The '99 Ford Ranger conversion running the MetricMind/Siemens AC system is making its first few trips (have about 1/2 dozen cycles on the 27 optimas).
I showed the truck last weekend at the Texas Renewable Energy Roundup in Fredricksburg. We towed the truck out there, but I foolishly forgot the tow hitch for the return trip. So two EVs, one trailer, and 65 miles from Austin. I drove the first run, between Fredericksburg and Johnson City, about 29.7 miles. The truck consumed about 25ah according to the Emeter, average current travelling at 55mph was floating about 50-55amps. As we approached Johnson City the pack was dropping into the 287VDC (10.6volts per battery) range under light acceleration, and mid 270VDC if I wasn't careful. Question 1: is the emeter's ah rating "honest" or is it being adjusted for Puekert? (currently I still have the default, wrong value entered..) Question 2: What are some sane values to enter into the emeter for total AH, Puekert, "charged" voltage and the other values for my pack of Optimas? Victor recently stated that he calculates 36ah as dead on his Optimas... why do mine seem to be getting so much less? It seems a fairly large difference to attribute to break in. (May be related to question 1) I have one battery that seems to be way off the others and is going to be swapped for the spare. It is often .3 volts less than the others. The rest of the pack is still fairly out of sync, it often takes the Mk2 Regs several hours to get everyone flashing. I'll try to get voltage measurements and post. The battery dealer swore they were all from the same lot, but some had plastics caps, some didn't. All were made in the same month though... The only "easy" answer I can see is that the emeter is wrong about ah, and I'm consuming more power than I should, due to a dragging brake, the lack of an alignment job, no aerodynamic improvements.. etc Thoughts? I think I have won the award for most expensive adapter plate. After adding up the costs and all the remakes it was more than $2200. The Siemens drive is a bueatiful piece of hardware, but that outside spline is a royal PITA. I eventually solved the spline issue by purchasing a large 3" ID bearing, pressing my hub into that, and milling the adapter plate to carry the hub. This way the spline is only transferring torque, as its designed to, and the alignment/supporting of the hub is done by the bearing. Chris Robinson has some pictures, maybe he can post them? Mark Farver -- "The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." -- Justice Louis O. Brandeis, Olmstead vs. United States
