides a lot more torque early at low RPMs to allow better acceleration from a smaller gas engine.
Anyway, as the battery is made of 120 batteries in configuration of 20 sticks of 6 batteries each and perhaps only one stick fails, some guys show how it can be disassembled, the bad stick identified and replaced. All can be done in one's garage if he has the time. It is not feasible to replace a single cell as cells in a stick are welded together for the 100A current rating, but pulling out a stick involves just unbolting its terminals. Something an ER/tinkerer might want to do...
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
|
|
|
01-02-2015, 07:14 PM
|
#15971
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Nowhere, 43N Latitude, NY
Posts: 9,037
|
Today I did a whole lotta nuttin...
I crashed on the couch at a friend's house last night rather than drive home 25 miles in the dark and snow. His sister made us all brunch today.
I had scrapple (homemade) for the first time in my life. Pretty good stuff.
I arrived home to a nicely plowed driveway. Money well spent.
It may seem silly to wish for snow, but there are a lot of small businesses that depend heavily on the (usually) very active upstate NY snowmobiling industry.
Tug Hill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Snowmobile Tug Hill - Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and Oswego Counties New York
Here's a nice short video showing an actual trail ride plus still pics. Yes, it snows that much.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...A82AFC48FE1D36
SNOW SNOW SNOW
__________________
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney
|
|
|
01-02-2015, 07:53 PM
|
#15972
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,360
|
Quiet day. I now have DD's cold compliments of DW. Visited DS and we went to lunch. returned an item to Home Depot, gassed up and bought a bottle of Amaretto for DW. Went home and took a long nap, had dinner and then watched a local college hockey game on tv.
Still feel terrible, but am thankful.... a friend I talk with a few times a year called me today and said he was in a head-on collision a couple weeks ago.... he'll be fine but it will take time.... crushed sternum, broken back, broken kneecap, broken leg. Ouch. His DD is nursing him back to health.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
|
|
|
01-02-2015, 08:34 PM
|
#15973
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2008
Location: No fixed abode
Posts: 8,765
|
Homemade scrapple isn't scrapple. If it wasn't swept up off the floor it's not authentic.
__________________
"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." - Anonymous (not Will Rogers or Sam Clemens)
DW and I - FIREd at 50 (7/06), living off assets
|
|
|
01-03-2015, 08:46 AM
|
#15974
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lawn chair in Texas
Posts: 14,183
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by harley
Homemade scrapple isn't scrapple. If it wasn't swept up off the floor it's not authentic.
|
"You could eat off my floor; just look at all that food down there..."
Sent from my iCouch using Early Retirement Forum
__________________
Have Funds, Will Retire
...not doing anything of true substance...
|
|
|
01-03-2015, 05:53 PM
|
#15975
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,901
|
Today concluded a 2-week stretch of gross overeating. We have to get back to our usual diet and exercise before my pants get too tight again.
Over the holidays, we decided to relocate. The next few months are going to be very busy.
|
|
|
01-03-2015, 06:40 PM
|
#15976
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,500
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FIREd
Today concluded a 2-week stretch of gross overeating. We have to get back to our usual diet and exercise before my pants get too tight again.
Over the holidays, we decided to relocate. The next few months are going to be very busy.
|
Well, where did you decide to go? Are you staying in the Bay Area?
__________________
Chief Retirement Strategist
The AR Group
|
|
|
01-03-2015, 06:50 PM
|
#15977
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,021
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Accidental Retiree
Well, where did you decide to go? Are you staying in the Bay Area?
|
+1
Inquiring minds want to know!
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
01-03-2015, 06:56 PM
|
#15978
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,358
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FIREd
Today concluded a 2-week stretch of gross overeating. We have to get back to our usual diet and exercise before my pants get too tight again.
Over the holidays, we decided to relocate. The next few months are going to be very busy.
|
Yes do tell! Relocate apartments? Cities? Countries?
|
|
|
01-04-2015, 08:26 AM
|
#15979
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6,506
|
Rescued a Damsel in Distress.
