Monday 21 April 2014

Running Out of Time

Running Out of Time

Friday, Friday, Friday

This Friday is the Senior Symposium and we are scared. to. death. We need to work seriously hard. We still have to get the cells mounted, the new seat put on, the motor mounted, finish our posters and portfolios, AND make the car pretty. *Sigh*
Chris getting in for a picture with the car
The car lookin' good

Friday 18 April 2014

The Batteries Have Arrived!

The Batteries Have Arrived!

It only took 5 months..

Well I guess its better late then never. After waiting 5 months we finally have 6 brand new 12v 55amp batteries. When the car is finally in working condition, which just requires the motor to be mounted at this point, we can test and see how well it will actually run, unlike last time when we tested SK2, which ran off of 2 batteries.
The Batteries all hooked up.

Monday 14 April 2014

Waiting for Batteries

Waiting for Batteries

And hoping to mount the throttle.

Last week, we came up with a somewhat ingenious and slightly ghetto way to mount the throttle. We're using a door hinge. Hey, it works. We think. We haven't quite mounted it yet, but we will soon. In addition, we're still waiting on the batteries to get here. We're going to build the battery box for when they get here.

Friday 11 April 2014

Many Work, Much Accomplish

Many Work, Much Accomplish

We wired almost everything.

This week was an incredibly productive week. We managed to finish the presentation, work on our proposal for the project, and wire almost everything we have so far. We connected the charge controller, the motor controller, the shunt, the DC negative bus bar, and the switches. The only thing we have left to do is mount the motor, the throttle, the breaks, and the batteries, and hook everything up. After that, electrical is essentially done. Which is really awesome.

Monday 7 April 2014

Racing Against Time

Racing Against Time

Roll Cage, Presentation, Motor Mount, Etc.

This week we will be working on absolutely everything. We need to finish up the roll cage with an "X" in the back because triangles, we still need to find out how to cut out the motor mount, and we need to work on a presentation for this whole project. In addition to all of this, we're still waiting on batteries and electrical components. We're thinking we might have to deal with the electrical pieces we already have instead of hoping for something that may never come along.

The presentation thus far.

Friday 4 April 2014

Still working on it

Still working on it

Making the roll-cage

This week we helped make part the roll-cage, and are trying to figure out how to get the plate for the motor mount. We have a general design, but we need to actually get it cut out properly.

The design for the motor mount.
A pretty decent roll cage if we do say so ourselves.

Monday 31 March 2014

Bending Conduit

Bending Conduit

Or trying to, at least...

This week we're trying to get the roll bar on the frame. First, however, we need to make the roll bar. Which means we need to bend conduit. Which, as it turns out, is very, very difficult. We have a pipe bender, we're just not too good at using it. So... hopefully we'll get it to work...
Doing measurements
Not the proper way to bend a pipe...

Monday 17 March 2014

Making the Panel

Making the Panel

While buying batteries

This week we are focusing on getting the solar panel design to work with the I-Beams that we have. We are trying to make it in a way where we can fit almost all the panels. We are also buying the batteries for the car because it has been 5 months since we needed them.
The panel supports

Friday 14 March 2014

You Can Finally Sit

You Can Finally Sit

In Solar Templar

This week we removed the seat from SK2 and put it on ST, along with creating the motor mount for Solar Templar.

Monday 10 March 2014

Go Go Go Kart!

Go Go Go Kart!

ST is sorta on hold...

This week we're mostly focusing on the solar go kart... basically because we don't have much to do for ST. But the go kart involves electrical components as well so... yayy.

Friday 7 March 2014

Ending the Week

Ending the Week

Working on the new car

Finishing the week, we were able to accomplish some things, not as much as we wanted to; however something is still some progress. As seen in the photo's below, we were able to connect the solar panels, so that we would be able to mount it on the new car. 
 

Monday 3 March 2014

Dat Canopy

Dat Canopy

Very canopy, much styrofoamy, so engineering

This week we will be working on the canopy for SK3. In addition, we are still waiting on the parts that the financial team is ordering for us. So Solar Templar is currently on hold. Because they're just now ordering the parts. Byeeeeee

Friday 28 February 2014

Now It's Friday

Now It's Friday

And we've made some progress

This week, we've basically been working on SK3 as well as helping out with the mechanical team on Solar Templar. On Wednesday we had a few people from Bombardier come over and look at the SK3 canopy for us. We got a lot of really good advice and they're gonna help us re-wire and figure some stuff out. Next week we'll hopefully be able to finish the plug for the SK3 canopy.
The flipped SK3 canopy

The plug

Monday 24 February 2014

It's Monday

It's Moday

Time to get back to work

Well, we got the I-beams donated to us today. We will start to compare the metal types of the panel we took apart, with the new I-beams to see which one weighs more, and how much of a weight difference it will make.

