Spring fever

[Jim Coate <jcoate@massed.net>]

So with the return of nice weather, spring fever stuck, and rational
planned decision making went out the window and I put new batteries in
the truck so I could get it back on the road _now_.  Not top quality,
but...
Got the T105 knock-off's at Sam's, some aluminum stock at Home Depot
last night, and went to it (amazing what decisions you make when limited
by what stores are open late...).  It is on the charger now...
anticipation building.  I'm hoping for at least a 15 mile comfortable
range, with 20 miles doable and 25 if I really push it.

The GC-2 batteries have the combo terminal (automotive post with 5/16"
threaded post sticking out the top) so my old jumpers didn't fit.  So my
experiment is aluminum bars between neighboring batteries, 1/8" thick x
2" wide " x 7" long with 5/16" x 9/16" slots 6" OC.  I did this before
reading the post about allowing for flexing... maybe it will act like
scissors and pivot at the terminals rather than tearing any terminals
apart... yeah, that's it.  Maybe I'll look into replacing 'em with
welding cable (but when shopping during daytime hours).  I reused the
existing copper cables between battery boxes as they worked as-is.

Meanwhile, assuming this gets me on the road, I'll go ahead with a new
controller and see what the extra motor current does for satisfying my
needs and then make a real decision about pack voltage...

_________
Jim Coate, jcoate@massed.net
1992 S-10, http://www.channel1.com/users/jcoate/ev