Page 16 of 22 FirstFirst ... 61415161718 ... LastLast
Results 151 to 160 of 217

Thread: Alternator delete with regen braking modification for better MPG

  1. #151
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    4,999
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked 1,804 Times in 1,017 Posts
    I picked up this project up again now that its warm. I decided to start with another bench test of the circuit. The linear voltage regulator was putting out a very nice consistent 4.99V which is exactly where it should be. Then, I tested the dc-dc converter output and it was sending out a solid 15.6V. Not exactly what it should be (a bit high), but that seems quite reasonable. No smoking gun, okay, lets move ahead. I did notice the 7805 linear voltage regulator was getting quite warm, so I added a heat sink to it.

    This afternoon I decided to put the circuit back on the car. I noticed that the fuse connector I made fit in very nice, good connection. However, the ground connector which was just a bent piece of metal barely was making contact. So, I rebent the connector to get a better connection. This time it fit in nice and snug. Could that be all it was?

    I got it all plugged in and started the car up. Sure enough, no charging!

    Name:  IMG_20190815_181806870.jpg
Views: 1731
Size:  93.5 KB



    While I was working on things, I also current tested the circuit. That little voltage regulator is not an efficient little device. It draws .08A or 80mA. This doesn't sound like much, but over 24 hours it adds up to 2 amp hours. The battery should be around 75 amp hours. This means the circuit will drain 2.6% of the total battery capacity every day. Not horrible, but not good either.

    Name:  IMG_20190815_183304374.jpg
Views: 871
Size:  70.8 KB



    So, I'll be testing this for a few days to make sure it is stays working. For now, the Mirage is all tucked in for the night. I'm looking forward to tomorrows commute.

    Name:  IMG_20190815_184154733_HDR.jpg
Views: 910
Size:  98.9 KB


    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:

    LetItMarinate (08-16-2019),Loren (08-16-2019),MetroMPG (08-16-2019)

  3. #152
    looking forward to tomorrows commute.
    I'm looking forward to your commute too. Should be interesting!

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


  4. #153
    Thoraxe the Impaler LetItMarinate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Springfield MO
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    60
    Thanks
    109
    Thanked 18 Times in 13 Posts
    Man I've been very interested in this for awhile now. Thanks for being on the front line and good luck!
    Shake and bake baby

  5. #154
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    4,999
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked 1,804 Times in 1,017 Posts
    Just got to work a bit ago. Best mpg yet at 65.1 mpg according to the MFD. Not too shabby.

    The ride started out a bit odd. I started the car and the voltage out of the alternator immediately shot up to 15v, so I knew something was wrong. I opened the hood and jammed the ground connector down again and everything was good all the way to work. I'll be fixing that issue soon enough.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:

    Fummins (08-19-2019),LetItMarinate (08-16-2019)

  7. #155
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    4,999
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked 1,804 Times in 1,017 Posts
    Had another hiccup with the circuit today. Again the voltage shot up to 15V. So again I knew what it was. This time I went and grabbed a needle nose pliers and re-bent the tabs even better this time. I don't think I'll have the issue again, but I still want to finally move on to phase two where I add the regenerative braking to the setup. That'll get two birds with one stone I think.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  8. The Following User Says Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:

    LetItMarinate (08-20-2019)

  9. #156
    Senior Member timw4mail's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Michigan
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    266
    Thanks
    130
    Thanked 69 Times in 54 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Daox View Post
    Had another hiccup with the circuit today. Again the voltage shot up to 15V. So again I knew what it was. This time I went and grabbed a needle nose pliers and re-bent the tabs even better this time. I don't think I'll have the issue again, but I still want to finally move on to phase two where I add the regenerative braking to the setup. That'll get two birds with one stone I think.
    Seems like regenerative braking would be difficult to retrofit. You have a rough plan?

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2018 Mirage SE 1.2 automatic: 33.6 mpg (US) ... 14.3 km/L ... 7.0 L/100 km ... 40.4 mpg (Imp)


  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to timw4mail For This Useful Post:

    Daox (08-21-2019),LetItMarinate (08-21-2019)

  11. #157
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    4,999
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked 1,804 Times in 1,017 Posts
    Great question! Thankfully, it really shouldn't be too hard. I created this circuit to disable the alternator. All I need to do to activate regenerative braking is reactivate the alternator when I am braking. So, the simplest thing I can think of is put a relay on the brake light switch that bypasses or disables the circuit when the brake pedal is pushed.

    Here is the schematic. The relay on the top will bypass the entire circuit when the brake pedal is pushed. Likewise, the switch is a manual on/off switch for the circuit as well. If I am going to make a long trip I will want to turn the alternator on. This could be because the battery won't last long enough or I don't have a place to plug in when I get there.

    I am still working on it. I think I want to add another relay that cuts power to the 7805 chip because it draws so much power just sitting there 24/7.

    Name:  alternator diagram 04.jpg
Views: 561
Size:  48.7 KB
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  12. The Following User Says Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:

    LetItMarinate (08-21-2019)

  13. #158
    Still Plays With Cars Loren's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Florida
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    1,225
    Thanks
    324
    Thanked 936 Times in 539 Posts
    Can't you take power for your circuit from a switched source rather than directly from the battery? Then it would be off when the car is off.
    Simplify and add lightness.

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to Loren For This Useful Post:

    Daox (08-21-2019)

  15. #159
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    the Netherlands
    Country
    Netherlands
    Posts
    340
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked 158 Times in 109 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Daox View Post
    So, the simplest thing I can think of is put a relay on the brake light switch that bypasses or disables the circuit when the brake pedal is pushed.
    AFAIK you have a switch on the accelerator for the cruise control. Wouldn't that be better? As soon as you release the accelerator the alternator can start loading.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2013 Space Star Cleartec Intense 1.0 manual: 55.7 mpg (US) ... 23.7 km/L ... 4.2 L/100 km ... 66.9 mpg (Imp)


  16. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Space Wolf For This Useful Post:

    Daox (08-21-2019),MetroMPG (08-22-2019)

  17. #160
    That could work well too especially while coasting. I don't recall seeing an external switch on the gas pedal, it's like that word I can't spell right now. Varies resistance/voltage as it moves along.
    It'd be easy to rig up a micro switch on the gas pedal though. So at idle it'd be charging?


    Mirage videos:

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)


  18. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Fummins For This Useful Post:

    Daox (08-21-2019),LetItMarinate (08-22-2019)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •