Controller Mounted, Electronics Underway

The last big lump, the controller, is now installed in a location that does not require the tank to be cut (though cutting up the tank is still in the plans). I did need to move the solenoid lower. A pre-charge resistor was ordered to go across the solenoid power contacts and with some wiring, we should be ready to fire this baby up.



Investigating the controller capabilities and previous EV work indicates that the RS-232 port on the controller can be queried for voltage and current rates at BOTH sides of the controller; throttle position and controller temperature are pollable as well.

This is terrific because it saves me from installing analog gauges/cutting wires - instead the plan is to use an old Compaq IPAQ as my voltmeter and ammeter. By installing Linux on the IPAQ, I will be able to code in Python GTK to create a very flexible dashboard AND data logger AND battery meter. I'm practicing PythonGTK now and should be able to debug using a Linux laptop.

So I "Ebayed" an IPAQ H3650 and ordered it a new battery, a car charger, serial cable and CF flash reader for my laptop's PCMCIA port.

See, the gas tank fits!