Revolution!

Well, a big day this last weekend. The control board works. I got it all wired and installed in the car. Hooked it up to 8 batteries, turned the key, pressed the accelerator and the wheels turned. Very, very exciting! I need to get a clamp ammeter and make sure the DC/DC converter is sending juice back into the 12V battery, which I think it is, but I am very happy everything is functioning as it should.

Here is a picture of the final control board layout installed in the car. It looks like a bad eighth grade science project, but I don't care, it works. I won't be showing my car at any car shows any time soon.

ERX Control board

I also took some video of the RPM and speedo gauges as I tested the system out in 1st gear.

This weekend I will hook up the rest of the 36 batteries, put the controller in more of a test mode, and maybe get the car down onto its wheels. If I am lucky, I will convince my wife to let me drive it out of the garage and into the driveway and then back again. She wants me to get more life insurance before I start testing the car on the street which makes sense. I also still need to send my charger in to get adjusted for the latest number of batteries I am using and the charge profile I want, then mount it and wire it into the system.

After that, I need to wire and mount my EV gauges and I have a bunch of car work to do. I have some electrical problems to solve with windshield wipers, brake lights, head lights, horn, need a new Left Fender, etc. I hope to upgrade to Integra brake calipers, rotors and pads and need to wire and mount my vacuum pump for the power brakes. Wow, so much more to do, but the EV system is just about done.