Questions about Bill K.s ride

[Bill K.]

Originally Posted by Bill K.

The gauges are installed and looking sweet. There is a problem with the LED used for the alternator idiot light. When wired throught the LED, the alternator doesn't turn on. I'm using a stock incandescent bulb for now and will try wiring them in parrallel today. Maybe the LED needs an extra resistor in line for the regulator to fire up the field. Any insight on what the the internally regulated Bosch 75 amp alternator needs to excite the field?

The problem was that when the D+ terminal of the alternator is wired in series with the LED to +12V ignition, not enough current was supplied to the alternator to initiate the field (LED limited current). Wiring the LED in parallel with the alternator D+ wire fixed the problem.

Now if I can only get the SPA digital CHT gauge to read stable with the engine running, I'd be wired. I've narrowed it down to the thermocouple extension wire. I'll try rerouting the extension wire down the other side of the car and shortening it as much as possible. I'm also going to use capacitors to knock down some of the noise on the line.

Sandeep has got me intrigued about data aquisition. I've done some at work using National Instruments LabView and would like to try it in the car. The combo I'm thinking about is: laptop, Pico ADC-16, thermistors, hall effect speedo adapter, and some frequency to voltage converters for rpm/tach. The R&D on this car is almost done, so I'm looking for more brain candy...:idea:

[Bill K.]

I spoke too soon about the alternator idiot light LED. I had the LED wired in parallell with the alternator wire through the relay I was using to troubleshoot. The relay coil provided enough resistance for the LED to light. No biggy, I'll just try adding a 100 ohm resistor in place of the relay. So it'll be wired: +12V ignition to resistor and LED +, resistor to alternator D+ and LED-.

Moving the thermocouple extensions from the left side of the car where all the other wires are to the right side and tucking the CHT probe under the shroud as far away from the spark plug wires fixed the noise problem.

So, now I only a few loose wires. Nothing I haven't lived with for years.

[Supa Ninja]

Nice GL Bill, I want a ride in it. Anyways, I was just on a couple of rides with biker boys while i was in town this weekend (packing), and it would appear there is snow already on the sides of the road to Icehouse, which = wet and slippery. Salmon Falls Road has a lot of nice tight turns and a few good straightaway's and it's a lower elevation too. I'm going to assume Mosquito Ridge Rd is as bad as Icehouse.
I got a link to very well layed out website that describes all of the good roads in NoCal and some in SoCal. www.pashnit.com it's a motorcycle website but from my experience, if it's good for bikes it's good for cars too.
Some of my favorites are 1.Mosquito Ridge, 2. Icehouse, 3 Salmon Falls, 4 Dogbar rd, 5 only if there are no cops and light traffic-Foresthill Rd, and finally 6 is Hwy 49 from Auburn to Placerville if there is no traffic on it.
There are a lot of the twisty stuff that I have never been on so have fun searching the pashnit site. I am still searching for some good twisties near where i'm moving too in SoCal, so far it looks like a hour drive to the nearest ones .

Nick

[Supa Ninja]

I know I'm double posting but I was thinking of some of the roads I learned how too drive on when I was a young ninja. If you go to Auburn and take HWY 49 to Grass Valley you'll run into a traffic light in the middle of nowhere. Right turn will take you straight to Dog Bar Rd (very fun road in either direction, just watch out for deer), left turn will take you to Wolf RD. If you stay on Wolf, it will eventually take you to McCourtney Rd which is the scenic route to Grass Valley. A side trip is too make a right onto Lilm Kiln Rd, nice tight sweepers and whoops too. That will pop you out onto Hwy 49. Then there is Hwy 49 past Neveda City towards Downeyville?, thats a fun road too. There is just a lot of good twisties this part of the neighborhood. Maybe that's why the straightline stuff doesn't appeal to me like the twisties do.

Nick

[Bill K.]

Nick, thanks for the details. That list will keep me busy next spring when it thaws. I'm getting closer to hitting the road fully equipped. Just got insurance today, so it's off to get the headliner in then roll bar, etc. If I don't see you at Bugorama next time, I'm considering a trip to the Classic so you can get your ride then.

[Supa Ninja]

can't wait, Bill.