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What everyone says you need to build an
EV: |
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Don't be misled! This is what most people mention when
telling someone what they need to build an EV or when they estimate the cost of
building one (and even this includes more stuff than most talk about): |
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|
Type |
Description |
Vendors |
|
M |
Heat Shrink |
Waytek Wire, various EV
parts suppliers |
|
M |
Aux. Control Relays |
Waytek Wire, various EV
parts suppliers |
|
M |
contactor, main |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Traction Motor |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Traction Motor adapter |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Cable, high voltage
and current |
EV parts suppliers,
welding supply houses, waytek wire |
|
M |
Batteries |
EV parts suppliers,
local battery suppliers, manufacturers, distributors |
|
M |
controller |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Charger |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Fuses - high current,
high voltage |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Current measuring
shunt |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Current Measuring gage |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Voltage gage |
EV parts suppliers |
|
T |
Hammer Crimper or Rachet Crimper for big terminals |
Waytek Wire/EV parts
suppliers |
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What you REALLY need to build an EV |
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This, however, is what
you really need, and even this is only the bare
essentials. You may find another tool
or a particular material is very useful, and necessary for your
conversion. The novice should know what
they are going up against. Note this
doesn't provide any sort of machining capabilities, so you may also need to
go to a machine shop for some items/modifications. As someone has said: "Calling the past the 'good old days'
is a combination of a poor memory and a vivid imagination." I think reflecting on building an EV is the
same way. |
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Type |
Description |
Vendors |
|
C |
Polyurethane
adhesive/caulk |
Home Depot/Lowes |
|
C |
RTV Silicone
Sealant/Adhesive |
Auto parts store or wal-mart |
|
C |
Noalox (optional) |
Waytek Wire |
|
C |
VHB Tape or other
double faced tape |
McMaster-Carr |
|
C |
Denatured Alcohol
Solvent for cleaning surfaces before putting adhesive mount bases or VHB tape
on them |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, Home Depot, Lowes (check
the paint dept.) |
|
C |
Generic Spray Cleaner
(like simple green, fantastik, etc.) |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, Home Depot, Lowes
(check the paint dept.) |
|
C |
Welding consumables
(tips, rods, wire, etc.) |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, ebay,
various welding supply shops, Harbor Freight |
|
C |
Corrosion Preventive
Compound |
Aircraft Spruce and
Specialty co. |
|
C |
Electrical Tape, vinyl |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
C |
Electrical Tape,
Liquid |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
C |
Electrical Tape,
Silicon, Self-fusing |
Waytek wire |
|
C |
Solder |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
C |
Self-etching primer |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney |
|
C |
Spray-on truck bedliner coating (dupli-color
brand) |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney |
|
C |
Loctite or other threadlocker |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
C |
WD-40 or other penetrant |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
F |
ALL of a 2-car garage
sized workspace (According to several restoration websites, it takes about 3-5
times as much space to hold a disassembled car as it does to hold an
assembled car. An EV conversion will
be partially disassembled, and you need room to install the big components) |
A garage sale? Sorry, you're on your own for this one. |
|
H |
Lugs |
Waytek Wire |
|
H |
Battery Terminals to
match your battery posts |
Waytek Wire |
|
H |
Bolts for the lugs, if
not included with the various EV items.
Get stainless, there's a miniscule price differential. |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
H |
Washers - don't let
anything rotate against the lead.
Again, use stainless to match the bolt and avoid corrosion. |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
H |
don't forget lockwashers and nuts while you're at it. Or Nylock nuts
and no lockwashers. |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
H |
Other nuts and bolts -
assorted - usually no. 10 through 3/8" |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
H |
Self-drilling hex head
screws - assorted sizes. Stainless
preferred, though difficult to find. |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
H |
Crimp-on male and
female connectors - best to use at least one that is fully insulated so the
completed joint is protected. |
Waytek Wire |
|
H |
Crimp-on splice
connectors |
Waytek Wire |
|
H |
Crimp-on Ring
Terminals, including X and Y terminals |
Waytek Wire |
|
H |
Wire/cable clamps |
McMaster-Carr |
|
H |
Ty-Wraps |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes |
|
H |
Adhesive mount bases
for ty-Wraps |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes |
|
H |
Standoffs to mount
regulators (for AGM's) |
Mouser, digikey, etc. |
|
H |
tiny screws to mount
regulators (for AGM's) |
McMaster-Carr |
|
M |
|
Waytek Wire |
|
M |
Wire, primary, various
gages, for low currents. |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes, Auto Parts Stores |
|
M |
Wire loom |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney |
|
M |
PVC pipe for running
high current cables under car |
Home Depot/Lowes |
|
M |
Steel Angles, bars.
