Some fun projects you can do.But first - a little story... |
Summer 1995, DMV inpection
station in San Antonio, TEXAS.
-Hi! Is anybody in?
The guy slowly apeared from behind the front
desk.
-Hi there. What's happenin' brother?
The way he looked at me and asked this somehow
suggested that it may be difficult to accomplish my goal in this place, but I felt
uncomfortable to retreat.
-I brought my car for inspection sir, this white Honda
over there.
-...Let see... (walks around)... you've got your
muffler pipe broken. If you want, we can install new one for just 19.95 plus tax.
-Well, you know, I don't need one. This car...
-And... how about there? (looking underneath the
car)... his face from round became slightly oval. -WHAT THA... #@&$ is all this?
-It's my electric car.
-Say what?
-It's electric. That is there's no engine, electric
motor instead.
-(10 sec. pause) Aaa.... So.... Mmmm... Well,...
Aaah... So you don't have a catalytic converter either?
-Excuse me?
-Texas State law requires to have catalytic converter
on every passenger vehicle, man.
-Sir, this is an ELECTRIC car, so...
-I don't care, you know. There is no exception to this
in the State regulations.
-So what do you want me to do now?
-I don't know man, we just follow the rules: no
catalithic converter - no inspection. Sorry, I wanna keep my job...
-Well, would that be OK if I'll throw converter in my
trunk, come back here and show to you that I HAVE it?
-Sir?
My fear about his IQ level was now undoubtedly
confirmed.
-Never mind, thanks...
At that point I realized that this unexpected
obstacle can ruin the enjoyment of legitimate ownership of an electric car.
Fortunately, I was able to get my inspection sticker without a glitch at the next
inspection station 3 blocks away...
If you ever get inspired enough to do a
conversion yourself, this was my
first attempt. Now this is history.
I enjoyed EV grin for about five years, learned a great deal of information about electric
vehicles and decided to make
both primary vehicles for my family electric. This Honda was upgraded later to become much better car - welcome to AC club.
One of my fun electronic
projects was to build this most unusual clock I ran across on the web. Illusion of
suspended-in-the-air digits works so well that one puzzles just how it is possible.
Sometimes it still hypnotizes even myself! The "brain" of this table clock
is a tiny micro chip. All the electronic circuitry spins around by a small electric motor.
The vertical line of 7 lights, when lit in a controlled sequence, simulates a matrix of
lights passing by your eyes (similar to stock quotes " moving " displays). If
you are an electronics enthusiast and ready to spend a few weekends and 20-30 bucks on
parts to make this incredible thing, look here for more photos and technical details.
You can email me to: portland@usa.com