Electric car conversion: Project ForkenSwift

[MetroMPG]

Heat? Overdraw protection? Not sure. I'll find out soon - just leaving for the college. :P

[MetroMPG]

Well, it has a heatsink on its base. Or is that just its base?

And I hooked it up to switch on with the key.

When properly installed, I think I'll also add an additional switch, so I can optionally leave it off during day use (if I'm going to solar support/recharge the 12v, for example).

Anyway, it didn't get smoking hot, just warm. Mind you, it's 4C / 39F ambient here at the moment. And it was a short trip (as are all ForkenSwift trips) - around 5 km per leg.

It only "supports" the 12v battery when the headlights are on - doesn't keep the charge up. Headlights on, the voltage seemed to sit stable around 11.5v. (That's from a starting point of about 12.45v - a bit low.) Lights off, it will charge, however.

We have a second module I could add. 200w should be ample.

Pretty civilized to have night time driving as an option though, where I'm not wondering if I'm going to make it home before the lights go out!

[MetroMPG]

Ben, what was the person's thinking when they said they were surprised you hadn't killed yours yet - was that because of the heat?

[MetroMPG]

Tomorrow is new used battery pickup day! Very excited about the range increase... even though the current range of 20-25 km is fine. 45 km would be crazy extravagant.

Mostly though it means the car's pack will have a longer calendar life. How many km/years/charge cycles before it's only good for 25 km again? The period until that point will be pure gravy.

Also, the car's efficiency will likely increase since the new used batteries will be able to absorb more energy in the bulk phase when charging efficiency is highest.

To celebrate the coming new used batts, I'm going to start work on an index of this thread and put it in post 1. Every detail, not just the milestones.

[Intrigued]

Input! Need Input!!!

Darin: Please tell us the new range figures as soon as possible! I finally finished with Paul's and Ben's e-threads, and need another fix...

Hey, maybe I can get Paul to send me one of those shrines! I gotta do something about the "2 A.M. In Front Of The Computer" cult I joined, for sure!

Hey, Daox! What did you Edit to tease Darin??? Would that have anything to do with "New used..."???

[Intrigued]

I see it now... that would take considerable time... and be a tad self-defeating...

[MetroMPG]

Back from Ottawa with the loot:



Seven of these will find themselves into the car this afternoon, hopefully. (Why 7 and not 8? I'll leave the best battery of the existing pack in the car for comparison purposes for a cycle or two.)

2 of the 16 are "weak" according to the previous owner, and were being supported with individual chargers. Fortunately Rick, who did the swap, drew a pack diagram, labelled the batteries, and noted voltages before he pulled them, and Sue confirmed the weak ones on the diagram at last night's EV meeting. So it won't be a guessing game.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Every detail, not just the milestones.

Haha, Tim.

[Daox]

Yeah, I just flipped his wording around a little. It was originally:

"Not every detail, just the milestones."

I just know Darin is very busy, so thats my poke to him.


An index will be very nice though. Theres almost 40 pages so far. This is starting to become a small book.

[bennelson]

I think we could actually edit this thread, mine, and MPaul's to make a book.

"The Cheap, DIY, way to build an Electric Car: Learn from our mistakes!"