Bell's Banter 2022

[zefarelly]

BRG alll the way, Its original colour and Arthur likes it. It's his car.

[morninggents]

Lucky Arthur. Brilliant he's working on it too. When I was preparing my first Cortina in 1988/89 my son Dan, in his mid teens, worked on it to help. Unfortunately for him it was always 'will you get underneath and hold the spanner on that awkwardly placed nut whilst I tighten the bolt from up here'.

[Peter Mallett]

Ok, here's a technical question. If my EV has a capacity of 88Kwh and I run a portable fridge which draws 44Amp how long would it take for my EV battery to expire? Genuine question since I'll probably take it to Le Mans next year. I'm assuming the impact will be pretty similar to running the cabin temp control.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Ok, here's a technical question. If my EV has a capacity of 88Kwh and I run a portable fridge which draws 44Amp how long would it take for my EV battery to expire? Genuine question since I'll probably take it to Le Mans next year. I'm assuming the impact will be pretty similar to running the cabin temp control.

Theoretically, if the fridge is 12V, then 166 hours.

In reality, it will be less due to voltage conversion, battery management and how much of the full capacity is available.

[Peter Mallett]

Well I'd be using the power to drive the car so I guess the impact would be quite small overall perhaps dropping the range by 5%. The 44 Amp is only when the compressor is running. Starting with a full charge I'd need to stop twice on the way there.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Well I'd be using the power to drive the car so I guess the impact would be quite small overall perhaps dropping the range by 5%. The 44 Amp is only when the compressor is running. Starting with a full charge I'd need to stop twice on the way there.

Possibly a daft question but can you get a portable solar panel to drive a trickle charger for the EV or an inverter for the fridge?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by andy97

Possibly a daft question but can you get a portable solar panel to drive a trickle charger for the EV or an inverter for the fridge?

Possibly not quite so daft as I noticed only today that Halfords stock and sell small solar panels, so assume they might power the fridge both on the journey and during the stay.

[Peter Mallett]

Yes you can, they are expensive, but it is an option. I've got two solar powered chargers for phones etc. They are pretty innefficient and you have to charge them up from the mains before they work!

[Tel 911S]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Yes you can, they are expensive, but it is an option. I've got two solar powered chargers for phones etc. They are pretty innefficient and you have to charge them up from the mains before they work!

As a rough guide .Halfords portable solar panels will produce 20 W .
Your fridge will draw 520 odd W when running .
So a whole day of good sunshine will only produce half what the fridge uses in an hour .
You would probably be better off with a small portable generator .

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Well I'd be using the power to drive the car so I guess the impact would be quite small overall perhaps dropping the range by 5%. The 44 Amp is only when the compressor is running. Starting with a full charge I'd need to stop twice on the way there.

Mach E IIRC?
Very rough calculation -
Assuming a four drive, you'd reduce range by 5-10 miles having the fridge on full current draw.

[Peter Mallett]

Yes that's actually less than my 5% so not really an issue. It's only so I can smuggle Stilton and local farm steaks in to the EU

On another subject but linked, I've got a thing called a Cobb. It's a kind of bar b cue with a dome lid. You use specially formed fuel (compressed coconut) and it is very efficient. Keeps going for a couple of hours. Last weekend, whilst sitting on the bank at Porsche Curves I saw a bloke cooking three ribs of beef on one!

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Ok, here's a technical question. If my EV has a capacity of 88Kwh and I run a portable fridge which draws 44Amp how long would it take for my EV battery to expire? Genuine question since I'll probably take it to Le Mans next year. I'm assuming the impact will be pretty similar to running the cabin temp control.

When I first read this Peter I thought Baub had put one of his Pesky Puzzles into the wrong thread!
(Then I realised this his question would have been far more challenging with a few devious twists in it too for good measure).

[Gerard C]

The ribs and other good smells has been reported by several drivers at LM. Seems that even youngsters have a taste!

