OwnerTom Wolfe
LocationCedar Park ( Austin suburb), Texas US map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1999 Ford Ranger
Jalapeno green pickup
MotorAdvanced DC FB14001A Series Wound DC
Drivetrain5 speed manual clutch less
ControllerCurtis 1231C 8601
Batteries24 US Battery 145, 6.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded
System Voltage144 Volts
Charger
Quick Charge Programmable OP-144-20 20Amps 144VDC 230VAC

Quick Charge Programmable OP-144-8
8Amps 144VDC 115VAC
DC/DC ConverterAstrodyne SP-480 DC-DC Converter
132-370VDC Input
EV Miles
Start:87,000 Miles (139,983 Kilometers)
Current:87,000 Miles (139,983 Kilometers)
Total:0 Miles (0 Kilometers)
Start engine removal 7/21/08.
08/04/08 Got everything removed, waiting on delivery of motor and all electrical components. Will start welding up battery racks this weekend. Plan to pick up US batteries next week or so.
8/25/08 Decided to put 7 batteries under the bed behind the axle and cut an access panel in the bed floor. 15 batteries will be in the front of the bed and 2 under the hood. Battery racks are complete and I installed new shocks and Firestone airbags. The airbags are great, with only 7 batteries the back end was very low, the airbags raised it right up.
I got my motor and most of the other parts. The 2 chargers and cables were supposed the be drop shipped but it's been 3 weeks and I still have not received them. I mailed my clutch disc to EV America's machine shop to have the coupler made but it apparently got lost in the mail. If it doesn't show up this week I will have to find another disc. Right now I'm almost to the point of not being able to proceed without the coupler.
8/31/08 Received the welding cables. Still waiting for the chargers. EV America is going to replace my clutch disc, excellent customer service, more than I expected. Loaded the batteries in the rear racks, need to make a cover and tie downs.
9/27/08 Motor coupler is in transit, due 9/30. I bought a crimper and made up most of the battery cables. I connected all the batteries and got 147V. The chargers arrived yesterday and I connected the 115V A/C charger. I was surprised at how low the batteries indicated, about 15% charge. After 15hrs they are at 99% and bubbling pretty good, I hope this is normal. I just checked and the charger has shut off, about 16hrs, and the voltage is 155V.
10/05 I finally got the coupler. I was pleased with the quality and the new way to get everything aligned. The clutch disc and coupler are temporarily pinned to the adapter plate. It makes it very easy to get perfect alignment. I got the motor and transmission connected and test run on 12V, runs very smooth. The motor and transmission are in place and I am working on the motor mount. It is a little tricky on a Ranger because the original engine mounts are offset, the right side is about 3" forward of the left. I think I have it figured out and will finish it tomorrow. Then comes the control board and controls. More pictures on the Web Page photo album.

code by jerry