Search found 219 matches

by Renard
Sat, 20 Sep 2014, 03:41
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

I have started to doubt the Kilovac EV200 contactors. One of my intra-pack Kilovac contactors failed recently. The contactor clicks and draws the right coil current but there is still an open circuit across the main terminals. I'm not sure how it happened, but I think it must have occurred whilst op...
by Renard
Mon, 31 Mar 2014, 22:35
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

Can you give more detail on what you mean by "a big hiccup" here. It's like flooring the accelerator on a petrol car: it gasps and then leaps forward. Similarly, with the WS, there is a momentary loss of power before the current kicks back in, the transmission goes 'clunk' and the car the...
by Renard
Mon, 31 Mar 2014, 16:05
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

On another matter, I see that Weber has finally succeeded in having Tritium increase the WS rpm report from 5Hz. If this appears in a new firmware update, it might cure the issue I experience whereby jamming down the accelerator produces a big hiccup from the WS. At present I simply ensure that I do...
by Renard
Mon, 31 Mar 2014, 16:02
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

Well, we have moved house after 19 years. I knew we had to do it, as to leave it any longer would mean we'd be too old to consider it, and we'd be just stuck in a place we had finished with. But the effort has been huge, and of course the BMW has been relegated to a very low priority, what with prep...
by Renard
Thu, 13 Mar 2014, 02:19
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

From this, Newton and I conclude that the left engine mount is probably torn, due to a combination of age and about twice the torque of the original motor. New mounts are on the way. I see from your earlier post http://forums.aeva.asn.au/viewtopic.php?title=weber-and-coulombs-mx5&t=980&p=29...
by Renard
Fri, 07 Mar 2014, 02:57
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

It turned out that one of the two DC-DC converters had failed But that left us free to do a post mortem on the old one, potted in silicone though it was. We also found out why our 12 V battery was tending to go flat if the car wasn't used for a week. There were four 1k5 resistors across the output....
by Renard
Thu, 06 Mar 2014, 15:28
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

Stuff that just works --------------------- We seem to be mainly talking about the problems we're still working on. I thought it might be nice to take stock of the stuff that just works. Implied in all the above is the fact that lots of other electrical things are working flawlessly: The ABB motor,...
by Renard
Sat, 11 Jan 2014, 19:31
Forum: EV Motoring
Topic: DC Fast Charger location question
Replies: 43
Views: 5171

DC Fast Charger location question

Service stations in the country don't make their money selling petrol, it's all the coffees, burgers, chips, cokes etc that pay. And having to sit around while the car charges means a captive market for all kinds of stuff. That's why an FC station at a service complex is potentially lucrative. You j...
by Renard
Fri, 03 Jan 2014, 00:44
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: seligtype3 1969 Volkswagen Type 3
Replies: 196
Views: 65472

seligtype3 1969 Volkswagen Type 3

I've come up against a aux battery drain problem though. I've wired the DC/DC convertor to the small 12V 7amp hour cell, this supply then runs up to the e-stop in the dash and onto the rest of the car via the fuse box etc. When the e-stop is open and everything is turned off the aux battery is drai...
by Renard
Wed, 18 Dec 2013, 01:20
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

Thanks, Weber. I hadn't really thought through the gate drive issues.

After I install my new fan, the insulation monitor will be my next little project -- sometime!
by Renard
Tue, 17 Dec 2013, 14:18
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

   So we are not trying to detect a leakage current . A leakage resistance maybe, but ... What we really want to know is what current will flow through _a_human_being_ that touches both chassis and either of HazV- or HazV+. I finally found the accepted name for this, in standards other than NCOP14 ...
by Renard
Sat, 14 Dec 2013, 23:39
Forum: General EV Discussion
Topic: DIY Game Changer?
Replies: 41
Views: 6772

DIY Game Changer?

An interesting set of reflections on EVs. A personal position: for me, it was a challenge which I have enjoyed. Furthermore, being in the country, I have 200km+ range which is not yet available in a commercial offering. I have provided myself with a 98 3-series BMW in fully electric. It was, and sti...
by Renard
Thu, 12 Dec 2013, 23:07
Forum: Parts & Suppliers
Topic: 1000V DC relay
Replies: 4
Views: 3706

1000V DC relay

Mouser has just sent me a notice about Panasonic relays.