As to your fridge, Peter, I'd say that for an accurate calculation you must consider the temp when leaving home and the temp you like to read when reachnig Le Mans…

[John Elwin]

I visited Chimay today for the first time in yonks & was pleasantly surprised to find that all the Paddock & pit & start-line buildings, such as they are, remain as they were. The armco is a little rusty and unloved-looking though...

I covered the last two race meetings there 15 or so years ago & really enjoyed it.

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

I visited Chimay today for the first time in yonks & was pleasantly surprised to find that all the Paddock & pit & start-line buildings, such as they are, remain as they were. The armco is a little rusty and unloved-looking though...

I covered the last two race meetings there 15 or so years ago & really enjoyed it.

Thats good to know, maybe one day they will resurrect an historic race, we had a fabulous weekend there back in 2005.

[E.B]

For those of you into fancy race transporters, we have our annual Supercars race in Darwin this weekeend, and part of the show is always a parade /convoy of all the rigs through the city. A lot of polishing been going on when you think every truck has done several thousand klms across the Outback to get there.
Quite an impressive display of doubles. Mike would be impressed.


https://youtu.be/fNf5qa40eVw

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

Thats good to know, maybe one day they will resurrect an historic race, we had a fabulous weekend there back in 2005.

It would certainly be good to go there again, although Rowan Atkinson might not think so!

I think they still have the odd 'bike event, custom cars etc, but no actual racing.

[GORDON STREETER]

Wow, it's a good job that there are some clever people about. Something popped up on my laptop just now saying that in the hot weather we are having ( I don't know where they are but it's 40c down here in Mojacar today) that you should open the car windows to cool the car down ! I didn't know that so I'll give it a try

[Mike Harte]

Lucky old you, Gordon, as the heat wave appears to have finished up here on the Pennines and it is a balmy 13 degrees outside at the moment!

[Gerard C]

Lucky you, Mike! We read 37 but feel 45 minimum. Even the flies cant fly not mentioning the dogs… OK, they cant fly anyway!

[John Elwin]

The thermometer in my front garden sun-trap read 48 degrees at mid-day, but now the sun has gone round it has slumped back to 37.

Oh well, only another few days & it is downhill all the way to Christmas as the days get shorter...

[VIVA GT]

Wow, all of these temperatures.
Mind you, I've just checked and it's 90° in the corner of my kitchen!

[Mike Harte]

I've never minded the heat, but heat with high humidity is the real killer. For about 10 years I lived a little way north of where Gordon is, and the temperature was regularly between 35 and 40 degrees C for about 4 or 5 months every year. It was considered exceptional cold when it dropped to about 15 degrees in the middle of winter.

The worst I can remember was on one of my trips to Hong Kong in a July in the 80s, and it was in the temp was in the mid 30s but with a humidity of about 95% but not raining. Back then, businessmen were expected to wear jackets and ties when walking around outside, yet the moment they stepped into an office which would always be air-conditioned, making it like being in a refrigerator, they would take their jackets off and roll up the sleeves of their shirts. Which is why I only went there once in July, only going out to the Far East in January, May and October.

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I've never minded the heat, but heat with high humidity is the real killer. For about 10 years I lived a little way north of where Gordon is, and the temperature was regularly between 35 and 40 degrees C for about 4 or 5 months every year. It was considered exceptional cold when it dropped to about 15 degrees in the middle of winter.

The worst I can remember was on one of my trips to Hong Kong in a July in the 80s, and it was in the temp was in the mid 30s but with a humidity of about 95% but not raining. Back then, businessmen were expected to wear jackets and ties when walking around outside, yet the moment they stepped into an office which would always be air-conditioned, making it like being in a refrigerator, they would take their jackets off and roll up the sleeves of their shirts. Which is why I only went there once in July, only going out to the Far East in January, May and October.

You're right Mike, humidity - for me at least - is the real killer. Dry heat not so much of a problem.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Mind you, I've just checked and it's 90° in the corner of my kitchen!

Dont check twice, you could read 180°… It was too hot in the bathroom to check the humidity which could kill if the bath tube is slippy!
John do you expect the old man in red to visit you using an EV? A Noël tout est permis!