Totally confused

Xtreme Cartz · 08-29-2008, 05:57 PM

Ok I have the final battery pack connections completely disconnected. Why do I get a voltage reading from the 11 batteries in the rear to the car chassis? It reads about 60 volts. So even though the batteries are just sitting in the car with no final connection, there's a risk of being shocked while messing with the terminals?

Nate · 08-29-2008, 10:28 PM

One cable is hooked up correct? What does it go to? A voltage reading does not always mean current potential but let’s check it out safely.

Xtreme Cartz · 08-30-2008, 09:40 AM

The 11 batteries in the back are still wired in series but both ends(+ and -) are disconnected. The batteries are just sitting in the car but it reads 60 volts at the highest point from the last terminal to the chassis.

Nate · 08-30-2008, 09:59 AM

There are no wires from the pack except what goes from battery to battery correct? Now we are going to challenge the voltage to see if it has real amp potential or is just a voltage reading.

Get a 60 watt 120V light bulb and put one wire from your light to the pack where you read 60V then put the other wire on the chassis. If the light comes on we need to figure out how the power is getting to the chassis and be careful as we have amp potential, if the bulb does not light and your 60V reading goes away when the light is connected then there is no threat from this voltage.
You may have to disassemble an old lamp to get the socket for the 60 watt bulb.

Xtreme Cartz · 08-30-2008, 01:12 PM

You are right about there being no wires. I'll try this and let you know what happens.

Nate · 08-30-2008, 01:20 PM

I doubt the bulb will light which will mean voltage with no current but it is good to check and this is practice for your future projects when you are running even higher voltages.

buckmanmike · 09-01-2008, 01:09 AM

I don't know much about elec. but could it be a capacitor or something similar that is storing a charge? Just an idea, good luck.

Nate · 09-01-2008, 11:38 AM

Buckman, All Xtreme has in the back of his car is batteries sitting with wires going between the batteries only. He has no wires coming off the pack to anything, good thinking though. Good to see you are thinking about this.

SP-Electronics · 09-02-2008, 04:55 PM

are the cables disconnected from the battery pack, so no cables from pack are laying loose against the body/frame anywhere? Even with painted surfaces, if a cable is laying on it, there is a chance it is conducting.

If there are ZERO cables connected at the ends of your pack, and no others anywhere else on the pack for other accessories, you shouldn't be getting a reading, unless there is a hole in one of your batteries and it is making contact with the chassis. That would really suck.

Definitely do what Nate suggested. Better safe than sorry!

gornoman · 09-02-2008, 05:25 PM

Could he be reading surface charge on the cells?

What about the batteries in the engine bay? Could they be supplying a voltage potential?

08-29-2008, 05:57 PM	#1
Xtreme Cartz The Fabricator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,016	Totally confused Ok I have the final battery pack connections completely disconnected. Why do I get a voltage reading from the 11 batteries in the rear to the car chassis? It reads about 60 volts. So even though the batteries are just sitting in the car with no final connection, there's a risk of being shocked while messing with the terminals?

08-29-2008, 10:28 PM	#2
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Totally confused One cable is hooked up correct? What does it go to? A voltage reading does not always mean current potential but let’s check it out safely.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

08-30-2008, 09:40 AM	#3
Xtreme Cartz The Fabricator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,016	Re: Totally confused The 11 batteries in the back are still wired in series but both ends(+ and -) are disconnected. The batteries are just sitting in the car but it reads 60 volts at the highest point from the last terminal to the chassis.

08-30-2008, 09:59 AM	#4
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Totally confused There are no wires from the pack except what goes from battery to battery correct? Now we are going to challenge the voltage to see if it has real amp potential or is just a voltage reading. Get a 60 watt 120V light bulb and put one wire from your light to the pack where you read 60V then put the other wire on the chassis. If the light comes on we need to figure out how the power is getting to the chassis and be careful as we have amp potential, if the bulb does not light and your 60V reading goes away when the light is connected then there is no threat from this voltage. You may have to disassemble an old lamp to get the socket for the 60 watt bulb.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

08-30-2008, 01:12 PM	#5
Xtreme Cartz The Fabricator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,016	Re: Totally confused You are right about there being no wires. I'll try this and let you know what happens.

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08-30-2008, 01:20 PM	#6
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Totally confused I doubt the bulb will light which will mean voltage with no current but it is good to check and this is practice for your future projects when you are running even higher voltages.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

09-01-2008, 01:09 AM	#7
buckmanmike Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Snellville, Ga. Posts: 1,304	Re: Totally confused I don't know much about elec. but could it be a capacitor or something similar that is storing a charge? Just an idea, good luck.

09-01-2008, 11:38 AM	#8
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Totally confused Buckman, All Xtreme has in the back of his car is batteries sitting with wires going between the batteries only. He has no wires coming off the pack to anything, good thinking though. Good to see you are thinking about this.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

09-02-2008, 04:55 PM	#9
SP-Electronics Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 979	Re: Totally confused are the cables disconnected from the battery pack, so no cables from pack are laying loose against the body/frame anywhere? Even with painted surfaces, if a cable is laying on it, there is a chance it is conducting. If there are ZERO cables connected at the ends of your pack, and no others anywhere else on the pack for other accessories, you shouldn't be getting a reading, unless there is a hole in one of your batteries and it is making contact with the chassis. That would really suck. Definitely do what Nate suggested. Better safe than sorry!

09-02-2008, 05:25 PM	#10
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,291	Re: Totally confused Could he be reading surface charge on the cells? What about the batteries in the engine bay? Could they be supplying a voltage potential?

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