Shapes |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes |
|
M |
Aluminum angles, bars,
shapes |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes |
|
M |
Threaded rod |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes |
|
M |
Heat Shrink |
Waytek Wire, various EV
parts suppliers |
|
M |
low current fuses
(high voltage) |
Mouser, digikey, etc. |
|
M |
low current fuses (low
voltage) |
Waytek Wire |
|
M |
Fuseholders |
Waytek Wire, Mouser, Digikey, etc. |
|
M |
Aux. Control Relays
(safety interlock, etc.) |
Waytek Wire, various EV parts
suppliers |
|
M |
Buttons to control
aux. control relays from inside the EV |
Waytek Wire, auto parts
stores |
|
M |
contactor, main |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Contactor, secondary
(optional) |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Traction Motor |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Aux. Motor (optional,
for AC, etc.) |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Traction Motor adapter |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Cable, high voltage
and current |
EV parts suppliers,
welding supply houses, waytek wire |
|
M |
|
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
nonconductive plate to
mount regulators to (plastic or fiberglass) |
McMaster-Carr |
|
M |
Batteries |
EV parts suppliers,
local battery suppliers, manufacturers, distributors |
|
M |
controller |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Charger |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
|
Wayetk Wire, EV parts
suppliers |
|
M |
Fuses - high current,
high voltage |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Fuseholders - high current, high
voltage |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Current measuring
shunt |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Current Measuring gage |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Voltage gage |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
terminal strips |
Waytek Wire, Various electronics
supply houses, home depot, lowes, walmart |
|
M |
rubber mat for vibration
isolation and noise dampening (old mousepads work
great) - adhesive bond using an appropriate method. |
McMaster-Carr, etc. |
|
M |
Ceramic Heater Core |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Nonconductive plate to
mount heater core in/on |
McMaster-Carr, Home
Depot, Lowes |
|
M |
High voltage Relay or
Contactor for Heater Core |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Snubber/arc supressor network for heater relay |
EV parts suppliers |
|
M |
Charger Adapters to be
able to use multiple outlets |
Get parts from Waytek wire, Home Depot, Lowes,
RV supply places, etc. |
|
M |
Service/emergency
disconnect |
Waytek wire, EV parts
suppliers |
|
P |
Rubber gloves for when
dealing with chemicals, including battery acid |
Home Depot/Lowes/Walmart |
|
P |
Safety Glasses |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
P |
Safety Goggles (use instead
of glasses when you have to be under something you are spraying or grinding) |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
P |
Welding Helmet |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, ebay, various
welding supply shops, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Caulk gun for
dispensing adhesive/sealant |
Home Depot/Lowes |
|
T |
Hammer Crimper or Rachet Crimper for big terminals |
Waytek Wire/EV parts
suppliers |
|
T |
Flat blade
screwdriver, large |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Flat blade
screwdriver, small |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Flat blade
screwdriver, 90 degrees |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Flat blade
screwdriver, stubby |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Phillips head
screwdriver, large |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Phillips head
screwdriver, small |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Phillips head
screwdriver, 90 degrees |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Phillips head
screwdriver, stubby |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Hammer, small |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Hammer, large |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Fluorescent Trouble
Light or paint light (low heat output required to avoid setting things on
fire) |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Welder |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, ebay,
various welding supply shops, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Cordless Drill with
tool assortment |
Harbor Freight, walmart, lowes, home depot |
|
T |
Corded Drill |
Harbor Freight, walmart, lowes, home depot |
|
T |
Jigsaw |
Harbor Freight, walmart, lowes, home depot |
|
T |
Soldering Iron |
Auto parts store, wal-mart, JCWhitney, Home
Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
Heat gun or Propane Torch
(for heat shrink - also good for heating acrylic for bending) |
wal-mart, Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight |
|
T |
multimeter (a good one) |
Various electronics
supply houses, home depot, lowes |
|
T |
multimeter (an inexpensive one) |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
hydrometer (for floodies) |
battery supply houses,
auto parts store, walmart |
|
T |
Torque wrench |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Socket set, SAE |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Socket set, deep well,
SAE |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Socket set, Metric |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Socket set, deep well,
Metric |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Open End Wrench Set,
SAE |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Open End Wrench Set,
Metric |
Harbor Freight, Auto parts
store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Crescent Wrench Set |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
breaker Bar |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Spring clamps -
assorted |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Vise Grip Pliers -
assorted |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Clamp/spreader -
assorted |
Harbor Freight, Auto
parts store, walmart, lowes,
home depot |
|
T |
Power Strips for
running multiple tools/lights/chargers at the same time |
Harbor Freight, walmart, lowes, home depot |
|
T |
Extension Cords |
Harbor Freight, walmart, lowes, home depot |
|
T |
Hoist for removing the
ICE and installing the motor |
Harbor Freight, JCWhitney, Walmart, Auto Parts
Stores |
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T = Tool |
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C = Consumable |
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H = Hardware |
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M = Material |
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P = PPE (personal
protective equipment) |
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F = Facility |
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