ProEV - Electric Imp Test Log #14

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Electric Imp Testing Log

April 17, 2003, Thursday - Testing Begins.
April 18, 2003, Friday - It's the batteries, stupid!
April 19, 2003, Saturday - Small Steps.
May 5, 2003, Monday - Keeping the Motor from Braking.
May 6, 2003, Tuesday - Slowing with Regenerative Braking.
May 8, 2003, Thursday - Better Regen.
May 9, 2003, Friday - The first test drive.
May 10, 2003, Saturday - Upping the Amps 1.
May 12, 2003, Monday - Upping the Amps 2.
May 13, 2003, Tuesday - Upping the Amps 3.
May 14, 2003, Wednesday - The pack is put on charge.
May 15, 2003, Thursday- Slow Going.
May 20, 2003, Tuesday - Battery Killing.

June 2, 2003 -Monday

Onward: The car is ready for testing again. The front half shafts have arrived and we now have two motors to play with. This could be big fun, I think, but I creep out at a 25 amp per motor limit.

I can easily get up to the road's 25 mph limit. I start doing our 2.8 mile testing circle with it's multiple stops and starts. My main instrument is a digital voltmeter directly in front of the steering wheel watching, what we hope is our weakest battery. I watch the voltage drop under load. As the laps go by, I have to be lighter on the throttle to keep the battery above 1.4 volts. After 5 laps (about 14 miles), I am pretty sure that I cannot complete another lap.

The Imp goes up on jacks. #092 is still reading 1.886 under 4 amps load but we discover # 133 has already dropped to 1.5 volts. Total Kwh used is 4.877.

Front motor stats

Rear motor stats

Recharge.

June 5, 2003, Thursday - Another battery bites the dust.
June 7, 2003, Saturday - Checking the charge.
June 10, 2003, Tuesday - Darwin thins the herd.
June 11, 2003, Wednesday - 10 mile run.
June 13, 2003, Friday - Getting the motors to work together.
June 16, 2003, Monday - Balancing the motor draws.
June 17, 2003, Tuesday - Align the car.
June 21, 2003, Saturday - One step forward, one back.
June, 2003 - April, 2004.

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