Are you madabout kit cars      
 "We've Got Kit Cars Covered" Information about Madabout-Kitcars.com Contact Madabout-Kitcars.com         Home of UK kit cars - madabout-kitcars.com Various kit car write ups All the latest kit car news Kit car related and general discussion

Search
Manufacturers
Kit Cars
Kit Car Data sheets
Picture Gallery
SVA Knowledgebase
Clubs & Communities
Build cost estimator
Kit cars for sale
Knowledge Base 
KitcarUSA.com
Classic-Kitcars.com
 

Go Back   Madabout Kitcars Forum > Mad Build Area > Tribute Automotive Builds

Tribute Automotive Builds Discuss your Tribute kit build

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #281  
Old 21st January 2021, 14:21
Lucky@LeMans Lucky@LeMans is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,157
Lucky@LeMans is on a distinguished road
Default

One of blokes I worked with a while back was into model quadcopters / drones. The battery in one of those was the size of a match box and he dropped a fully charged one onto the concrete floor. It must have shorted out internally because it burst into flames, burned ferociously for 10 minutes and the fumes were horrendous. The same battery technology is in an electric car but hundreds of times bigger !

Last edited by Lucky@LeMans; 21st January 2021 at 19:41..
Reply With Quote
  #282  
Old 21st January 2021, 16:22
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

Wasn't the Czech (?) supercar that Hammond crashed an electric device- that burned rather well as I remember.

I've now sorted the electrics on mine- just got to get the trim panels back in now before refitting the driver's seat.
Reply With Quote
  #283  
Old 21st January 2021, 20:31
Mitchelkitman Mitchelkitman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: norfolk
Posts: 701
Mitchelkitman is on a distinguished road
Default

Tread with caution if planning to build an electric kit car - you have to know what's what ( I certainly don't) and a steep learning curve that kills you is to be avoided! For a short while I worked where electric cars (and IC cars) were being assembled and there were large GRP "shepherd's crooks" at regular points along the line for fishing out 'zapped' staff - scarey stuff.
Reply With Quote
  #284  
Old 21st January 2021, 20:53
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

GRP shepherd's crooks!!! It's surprising just how low a current is required to kill if applied in the wrong place.

That's why I was so glad to see how heavily fused the Z3 is. It's a relatively large battery and even cheap ones can provide a cranking current >400A. That's probably why the later cars have the "explosive" cutout in the starter circuit.
Reply With Quote
  #285  
Old 21st January 2021, 21:33
Mitchelkitman Mitchelkitman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: norfolk
Posts: 701
Mitchelkitman is on a distinguished road
Default

Isn't it the Volts that kill? In the car being built ISTR it was 450V.
I wasn't involved with them (I'm pleased to say)
Reply With Quote
  #286  
Old 22nd January 2021, 07:46
Mister Towed's Avatar
Mister Towed Mister Towed is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,328
Mister Towed is on a distinguished road
Default

I'm no electrician but I believe it's the current and length of time exposed that kill, the voltage is only relevant in terms of being able to 'push' enough current to do the job. Hence, police tasers run at around 50,000 volts and 18 amps, but it's delivered in bursts measured in microseconds, so is non-lethal (in most circumstances), while a domestic, 13amp, 240v socket is likely to kill you if you touch its insides without an RCD in the line.

As for electric cars, Trumpton are bloody terrified of them. We had a Nissan Leaf involved in a minor shunt (no pun intended) on my patch when I was a plod and the fire service treated it like an unexploded bomb, cordoning off the area, leaving it time to 'soak' and looking very anxious indeed when they started trying to disconnect things.

God help us all when everyone's driving electric...
Reply With Quote
  #287  
Old 22nd January 2021, 09:59
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

On the electrical installations I've been involved with, we're talking 800kVA here, there's been an easily accessible breaker capable of handling that to shut it down. Usually some big red buttons, suitably relayed to do it as well.

My Fury has a battery isolator on the dash. I have a "magnetic ball" cut-out for my Jago.
Reply With Quote
  #288  
Old 22nd January 2021, 11:51
WorldClassAccident WorldClassAccident is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,565
WorldClassAccident is on a distinguished road
Default

If you think of electric flow like a river

Volts = How fast the water is flowing
Amps = How much water is flowing past
Power = How hard it is to walk across
Reply With Quote
  #289  
Old 22nd January 2021, 12:33
molleur molleur is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,401
molleur is on a distinguished road
Default

brilliant! Never heard that one before. Perfect!
Reply With Quote
  #290  
Old 22nd January 2021, 15:29
Mitchelkitman Mitchelkitman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: norfolk
Posts: 701
Mitchelkitman is on a distinguished road
Default

