evTD Gets LED Headlights

I'm still trying to get the 12 volt system under control on the evTD. Whenever the cooling fans and pump are running (most of the time here in Texas) and I turn on the headlights, the voltage sags below 12 volts. There's a momentary shudder and error light from the Soleton1 controller due to current inrush to the sealed beam headlights. Even after it recovers, the lighting still seems dim and yellowish and the high beams pull down the voltage further and cause the controller error light to flash. I replaced all of the secondary lights with LEDs a couple of years ago with limited success, so it's time to have a go at the headlights.

I ordered a set of Truck-Lite LED 7 inch round headlights. The prices have come down significantly over the last couple of years, but they are still a bit pricy compared to sealed beams. These are advertised for Jeeps mostly, although they do reference "other classic cars". They have a standard plug connection that is compatible with the old sealed beams and they are an easy and direct replacement.

Here are some before and after photos:

Sealed Beam Headlights

Sealed Beam Pattern

LED Headlights

LED Pattern

I am very pleased with the optics of the new lamps: the light is whiter and more intense than the old sealed beams. It makes night vision much better and I think I'll put a set on the PorschEV just because of the improvement for driving after dark. The voltage sag results are a mixed bag: no more controller shudder when turning on the lights and the voltage holds just above 12 volts with the cooling system running, but with high beams voltage drops below 12 volts and turns on the error light. These lamps are rated for 1.8 amps draw on low beams and 3.6 amps for high beams so at this point I think I need to look at the cooling fans and pump to see if I can cut back on the current draw and subsequent sag they are causing, Stay tuned ...

Visual Tour and Road Test Video

This is a follow up to our last posting, once again shown as part of Jack Rickard's EVTV.ME video, this time the June 17, 2016 episode. My segment starts at about the 33:40 mark.

There is lots of fascinating (geeky) information about Tesla drive trains and the next version of the GEVCU (Generalized Electric Vehicle Control Unit), also a look at the inside of a burned out Tesla inverter. It's a worthwhile hour and forty five minutes, but if you'd like to have a look at just the PorschEV segment, here it is:

Thanks for watching!

Project Summary Video

I shot a short video this week for Jack Rickard and EVTV.ME that covers the year long build-out of the PorschEV in a seven and a half minute segment. Here's Jack's show of May 27, 2016. My segment starts at the 6:57 mark.

Jack's explanation of the EV adoption curve and his new Chademo fast charge station is very interesting, so I'd encourage you to watch the whole thing. All of his shows are archived, so you can go back and watch them here.

If you'd rather just watch the PorschEV segment, it's available below:

I plan to produce a live walk-around and road test video soon, so stay tuned ...

Pulling It All Together

There have been separate blogs for each of my Electric Vehicle projects, and it seems like a good time to pull them all together in one place, along with the commercial EV's that have also been in the mix. So this page, Adventures in EV Land, will be the source for news and information for all of the family EV's going forward. All the individual project pages are linked at the top of the page.

The first news item regards the Second Annual Cedar Park High School Cross Country Car & Motorcycle Show held May 21, 2016. The show was organized by my friend Robert Juarez, who did all the fabrication, body, and paint work on both the evTD and the PorschEV, and benefited the Cedar Park HS Cross Country Team. It was an honor to show both cars, and a thrill to win "Best in Class" for the evTD. Truth is, mine were the only entries in the EV class, so how could I lose?

Here is a sampling of the other cars in the show: