by mos68x » Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:35 pm
Well, here is another update on the ongoing process.
CAD - I finally gave up with MAC based CAD programs and got Parallels to run Windows XP on my Mac, which I then loaded AutoCAD 2007. It is amazing how little change there is in the feel of the program from the R14 version that I was using (1997ish) to the 2007 version. Many of the commands are still the same which is so much easier to learn, though there are things that I'm trying to learn about this one so that I can use it to the highest potential that I'll need to.
Cell - Picked up the plates that I ordered, 101 plates of my design. The only thing that I'm not happy about with them is some flex that I'll have to change in the design but I can work around it with some small changes while I assemble the cell. The plates are designed to accept female spade connectors easily without modifying them. I also received my order of parts from McMaster Carr, gasket material, spade connectors, heat shrink, and a few other things needed for my gasket cutter.
Car - Received my order from Summit Racing today for my jets and the new power valve, so now I have the "fun" of taking a day to tune the carburetor on the Camaro so that I can hopefully get better MPG as well as more power. This will be a good thing since I'll be closer to my end goal when I do get the cell on the car. I may design a new compression frame for the new cell and just use this current one in the car until I get the 101 plate cell finished.
PMA - I tried talking to the guys that made the PMA listed on ebay and they claim that they can't make them any lower voltage than 12V. Then asked them about their armature since they say that they make a special one, they do offer it alone, but I don't know if it will fit the alternator in my car. Which I'm thinking about just getting one of their rotors and finding a HIGH amp alternator and putting it in, or just getting one of theirs. The only thing is that I'll have to still drop the voltage down so that it doesn't overheat the cell anymore than it already will with the amount of power through it.
Overall - I feel closer even though sometimes it doesn't seem like it with as slow as project has gone. I still have many other things that I will still have to do to be able to get this car the way that I want it, but at least with this 101 plate cell I can get an idea how many more plates I'll need to get it where I want it. Plus, with needing to know how many more plates I can figure out how many total amps I'll need, which I can then finally start working on my step-down toroid transformer so that I have little to no loss in electricity.