Re: Newbie with an extreme EV Grin

["Mitchell Oates" <mitchoates@prodigy.net>]

      If your SOC meter is reading 100% after a 20 mile run, IT IS 
NOT WORKING!  Right now, you're driving blind without any idea of 
what's left in your battery pack.
      At best, with 220 ahr C/20 golf cart batteries and a modern 
PWM controller, if the meter were functioning properly it should be 
reading around 50% to 60% SOC for that long a run.
     From what I've seen of these trucks, with EV-1 controllers still 
installed, a 20 mile run was coming dangerously close to running 
your brand new batteries deader than a doornail.
     If your statement that you had "plenty of battery left" was based 
on your SOC meter, I'm afraid that you're sadly mistaken.
     A few people on the list have dealt with repairing these Jet 
Industries SOC meters, and can give you tips on how to trouble 
shoot and repair them.
     I'd also suggest some additional instrumentation. You can 
easily mount one of the 3 space 2" diameter gauge holders under 
the left hand side of the dash. For the time being, I'd go with at 
least an expanded scale analog main pack voltmeter, and if you're 
still running a total loss 12V system (just a 12V deep cycle battery 
charged by the Lester), a good quality 12V voltmeter.
     By a quality 12V meter, I'm talking one of the Westberg type 
gauges sold by one of the EV suppliers. From my experience, the 
voltmeters sold in auto parts stores are next to worthless and only 
good for telling you when the alternator has quit working in an ICE 
vehicle.
     For a new set of batteries, you need to put at least 20 to 30 
cycles on them before they're properly broke in. Until you can get 
the SOC meter repaired and/or add a main pack voltmeter, I 
wouldn't go any farther than 10 to 15 miles with the EV-1 installed.
     Lee Hart offered the best explanation of why vehicles with EV-1 
controllers usually get such crappy range. Basically, the firing of 
the SCR's create some horrendous current spikes, and unless 
there is an inductor installed to smooth out these spikes, they 
hammer the batteries and end up wasting a good part of your 
pack's capacity thru Peukert losses and heating up lead. You may 
have also noticed the "cat in heat" howl that an EV-1 makes that 
goes up and down in pitch and volume depending on throttle 
position.
     Of all the Jet Industries pickups I've seen, none had the 
necessary inductor installed, and did well to get anything much 
over 20 miles range with an EV-1. Given that yours is an '82, it is 
possible that someone finally got it right and installed the 
necessary inductor inside the EV-1. However, until you can get 
some working instrumentation to tell you what's going on with your 
battery pack, I'd stick with a 10 to 15 mile limit to keep from 
running your batteries dead.
     100 amps at 50 in 4th sounds good, looks as if the drivetrain 
and running gear are still in good working order. You can actually 
run at 50 in 3rd gear on level ground. Might want to try this and see 
what your amp draw is.

                                               Mitch Oates