After a day of lazing about was sleeping late. Woke up to the ever popular Oh My God noise from DW. Bounce out of bed find DW in the hallway with hands clasped, and saying there is is something in the house!
Well, the initial emergency being over, no further need for intruder repelling boom device, since she is standing in jammies, no blood visible, my foggy brain having recognized the word "something" as non human threat, asked what is it? She said I don't know, but it is in my office and Charley is in there with it. She continued: don't know how it got in here.
Ok. I said, I'll do my bathroom thing, get more awake a little slower, get a glass of water, then tell me more. In due time I mosied down to the kitchen, got a glass of water and listened to the damsel's tail of woe.
Seems she saw something longish brown flash across the floor. With Charley our cat in hot pursuit into a corner of her office. There was a black plastic trash bag in that corner ( another long story not relevant now) and the cat was pawing at it. She kept repeating, I dont know how it got in the house. I said likely through the cat door which was set up for out only. But likely failed and is now two way. Most likely Cherly was the transporter. Trying to impersonate private eye Sam Spade.
Figuring a mouse or a chipmunk, at worst a squirrel, set about getting a paper box, ripping off the flaps, then finding a large piece of cardboard big enough to cover the opening. All this in my shorts and no T shirt or socks. Headed upstairs. Picked up the cat and put him out of the office, closed the door amd set the box, upside down on top of the crumpled black trash bag. Gently pushed the exposed parts of the trash bag into the box while making sure nothing escaped. Then slid the flat pirce of cardbord under the box picked up the whole assembly.
Took all this outside some tenty feet from the house. I slid the cover off the box and sure enough a brown thing dropped to the ground. It was a bat. It scampered then flew away.
Emergency over, a damsel saved from distress, a bat saved, and now all is well withe world once again. And the hero took a well deserved coffee, properly served.
All this before 9:30 AM. Just brutal.
And the cat door is now again reconfigured to be out only.
__________________
There must be moderation in everything, including moderation.
|
|
|
01-04-2015, 08:40 AM
|
#15980
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,727
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ls99
Rescued a Damsel in Distress.
After a day of lazing about was sleeping late. Woke up to the ever popular Oh My God noise from DW. Bounce out of bed find DW in the hallway with hands clasped, and saying there is is something in the house!
Well, the initial emergency being over, no further need for intruder repelling boom device, since she is standing in jammies, no blood visible, my foggy brain having recognized the word "something" as non human threat, asked what is it? She said I don't know, but it is in my office and Charley is in there with it. She continued: don't know how it got in here.
Ok. I said, I'll do my bathroom thing, get more awake a little slower, get a glass of water, then tell me more. In due time I mosied down to the kitchen, got a glass of water and listened to the damsel's tail of woe.
Seems she saw something longish brown flash across the floor. With Charley our cat in hot pursuit into a corner of her office. There was a black plastic trash bag in that corner ( another long story not relevant now) and the cat was pawing at it. She kept repeating, I dont know how it got in the house. I said likely through the cat door which was set up for out only. But likely failed and is now two way. Most likely Cherly was the transporter. Trying to impersonate private eye Sam Spade.
Figuring a mouse or a chipmunk, at worst a squirrel, set about getting a paper box, ripping off the flaps, then finding a large piece of cardboard big enough to cover the opening. All this in my shorts and no T shirt or socks. Headed upstairs. Picked up the cat and put him out of the office, closed the door amd set the box, upside down on top of the crumpled black trash bag. Gently pushed the exposed parts of the trash bag into the box while making sure nothing escaped. Then slid the flat pirce of cardbord under the box picked up the whole assembly.
Took all this outside some tenty feet from the house. I slid the cover off the box and sure enough a brown thing dropped to the ground. It was a bat. It scampered then flew away.
Emergency over, a damsel saved from distress, a bat saved, and now all is well withe world once again. And the hero took a well deserved coffee, properly served.
All this before 9:30 AM. Just brutal.
And the cat door is now again reconfigured to be out only.
|
Can we call you "Batman" now?
__________________
*********Go Yankees!*********
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 3 (0 members and 3 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|