Sunday, September 27, 2009

Open Source controller install

I finally got the re-done version of the open source controller and installed it in the car.

It doesn't LOOK like much, but works well and is a heck of a lot cheaper than BUYING a new one.

I am still running the car at 72V, but now have the ability to up the system voltage just by adding batteries.

I think a 96V system might work well in the long-run, as I only need to make room for two more batteries, my charger supports up to 108 volts, and my voltmeter only goes to 100!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Chris Cycle update Sept 20 2009

Yesterday was another EV Build Day with the Milwaukee Electric Car Club.

We did some work on Chris' Motorcycle. Rich bent up some tube for the right-hand section of the frame to replace where the gas engine and transmission filled in.

Chris worked on the motor mounting plate, which will hold the electric motor in place to connect it to the drive shaft.

We still aren't sure what the batteries will be yet, but we do have three Group 24 Interstate 12V batteries kicking around that I think we will start off with.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

500A Motor Controller First Tests in Golf Cart

Home-Built EV controllers seem to be all the rage lately.

Last weeks video of the Lectric Leopard featured a very high-end home-built controller with some very slick features.

This video shows a controller built on the OpenRevolt project, which can be found at Ecomodder.com in the Fossil Fuel Free forum under "Paul and Sabrina's Cheap EV Controller".

What's great about controllers like these is that they can be built by everyday people who have no particular electronics skills.

It is literally "Power to the People".

Enjoy the video.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Lectric Leopard and Jerry Asher visit

Last night, a few of us local EVer's got together in Madison, Wisconsin.

The main reason was that Jerry Asher was coming through town. Jerry is a board member of the Electric Automobile Association, a proud supporter of all EV's, and a great guy. He has toured the country in his Plug-In Prius, THE SPIRIT OF DC, and is involved in other EVents, such as the recent POWER OF DC electric drag racing event.

Besides the guys in attendance, there was also one Lectric Leopard in the back parking lot. One of the guys has been hard at work on a high-end, homebuilt motor controller.

This video is from right after he did a "firmware update" on the controller - reprogramming it into "fun-mode".

In all, a last-minute, informal, very fun event!