Sunday, July 31, 2011

Turning The Page

Today was the last day the old engine will run in this car. I drained the coolant and the disassembly begins.

I definitely won't miss this engine or any conventional engine. A professional mechanic advised me to wear latex gloves during the work. Never did before, but many of the greases and oils cause cancer. Hmmm. I'm using gloves now. The coolant is the standard ethylene glycol, which is really toxic. The radiator stopcock valve should have been a simple turn and drain, but somehow it sprayed and spilled glycol all over the place. Maybe it was defective. Whatever. I used to enjoy working on engines a lot as a teenager, but really I just hate it now. In contrast to today's much more complex gas engine systems, the alternative is looking so clean and so much simpler.

Tomorrow, out comes the radiator and the exhaust system. I'm loving the direction that this is headed.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Speed Controller Arrived!

The Soliton 1 speed controller just arrived! This is the thing that uses a signal from the "gas pedal" and sends power from the batteries to the motor. It can send up to 1000A. It weighs 31 pounds — one beefy brick. That's a quarter next to it.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Hunting Wires

Last weekend was spent hunting down wires for ignition, start, brake, etc. Progress was good and next up are signal wires, like speedometer, tach, instrument lights and gauges.

Once the wires are identified, out comes the old engine for good!

Monday, July 4, 2011

Power Supply

How's this for a bumper sticker? "Solar: it's how we roll."

The power supply for the electric car will be primarily solar and wind. We have a set of panels on the house now and are adding a windmill this Fall. We are planning on more solar for the barn. It's the peel and stick kind that just fits directly onto a standing seam roof.

Here it is:

Friday, July 1, 2011

Motor Here

The electric motor arrived yesterday. It was agonizing. I was working from home (on a big deadline) and really couldn't do anything more than sign for it.

Tomorrow we're getting an engine lift. Before the old engine comes out though, the wires need to be identified. Tach sensor, tach display, instrument lights, etc.