2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build

[Flyin6]

I have now burned through the second tank of fuel after the Lithium battery installation. I stressed it (Or tried to) last night with a bunch of country driving at night with the spotlights on.

Everything continues to remain completely normal. Nothing at all has happened out of the ordinary.

I'll post from time to time as the engine melts down, the frame cracks, and the windshield clouds over. But so far nothing exciting to write about... ;-)

Sponsored

 

[Flyin6]

Follow up on this Lithium battery experiment I am conducting.

Received just now from Braille Battery Company:


Hi Don,

Hope all is well and you're F34 experiment is going smoothly! I've been following your write ups and it seems like it's a success so far.

I'm currently out of the country traveling at the moment, but Oliver gave me a ring this morning and asked me to take a moment to respond to an email you sent last week. Sorry for the late response!

The main worry with using an improper charging profile on lithium batteries relates to the heat generation inside the cells themselves during charging. Many lithium chemistries struggle with handling heat buildup, but Braille Battery cells use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), which is a much more thermally stable chemistry. We also use cells that are designed for power applications rather than energy storage, which allow them higher charging and discharging rates with less heat generation.

Hope this helps clear things up! Feel free to send me any more technical questions you have, and I'll do my best to get back to you ASAP.

Regards,
Sean

 

[chorky]

Follow up on this Lithium battery experiment I am conducting.

Received just now from Braille Battery Company:


Hi Don,

Hope all is well and you're F34 experiment is going smoothly! I've been following your write ups and it seems like it's a success so far.

I'm currently out of the country traveling at the moment, but Oliver gave me a ring this morning and asked me to take a moment to respond to an email you sent last week. Sorry for the late response!

The main worry with using an improper charging profile on lithium batteries relates to the heat generation inside the cells themselves during charging. Many lithium chemistries struggle with handling heat buildup, but Braille Battery cells use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), which is a much more thermally stable chemistry. We also use cells that are designed for power applications rather than energy storage, which allow them higher charging and discharging rates with less heat generation.

Hope this helps clear things up! Feel free to send me any more technical questions you have, and I'll do my best to get back to you ASAP.

Regards,
Sean

that is a great response. Im glad to hear it is working ok so far and will be curious how longer term it does. I am not particularly happy about having nearly 200 pounds worth of AGM battery

 

[Flyin6]

that is a great response. Im glad to hear it is working ok so far and will be curious how longer term it does. I am not particularly happy about having nearly 200 pounds worth of AGM battery

I figured you'd like that response. So, I may be crazee, well probably am, but I almost want to say the Jeep feels quicker and nimbler on its feet since I shed that 250+ pounds. I have been pushing down on the accelerator more than I normally do, and the truck is more alive and powerful the more you use the RPM band. I am doing a little experiment with changing driving styles and how that affects the economy. So far about -1MPG. I think there are additional benefits in the handling department. I removed 66 pounds from the front bumper, then 35 from the AGM, then 11 from the aux battery delete. That was all weight off the already heavy front end. The net effect is that I turn in quicker and the truck feels more nimble on all these curvy Kentuckee roads.

 

[chorky]

Thats great. I am going the opposite direction Pretty crazy how mich a little weight changes performance!

 

[Minty JL]

Link for said battery?

 

[Flyin6]

Link for said battery?

Funny you should ask
I'll have a link up on my forum website in a week or so to allow you to purchase them at a discount.
Can you wait a little while?

 

[Flyin6]

Thats great. I am going the opposite direction Pretty crazy how mich a little weight changes performance!

We're gonna have to put you on a weight reduction plan. Gonna have a link to purchase those batteries with a discount on my site shortly, I hope/think. Standby for a standby...

 

[Minty JL]

Funny you should ask
I'll have a link up on my forum website in a week or so to allow you to purchase them at a discount.
Can you wait a little while?

Yeah man, just curious to the price point. Weight reduction is good

 

[Flyin6]

Yeah man, just curious to the price point. Weight reduction is good

Copy that.
I just got a message back from them. Unfortunately, they do not offer drop shipments, so for now it looks like I will not be offering them at a discount. I noticed Summit had a supply of them. Search F34 battery and you're golden.

 

[Flyin6]

So, one more time...Does anyone know how much the stock front buckets weigh?

Although mine have that cool AEV embroidery, I think they are heavy. A set of Corbeau seats are in the neighborhood of 25 lbs ea, 54 for the pair.

I am resisting having to pull them out to weigh them...GRRRRR

Please help (sad eyes emoji) ;-)

 

[Minty JL]

So, one more time...Does anyone know how much the stock front buckets weigh?

Although mine have that cool AEV embroidery, I think they are heavy. A set of Corbeau seats are in the neighborhood of 25 lbs ea, 54 for the pair.

I am resisting having to pull them out to weigh them...GRRRRR

Please help (sad eyes emoji) ;-)

I pulled mine out to install the Armorlite flooring.......they have to weigh roughly 60lbs each.

What will be your work around for the airbags in the seats?

 

[Flyin6]

I pulled mine out to install the Armorlite flooring.......they have to weigh roughly 60lbs each.

What will be your work around for the airbags in the seats?

Don't need no stinkin' airbags ;-)
My CJ7 didn't have em
My Huey didn't have em
My Cobra (Car and Helo) didn't have em
My Chinook didn't have em
None of the jets I flew had em
My rockin' chair doesn't have any
Neither my KLR Kawasaki doesn't have em'
My recliner doesn't have em
Guess I don't need em!








...Famous last words...

 

[Flyin6]

From down on the farm a couple days ago...Before it got dirty

This will be my favorite truck when I finally get a real engine in it!

 

[Flyin6]

Just had the first issue since installing the Lithium battery!

Yea...

Window washer fluid ran out!

Bummer!

I'll contact Braille Battery to see what they think...Man!

;-)

Oh, and had another fuel mileage check: 16.42MPG
I was doing better, but I was driving around at 60-64. I decided to try and keep up with the slow motorists on the highway and stepped it up to 70-72. Mileage is coming downhill, and this little motor continues to under-whelm me.

Can't wait until I can stick two more cylinders in there...

Sponsored