Friday 21 February 2014

Ending the Week

Ending the Week

With some progress

So far so good. We were able to accomplish some of the goals planned out for the week. The list for the things needed is underway. We were able to find a bigger fan for SK2, so that the batteries can get in more air than before. Also as seen below, we were dismounting old T.V.'s from the carts. In addition, the beams needed for "Solar Templar" was donated to us, hoping all goes well, it should be in by the beginning of next week.

Monday 17 February 2014

Taking Inventory

Taking Inventory

We need stuff.

This week we're gonna be mostly focused on getting everything we need for the electrical parts of the car. We recently got a pretty nice donation offering to buy a lot of the things we need so we've decided to get a list together of whatever we could use. In addition, I've been working a bit on the fiberglass SK3 canopy. We're working on making the plug out of styrofoam right now. Hopefully both projects will coincide well.
Finding stuff.

Styrofoam grave site...

Friday 14 February 2014

Ending the Week

Ending the Week

Progress was made

This week we were able to find out the different electrical properties of the electrical components we will be using. This week we were also able to get the plates cut out and mounted to the new solar car.

Monday 10 February 2014

Increasing the Efficiency


Increasing the Efficiency

Proper Equipment

This week our main goal is to increase the efficiency of the car by having proper wires, and other electrical components. We will be looking to replace the parts that were used on the current SK2 to enhance the power output.

Friday 7 February 2014

End of the Week

End of the Week

Some progress Made

Well as mentioned before we were able to take apart the solar panel, and we checked the cells. Everything is working fine, we are getting good readings, except for one cell thats broken. The good news is that the plates have been cut into design, we're just waiting for it to be delivered.

Monday 3 February 2014

Checking Cells

Checking Cells

And waiting for plates...

This week, we're gonna still be waiting on those metal plates to mount the back wheel. We took apart the solar panel we brought in so that we can rebuild it but some of the cells are cracked or bad so we'll have to check those and make sure we have what we need. Here's hoping we'll be ok. 
Taking apart the panel somewhat haphazardly...

Friday 31 January 2014

Remaking the Panel

Remaking the Panel

Progress is limited

This week instead of testing the panel itself, we decided to take apart the solar panel, to prepare to redesign it. With this process some cells were damaged, the few that were tested seemed to have a good output with all the ones tested because they all had similar outputs.




Monday 27 January 2014

Starting the Week

Starting the Week

Testing the Panels

 This week are main focus is testing the panels on SK2. Hopefully we can get that going, and it could turn out to a success. Other than that, we are just waiting on the plates to finish, so that we can mount the wheels on to Solar templar so that we can get the electrical going on it.

Friday 24 January 2014

Solar Panels

Solar Panels

And not much else...

This week we brought in the solar panels. After that... more waiting. The panel is kind of huge and we're not sure how it's going to fit. We're also still waiting to have the back wheel mounted. After that's done we can probably start mounting and wiring stuff.
They're a bit big.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Finally starting to do something related to electricity!

Finally starting to do something related to Electricity!

It has been a while.

It has been so long, we don't remember the last time! This week we hope to get the solar panels from the magnet amphitheater. We also plan on testing the solar panels to see if they will work with the current outback system we have hooked up.

This is where the panels are.

Friday 17 January 2014

Ending the Week

Ending the Week

We got the Plates

Good news, we got the plates all we need to do now is cut it into design and weld it to the car. Now, that is easier said than done. However, the main focus besides working on the plates is rewiring and fixing up SK2. We want to make sure that everything is not only effective, but efficient as well. We just have to wait and see.




Monday 13 January 2014

The Search

The Search

Looking for Plates

This week our main focus is getting those plates so we can move on with our lives. We think we may have found a connection of some sort who can help us out, but we'll have to wait and see. Right now, everything is hanging on these plates. Without them we can't really make any progress. We're at a bit of a standstill.
Still waiting.

Friday 10 January 2014

End of the Week

End of the Week

Limited Progress

This week we were between two things, helping the robotics team and trying to get the back wheel mounted. In order to get the wheel mounted we needed a metal plate, which we did not have. That started the search to finding a place that had the metal, but at the end of it all we are going to make a custom plate to weld to the chassis so we can mount the back wheel. While designing the plate was the easy part, buying one and making it is the next step.
 


Monday 6 January 2014

We're Baaack!

We're Baaack!

And ready to work.

After taking a much needed winter break, we've finally returned to the tech room and our wonderful solar car. This week we're looking to get back on track and hopefully finish the rolling chassis, if possible. Last quarter we ended up with the chassis, the two front wheels, the steering component, and a back wheel waiting to be mounted. We had hoped to have the rolling chassis totally completed by winter break, but unfortunately, we didn't quite get there. However, we're confident that if we work hard enough, we can get this thing rolling preferably by the end of the week. If not, maybe next week. It's time to get back to work.
Exactly as we left it.