Re: Ideas for the new EVer

[Lane Gustafson <lane@copperaccents.com>]

As a newbie who is thinking about doing a conversion, I love reading these
types of posts. Is there a FAQ, or one place that all these types of
information is kept?

Thanks
Lane

Lee Hart wrote:

> In some off-list correspondence with a new EV owner, I described some
> things that new EVers tend to do wrong, and some simple indicators to
> prevent damage. Without these indicators, people don't know they are
> doing anything wrong (until it's too late!). They have all been
> mentioned before, but maybe others would like to see it as well.
>
> 1. Don't drive until the batteries are so dead that it barely moves.
>
> <a big snip>

> 6. Don't roll backwards with the car in a forward gear (or vice versa).

> Series motors become series generators if they are turned backwards.

> Most controllers are not protected against the huge currents they can
> generate. Nothing happens at first, but as the motor gains speed, it
> reaches a threshold where the generated voltage exceeds the forward
> voltage drop of the freewheel diode in the controller, and BANG! It's as
> if you slammed on the brakes. The current surge can kill the controller.
> --
> Lee A. Hart                Ring the bells that still can ring
> 814 8th Ave. N.            Forget your perfect offering
> Sartell, MN 56377 USA      There is a crack in everything
> leeahart_at_earthlink.net  That's how the light gets in - Leonard Cohen