Cafe Electric Zilla Motor Controllers

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QUESTION:
How much current does the Hairball draw with the system off?

ANSWER:
If the Hairball is wired up so that the key input and SLI +14V are connected as instructed in the manual, the Hairball will always be drawing some current. The amount can vary from unit to unit, but will likely be in the 70-80mA range. If your DC/DC converter is not wired on all the time, your 12V accessory battery can get completely discharged if your EV sits for several days without use, or if you don't drive much at a time (which is quite likely, given the nature of EVs).

One possible solution if this is a problem is to wire the SLI +14V from "Key Input". Otmar has suggested that this could cause some internal memory corruptions on the Hairball, although this is unlikely. The only other downside to this fix is the time it takes for the vehicle to be "started", i.e. time you'll have to hold the key in the start position, will increase slightly. I have found that this is not a prohibiting inconvenience.

Last updated Jan 15, 2005


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