Paul & Sabrina's Cheap EV Conversion

[MPaulHolmes]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Very cool & congratulations, Paul.

Admirable restraint was demonstrated in the face of comments from the first camera operator. Either that or you were concentrating really hard.

Thanks, Darin!

I'm used to his verbal abuse. On the whippersnapper scale, he's an 11 out of 10.

Today, we're going to Sears to get 2 new front tires, since the other ones are really bad. I hope we don't get a flat on the way there! The insurance is officially kicked into gear today! We might make a stop at the library, which has a special EV parking spot right up front where we can charge. I'm pretty sure it has never been used ever (except that time I brought my e-bike). I hope someone is parked there, so we can go inside and have them forcibly removed.

[bennelson]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

..at the library, which has a special EV parking spot...

Seriously? You have EV parking there?

I am SO jealous!

I just called my insurance agent today to get ready to start legally rolling around.

[MPaulHolmes]

Well, we drove the car from my parents' house to Sears, and then to mother in laws, for a total of about 8 miles. No problems. It was sort of scary going into traffic, and feeling pressured to accelerate a little more than I would want to. Also, I'm finally figuring out how to down-shift. I only used 1st and 2nd gear the whole time. If I was coasting, I would rev the motor and push toward 1st gear, and it would fall right in. No problem after I got a little practice. It's charging right now outside of my mother-in-laws house, at a rate of around 504 watts (Note: 504 = 7*12*6), since there are 7 twelve volt 6 amp chargers.

There is a big difference between flat roads and hills with respect to power usage! Geeze!

[MPaulHolmes]

Just drove to Les Schwab to get some new tires for the car. The front ones were REALLY bad. It was probably 4 miles round trip. It's charging outside right now. There was a moment when there was a high pitched squeak, squeak, squeak for a few seconds, probably coming from the motor or transmission. Could it be the bearings on the motor? Or perhaps, gasp, the crappo job of mating the motor to the transmission that was done.

[toyobug]

had a question...

[MPaulHolmes]

haha! Toyo! I have no idea how you subscribe. It seems that you figured it out, but all I know is that it magically happens somehow. I might go to the library today to charge up, mostly just to show off.

[toyobug]

well i guess deleting my "dumb @$$" question didn't work
I think I am becoming officially addicted to Ecomodder! Being over here in the bg sand box called Iraq, I have lots of time to read. The great thing is that I'm asleep while eveyone is "modding" and then posting. So when I wake up and sign in it's like xmas everyday with all the new posts.
Paul go show off and make us all proud! (and jealous!)

[MPaulHolmes]

I went to the library today to "check out a book". There was someone hogging the EV spot, and I was about to go in and have them removed, but they were leaving, so I plugged in. I went in the library, and then wandered around, and kept checking out the window to see of anyone was outside looking at it. Then when I was leaving, there was a retired MASTER machinist that had lots of questions. It was really interesting talking to him. I should have got his number! Dang it! I forgot. I bet he could have given me some tips about lathing and milling. Oh well.

I was going to bring the camera, but my wife went to Oregon to drop off my brother in law at school, and brought it with her.

There was still the occasional high pitch sound coming from the back, but it was only a few times for a few seconds each time. Maybe it could be the lovejoy half inside the transmission bell housing. It was taped so it would stay close to the other lovejoy half, but maybe it's sliding backward. It can only move like 1.5 mm until it butts against the transmission. Maybe that's what's happening? OH, who am I kidding. It's maybe because I'm not within 0.001 inches of center! Dang blast it. Maybe not though? I have no idea. I think I've heard similar sounds from regular cars too.

[bbjsw10]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

There was still the occasional high pitch sound coming from the back,

Maybe it is your Flux Capacitor, or maybe I need to go to bed.

[MPaulHolmes]

Originally Posted by bbjsw10

Maybe it is your Flux Capacitor, or maybe I need to go to bed.

My flux capacitor IS in the back! Holy cow! I didn't think of that!
It must not be functioning properly, because they are supposed to be silent.

Oh No, They found me. I don't know how, but they found me! Run for it Marty!!!

WHO?!!

Who do you think? The Libyans!

GREAT NEWS! That stupid piece of crap individual battery monitor doesn't work right now that it's all wired on the breadboard (to test it out). I had to improvise a bit, since I didn't have all the right size stuff, but it's all good. I'll figure it out.