tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216239883672830852.post927825623577370253..comments2022-11-07T02:42:52.750-08:00Comments on Project: Electric Booger: A Little Summer MaintenanceJames Vothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723505975736049507noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216239883672830852.post-50540365517268778312014-08-16T22:17:55.647-07:002014-08-16T22:17:55.647-07:00Hey! I saw on Ecomodder that Darin got rid of the ...Hey! I saw on Ecomodder that Darin got rid of the remnants of the Forkenswift. A sad sad, but exciting for you!<br /><br />The initial reason for sticking with 72V was cost. My used Alltrax 7245 controller was $300 on eBay, where the popular higher voltage Curtis controllers cost $1000+.<br /><br />Another reason was my mishmash of batteries. Using different batteries in the same pack required the use of individual 12V chargers. Keeping the pack balanced with a single charger would be impossible. I tried at one point. It was bad. Very bad. With 72V I only require six 12V chargers.<br /><br />As for the Forkenswift's ex-motor, I have found that 72V is close to the limit for this motor. At 450A (the limit of my controller), 68V (my battery pack at full power sag voltage) at the motor happens at 3500 RPM. People on diyelectriccar.com suggested that I keep if below 4000 RPM other than brief periods. So using quick math 4500 RPM at 450A requires a 92V pack (72/3500*4500). With less current available with the popular 400A Curtis, that would require a 81V pack (92/450*400). Of course, you can go as high with pack voltage as you want, and as long as you don't rev the motor too high, there is nothing to worry about. For example, a 450A, 200V controller will still only put 68V to the motor at 3500 RPM because that's all the voltage required to reach peak current with this motor.<br /><br />Anyway, I wish you much success!James Vothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09723505975736049507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216239883672830852.post-84918587736147408282014-08-13T17:10:47.305-07:002014-08-13T17:10:47.305-07:00Hi James; I recently bought the Electrical compo...Hi James; I recently bought the Electrical components from The Forkenswift. Darin is more into Sailing than cars and drives only when he need to use the highway. He walks and bikes around Brockville. I will be installing the system in a Honda Civic at 96 Volts. Using 10 12 volt deep cycle batteries. I was wondering why you didn't go with 96 or 120 volts... I do know if I had a Volkswagon New Beetle or a Smart Car I would go with 72, 84, or 96 volts. All depending what they could handle when it comes to batteries. But for now, i will stick with 48 volts until i can get a 72 -120 volt controller.Yohnel.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216239883672830852.post-24744435229797767702014-07-20T12:48:51.313-07:002014-07-20T12:48:51.313-07:00The farthest I have gone is 26 km. Of course on lo...The farthest I have gone is 26 km. Of course on long journey I hypermile as best as I can (NO BRAKES NO BRAKES!!). This route was over small hills and maybe a dozen stops/traffic lights. And it had lots of juice left by the end. I'm sure 40 km is achievable with some care. I definitely see a reduction in kWh/mile when I drive carefully.<br /><br />As far as a generator goes, the chargers draw 1050 kW. They add 3.8 km per hour of charging. That's not fast, and wouldn't really add much range as you drove.James Vothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09723505975736049507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216239883672830852.post-12899660515900566972014-07-19T20:27:31.973-07:002014-07-19T20:27:31.973-07:00Thanks James. The "commute" I sometimes...Thanks James. The "commute" I sometimes make is about 32 km, but almost all flat, partly on good gravel road, part pavement. Have you driven the Booger that far ever? I guess a guy could put a small generator in the passenger seat for back-up! (would it then be a hybrid?!) Im an avid hypermiler....how much does that type of driving affect the range in something like the Booger?<br /><br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216239883672830852.post-74518438920153428562014-07-18T06:11:25.730-07:002014-07-18T06:11:25.730-07:00I suspect the batteries should last many years. So...I suspect the batteries should last many years. So far I haven't noticed any degradation at all, but my commutes are short, so it's hard to tell.<br />The front end seems to be okay. No clunks are funny squeaks. The brakes are in very good shape. The tires are average, but since they see so few miles, they will probably die from age before the tread is gone.<br />As for your inspection goes, unless they get all weird about batteries being inside the car (even though these are sealed AGM batteries), I can't see it being a problem.James Vothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09723505975736049507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216239883672830852.post-71499621429923012652014-07-17T21:11:21.291-07:002014-07-17T21:11:21.291-07:00Hello...noticed your car on Ecomodder, and again i...Hello...noticed your car on Ecomodder, and again in Craigslist. Interesting! I am somewhat interested in such a vehicle....biggest obstacle is I am living in Saskatchewan for the time being, so that whole provincial inspection process comes into play..what a pain. Also winters here are, well....Sask winters! So it'd be a 5 month use vehicle I would think. Insurance relatively cheap though. How long are batteries likely to last? How is the front end? Brakes, tires etc ok? Thanks!.....JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com