I'm very pleased my 12V 600 cca car battery won't kill me, even if I put my thumbs on both terminals at once (contrary to what the missus would expect), but I wonder what 'combination' is required? I'm not about to experiment (contrary to what the missus may hope ). In addition to my car battery I'm also aware I've had shocks involving probably several thousand Volts, but miniscule amps from static electricity. Somewhere in the mix is the lethal voltage/current mix - does anyone here know?
Reply With Quote
  #291  
Old 22nd January 2021, 17:02
molleur molleur is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,401
molleur is on a distinguished road
Default

from 0.1 to 0.2 amps could be lethal.
Reply With Quote
  #292  
Old 22nd January 2021, 17:10
Mitchelkitman Mitchelkitman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: norfolk
Posts: 701
Mitchelkitman is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by molleur View Post
from 0.1 to 0.2 amps could be lethal.
At what voltage? I've been connected to 600 A at 12V with no known problem (apart from an inquisitive mind )
Reply With Quote
  #293  
Old 22nd January 2021, 17:30
Lucky@LeMans Lucky@LeMans is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,157
Lucky@LeMans is on a distinguished road
Default

I touched an electric fence as a kid just to see what it felt like ! Knocked me off my feet ! As an adult I've put my fingers in the wrong place on several occasions but I'm still here !
Reply With Quote
  #294  
Old 24th January 2021, 12:50
WorldClassAccident WorldClassAccident is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,565
WorldClassAccident is on a distinguished road
Default

I got a kick from an electric fence when I tried to fry a grass hopper. I learned that the current went straight through the grass hooper AND me before earthing. It was a learning experience I still remember.

I have had a few kicks from 240V domestic such as the time I was working on the pump in the pond and the wife thought turning the power back on so the garden lights might help. Tingles a bit as long as it is only a quick connection but the 3 or 4 seconds before she realised did seem quite a long time.

Remember holding the square 9V batteries against my tongue as a bet when I was a kid which also was refreshing.
Reply With Quote
  #295  
Old 24th January 2021, 17:36
Mister Towed's Avatar
Mister Towed Mister Towed is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,328
Mister Towed is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident View Post

I have had a few kicks from 240V domestic such as the time I was working on the pump in the pond and the wife thought turning the power back on so the garden lights might help.
"Oh, you're okay. I mean, thank goodness! I, er, thought the garden lights might help..."
Reply With Quote
  #296  
Old 25th January 2021, 07:30
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

I did get an interesting belt once from a moped engine I was playing with. Kept me doubled up for a few seconds. It was a Powerpak 50cc bicycle add-on. Basic Wipac magneto ignition.
Reply With Quote
  #297  
Old 13th September 2021, 07:47
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

Some of us are on the ZRoadster forum but I'm posting this here for those who are not.
I've been having intermittent starting problems. It was even dollied home by an AA man when it failed after an 8mile run from home to a spares shop.

My C110 scanner consistently showed an exhaust cam position sensor error. Clearing that allowed it to start.

So I went out to the Z300S yesterday morning and it would not start. I'd researched exhaust cam position sensors and their price range from £25 to £152. I cleaned up around the existing one- it's easy to get at on the front of the engine. I removed it and gave it a good go with WD40 and got it very clean. I replaced it and the engine started. Having been out for the day in another car, upon my return I tried- it started again. This could be a fix. I think if I'd got it to a BMW dealer they would have replaced the sensor regardless and charged about £300 for the OBD scanner diagnostic, full price sensor and labour to fit. Phew!!! And so much for the AA man's diagnosis of a fuel tank or pump problem... (I didn't have my scanner with me.)
I don't think that cleaning the sensor itself solved the problem. More likely is that cleaning and exercising the electrical plug/socket connection was the real cure. My point is that a simple maintenance/cleaning activity based on the OBD scanner evidence has renewed confidence in the car, saved me money and taught me to keep a scanner on board.
Reply With Quote
  #298  
Old 14th September 2021, 07:08
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

Further comment on ZRoadster has pointed to known failures caused by oil or water contamination.
Reply With Quote
  #299  
Old 27th September 2021, 09:33
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

Later examination showed a broken wire inside the rubber boot on the sensor plug. That's now fixed.
The pic shows yesterday's ZRoadster get together in Newbury. Mine was the only Tribute present but it did attract some serious interest.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg DSCF1895.jpg (93.7 KB, 34 views)
Reply With Quote
  #300  
Old 18th November 2022, 17:32
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,126
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

I've just MOTed the Z300S for the 8th time. Just like the TFS last week, failed on emissions until the test rig was reset, then- no problem.
Afterwards I went to a mate's business just round the corner- he "electrifies" cars usually retaining all of the original chassis, etc but substituting motor(s) and battery packs. He had a nice selection in- E-Types, Beetles, a Porsche 365 cabrio, a 911, DeLorean, Stag, etc. Also a nice early Mini with a 150bhp motor- goes well apparently. Also working on a TVR track day car aiming for 0-60 in <4 seconds.

He has a silver Z3 2.2 with 200k, not intending to convert it, "some" lights on the dashboard and no MOT which he'd like to move on...

There's a Sammio body in the yard round the back as well.

Last edited by IanA; 19th November 2022 at 16:14.. Reason: Sammio
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +0. The time now is 22:10.

copyright © madabout-kitcars.com 2000-2024
terms and conditions | privacy policy