Topic: Hi guys, new and may need help!

[Carbonok]

My son (11 yrs) is the enthusiast, I've been bullied into buying a C5!
We are collecting one, bought sight unseen but described as smart but untested.
The catch is we are leaving Blighty for the German Messerschmitt bubble car meeting a week from today.
The meeting is on the Edersee, one of the Dambuster's targets.
We want to take the C5 as a novelty and as a symbol of classic British inginuity and vision.
My son is wetting himself!

When collected I'm hoping it works when 12 volts are applied.
If not I may need advice pretty quickly.
Can you guys help?
I guess worst case I will need a control box.
I tried the link to Radiomarty's website but got porn!

Any suggestions are most welcome, if we succeed we'll post pictures.

Regards,

[Karl]

I tried the link to Radiomarty's website but got porn!

I've just clicked on the link to Martys site with no problems 

Where is the c5 at the moment ?

[Carbonok]

Hi,
It's in London, bought this evening on eBay but no response from seller yet.
Was hoping to collect tomorrow (Monday).

[Carbonok]

This Will's (son) big project!
He's not a spoiled brat and we've taken probably three months to decide on a C5.
I've tried everything to dissuade him but he's adamant and now I have to make it work!
Bless his cotton socks!
We have his late grandfather's mobility scooter for batteries.
Regards,

[radiomarty]

Hi and welcome any help just ask - dont know what happened to my website seems ok now Marty

http://mandmsinclairc5repairs.tk/

[thedesigntailor]

Hi Carbon!

[Carbonok]

Hi guys,
Got home with her 45 mins ago. Took Will out of school for his last lesson.
Devon to Tooting (didn't see Wolfie but we looked!)and back. Trip back without a wee!
Looks very tidy, has genuinely been kept in dark dry garage so still brilliant white and chassis VG.
It's a late one with white boot and looks un touched.
Tyres flat but look new.
Body has no apparent scuffs, just a few dirty marks. Only downside is a slight twist to the front fairing/ instrument binnacle(?).
Any tips before I add 12 volts?

Thanks for taking an interest everyone.
Regards,
Cok.

[C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER]

Hi there before you connect the 12 volts to it just lift the back wheels of the ground and check if the motor is free and turns by hand ..(just checking if the motor is free and not seized ) When you do connect up a battery be careful you connect it the right way round as it will damage the control box/pod in a matter of a seconds..Not sure if you have a key switch or quick release connectors but be careful
let us know how you get on ..
Bye Chas

[Carbonok]

Hi,
Ok, we've pumped the tyres up and ridden it.
All ok, even the brakes work fine.
looks un- used.
Shame about the twist in the fairing
Now....
Power!
It has two Battery terminals, one each side.
I have two mobility scooter batteries rated at 13.8v/ 34Ah, On the scooter wired in series.
Any problem using these?

Regards,
Cok

[Carbonok]

Hi,
Also would like to use the original key switched battery connectors if poss.
Any ideas?

Regards,
Cok

[wolfey]

Hi Cok, your scooter batteries should be fine.I suggest you try one to verify everything works,then you can think about connecting the 2 in parallel if you want extra range.Also I have found that running two batteries in parallel can reduce voltage drop under load-see my other posts on this. It may be less of an issue with the batteries you are using compared to the very small and light lithium polymer batteries I have.

[Carbonok]

Hi,
Would the power wiring kit be the answer to my battery connection question?
Did all C5s have wiring for two batteries?
Could I leave the second battery wiring in- situ with the power wiring kit?
Really need a quick answer please guys and thanks for your help so far.

Regards
Cok

[Karl]

Would the power wiring kit be the answer to my battery connection question?
Did all C5s have wiring for two batteries?
Could I leave the second battery wiring in- situ with the power wiring kit?

The Sinclair 12v twin battery set-up was offered as a "long range" option , standard set-up is for one battery .

The c5alive wiring kit was introduced to deal with the increasingly poor reliability of the Sinclair keyswitch assembly. When new the Sinclair stuff was superb but they have now aged and can become quite troublesome
http://c5alive.co.uk/index.php?com=shop&display=product&id=15

The original wiring loom is left intact when fitting the c5alive kit, the kit is "plug and play" and very easy to fit. No permanent changes are made meaning you can always retain the keyswitch and refit it later if you wish.

I would advise against leaving the 2nd battery wiring in place to avoid any potential nasty incidents. It only takes seconds to change over the batteries when necessary.