Ben Nelson's Electro-Metro Build thread

[bennelson]

Hmm,

I am not sure if this is the best charger for this or not.

I did see it read HIGHER than 14.1V charging while on the "gel" setting. The batteries say NOT to charge at higher than 14.1 on them.

It does charge nice and fast though.

[Tango Charlie]

Your wife didn't know what she was getting into when she married you, did she?

This is an awesome project/thread. I really like all the good photos and videos.
Keep it up!

Any welding repairs made in the control arm arena?

[bennelson]

My wife is a sweetheart.


No progress in the welding yet. I have no welder, nor the skill.

I have to be at the mercy of the help of others on this one.

[dremd]

if you need any welding advise I am somewhat knoleagable in the field

[bennelson]

I just paid the machinist for his work.

The total bill was $365, which was much more than I originally budgeted.

BUT, that covered the adapter plate ( measuring, designing, machining)
Machining, mating and welding the coupler, cutting the drive shafts, making spacers, and lots of other little things that would have taken me forever without the right tools.

So, I am happy to pay it because he is a great guy who has been really helpful on this project.


So far

Purchase Metro: -$500
rent car dolly to drag it home: -$40
Sell engine: +$400
Sell gas tank and radiator: +$150

Basically I came out ten bucks ahead on the car.

Motor: $50
New brushes for motor: $50
CD Motor Controller: $300 (plus shipping $18)
Batteries (12) - $144
Machining services -$365

Thats just over $900 into this project.

I have had gasoline car repairs that cost more than that!

Who else do you know who has an electric car they got for under a grand? (No I am not counting the Forkenswift!, it was retorical!)

I still have to figure exactly what I am doing for chargers. That will be about the last expense I will have to figure into the core of this project.

[Will]

Hell of a project!!! Keep it coming!

[MPaulHolmes]

If you're ordering the PB-6 from Electric Vehicles USA, it's going to take a few weeks. I think they're the cheapest place, but I'm not sure. Also, $365 is really good! Buying a metro adapter plate and coupler online is like $750!

[bennelson]

I stopped at Radio Shack on the way home from work today and picked up both a 0-5k ohm and 0-10k ohm potentiometers.

I played with hooking up the 0-10k up to the Curtis controller. Works just fine like that. I saw on the box that the pots twist 300 degrees - too far to have turn from pressing the gas pedal- er, GO pedal.

By using the 0-10K pot, it only has to turn half as far. If you twist it TOO far, power to the motor does cut out. It reads anything above 5K ohms as an error and stops spinning the motor until you bring the resistance signal back down to 5K.

Here's the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXOX0mp-1Po

[Daox]

Video isn't avaliable anymore?

[dremd]

just an fyi I've heard that some radio shack pots wear out to quickly when used as volume controls. But heck; even if they do wear out they are inexpensive.