[Salty9]

I was reading about the Chevy Volt and saw that they had very explicit instructions about disarming the car in emergencies. Similar instructions appropriate for an EV could make things safer for occupants, first responders and could save equipment from unnecessary damage.

[Duncan]

Good Idea,

I intend to have a manual disconnect to separate the pack from the vehicle
and an intermediate manual disconnect (Anderson connector?) to split the pack into two segments

Instructions to Emergency Services

(1) - Pull big red lever - in front of handbrake
(2) - under the bonnet - pull Red Handle - marked Emergency disconnect

[Lordwacky]

Some one told me once that EMS responders in the US are being trained to look for large orange cables leading to the controller and/or batteries and to cut them with insulated cutters.

[Duncan]

look for large orange cables leading to the controller and/or batteries and to cut them with insulated cutters.

I can't help thinking that that would make the danger worse as there would now be an uninsulated high voltage end flopping about

[jackbauer]

I think i spotted on a forum last year that certain parts of canada had banned ev conversions then changed their minds but specified a large warning sticker had to fixed to the car. I wonder if we could get those?

[dtbaker]

Originally Posted by jackbauer

I think i spotted on a forum last year that certain parts of canada had banned ev conversions then changed their minds but specified a large warning sticker had to fixed to the car. I wonder if we could get those?

if you have a picture, lots of the vinyl sticker shops can copy and make'em, for ya. However, I think a scarey looking sticker might scare off a Responder when you most need it!

The key I think is for YOU to build a vehicle with multiple safeties like:
- mid-pack fuse - quick acting
- main circuit breaker - slow acting
- manual pull disconnect - reachable from driver's window and seat
- inertia switch on main contactor/controller

...probably some legislated standard like the the manual pull disconnect MUST be near the driver's left knee and have some standard color/graphic so it can be accessed from driver's window by Responders....

and some mechanical safety standards, as much as I hate regulation, for our own good like:
- some standard sticker/emblem on exterior of driver's door indicating vehicle has high voltage
- main battery cabling from pack to motor must be routed under the center of the car to
avoid 'jaws of life' that typically cut doorsills and pillars
- batteries terminals and bus bars must be covered to prevent accidental shorts

[Salty9]

The driver's air bag firing should trigger a circuit breaker.

[dtbaker]

Originally Posted by Salty9

The driver's air bag firing should trigger a circuit breaker. Saying this, I have no knowledge of air bags or the way they work other than a novel I read claimed the explosive material was very poisonous.

the whole idea of an inertia switch in the main contacter loop is exactly this. in an impact strong enough to deploy an airbag, the main would open... just like the original design cuts power to the fuel pump. no need to tie it to the airbag system. easy to add, even in pre-airbag cars.

[Salty9]

I should have thought of that. Maybe we can get Woodsmith to make a sticky to keep the recommendations in one spot.

[Woodsmith]

Originally Posted by Salty9

I should have thought of that. Maybe we can get Woodsmith to make a sticky to keep the recommendations in one spot.

I have made the thread a sticky, for the time being.


Please use this thread for specific ideas and solutions and not for general discussion, debate and other unrelated banter.

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