Break Time

I am on Spring Break this week so I should be able to work on the little things on the EV. The FB1-4001A, transmission and related parts have been dropped off at the machine shop and I should be contacted this coming week with a quote on it. So I probably won't be installing the motor this week, but I have a load of other things to do. They include the following:

• Rebuild Control Board on steel plate
  
• Install DC/DC converter
• Wire LCD AMP Meter
• Make metal battery straps

Of course who knows how much I will actually get done. I have been setting goals, and to be realistic, my goal is about one of those a day. Instead of "getting it done" I will get little things done, one at a time, and eventually it will be "Done".

I have decided to use a DC/DC converter in my EV since the AUX 12 volt just isn't up to the task for very long. I actually got a DC/DC converter with my big lot of EV parts, but it was for 120/140 volt EVs. I actually tried to sell it, and instead got an offer to trade it for a similar DC/DC converter designed for a 96 volt system! PERFECT! It should arrive on Wednesday according to FEDEX, and then I will be able to actually drive my EV at night! The 12 volt battery isn't powerful enough to run everything, including headlights at night. Headlights were actually designed to run at 13.5-14.5 volts, not 12 volts. And they are VERY DIM at 12 volts.

Meanwhile, I have been cleaning up the basement and taking an inventory of EV parts left over. I have quite a substantial amount, almost enough for a full EV conversion, like a motorcycle, VW Bug or a Geo Metro. While the ADC K99-4007 worked in my EV, it would be much better in a Bug or Metro that is 1,000 lbs lighter and with a manual transmission to keep the RPMs higher.

Revisions

I just had to post this picture. I removed the K99-4007 today and decided to place it next to the FB1-4001A to see the difference. And WOW what a huge difference. When I first got the K99-4007 I thought it was huge and heavy. Well after a few weeks of moving around the FB1-4001A I picked up the K99 and found it to be light. This picture really doesn't do it justice.

When comparing these two together, it's amazing that the K99 pushed a Civic upwards of 40 MPH, so what is the FB1-4001A going to do? I really didn't think there was much of a difference when I had the two motors separated, mainly since my memory thought the K99 was bigger than it really is.

So the FB1-4001A, spare transmission and coupling will be going to the machine shop on Monday!

I am taking this opportunity to work on the gauges and the control board. Right now my AMP meter is a volt meter sitting on the passenger side floor so I want to install the real backlit meter I bought. My control board consists of all my high powered systems tie wrapped to an old closet shelf, so it looks tacky and unprofessional. I want to get a aluminum plate or a metal sheet to mount the control systems.

Motor Prep

While things have been busy, I have found the time to contact the machine shop and get ready for the new plates. This past weekend was spent finalizing the drawings for the new plates and prepping the motor for installation. I still have my spare transmission I used for making the first plates, so I will use that again. The machine shop will get the FB1-4001A, the spare A4RA Automatic Transmission and the coupling.

It's snowing like crazy now, but later in the week I will be removing the K99-4007 from the Civic and getting out the coupling to give to the machine shop. The Civic should only be off the road for 1 or 2 weeks while the new plates are being made, then I will install it during Spring break. I also plan on finalizing the hood section of the EV, with an aluminum mounting board and splash protection for the components.