This type HEV2aN-P-DC12V is rated at 20A 1000V DC.
http://pewa.panasonic.com/assets/pcsd/c ... atalog.pdf

It's expensive at US$135, but its smallish, cubical form (41 x 50 x 40) may be useful in some applications.
by Renard
Thu, 12 Dec 2013, 19:29
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

Motor temperature is displayed on the temperature gauge (aggregated with controller temperature). There's no easy way to tell the difference between motor and controller temp. We have to plug the netbook into the ethernet socket under the glove-box to see that. But in our experience so far the read...
by Renard
Sat, 30 Nov 2013, 20:00
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

BTW, We now know what The MX-5's range is. It's 15 km less than it needed to be to get my wife and I home last night! It did 114 km on one charge (27 kWh pack) with about half of that being at over 90 km/h). Oh dear; I sympathise -- it's a nasty feeling. But 27000/114 = 236. That seems high. Is the...
by Renard
Fri, 22 Nov 2013, 20:53
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

So what ramp and cutoff temperatures have you set in the WaveSculptor configuration for your motor? We have 140^C and 150^C. So far we haven't seen more than 100^C, this was from driving up Mt Coot-tha at 50 km/h (the speed limit). I'm assuming you have the Tritium CAN/Ethernet bridge. If so, you c...
by Renard
Fri, 22 Nov 2013, 17:05
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

The only time it comes on is in stop-start slow traffic (direct drive) and generally goes off again after about 5 minutes of normal driving. The controller runs the relay driver and it's set to come on at 60 degrees winding temp - I don't practise what I preach and don't like the motor getting too ...
by Renard
Fri, 22 Nov 2013, 16:52
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

From Wikipedia: "The temperature class indicates the temperature of the wire where it has a 20,000 hour service life." "Insulation does not suddenly fail if the hot-spot temperature is reached, but useful operating life declines rapidly; a rule of thumb is a halving of life for every...
by Renard
Thu, 21 Nov 2013, 23:57
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

The existing fan, recommended by Tritium, is a powerful little thing for a 120x120 unit. Its performance curve has zero volume at 350Pa and maximum volume of 355m^3/hr at zero pressure, with an inverse, approximately linear response of pressure and volume between these limits. I had been considering...
by Renard
Thu, 21 Nov 2013, 23:54
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Renard's BMW
Replies: 237
Views: 42391

Renard's BMW

At more or less the same time as the WS base coolant leak, I also suffered a breakdown at the local market. I had a neighbour tow me the 10km home, and then sent the WS off to Tritium. This was in late August. Then, with the WS base replaced, I still had the breakdown fault to deal with. Meanwhile I...
by Renard
Fri, 11 Oct 2013, 19:07
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: 4Springs' Brumby
Replies: 336
Views: 99553

4Springs' Brumby

The 0-5V current control, coupled with a control system and the BMSs will make a much better charge-and-forget system where you just never have to think about cell balance. If you can select a charge rate at or just under the BMSs cell balance current then enter that mode when any cell hits the byp...
by Renard
Thu, 10 Oct 2013, 01:44
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

jonescg wrote: I hope 150 A is the continuous rating. It would be great to see an Australian competitor to the Rinehart or the Sevcon.

Continuous?

The motor would be dissipating about 10kW continuously?
by Renard
Wed, 09 Oct 2013, 19:30
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

here are the two mad professors celebrating, and toasting absent friends I have just had a request from my wife, who has been accidentally exposed to all your posts, to pass on her congratulations. She is happy to put faces to the two names which she has heard for so long. I had to point out to her...
by Renard
Thu, 03 Oct 2013, 14:31
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

Thanks guys! I was only annoyed that he couldn't tell us in advance what that requirement was. But it turns out that's not his fault. There are no regulations about it. It seems that it is assumed in the regs, that vacuum for brake boosting is instantaneous and unlimited, coming as it used to from ...
by Renard
Wed, 02 Oct 2013, 22:23
Forum: Members Machines
Topic: Weber and Coulomb's MX-5
Replies: 1698
Views: 473051

Weber and Coulomb's MX-5

Great news!

I suspect that an engineer needs to get you to do something to feel that he's doing his job.

Just as a matter of interest, what date did you start?

Edit: In NSW we don't get a plate, just a paper certificate.