C5ALIVE Forum

C5Alive General Category => Welcome To The Forum => Topic started by: alecjw on 19, November, 2013 - 20:21:05

Title: alecjw - An introduction
Post by: alecjw on 19, November, 2013 - 20:21:05

Hi all,
Since i got my C5 the other day (bought from jaceaceatkins) I thought I should probably introduce myself on the forum.
I'm Alec and I live in Cambridge. I study engineering here, specialising in electronic and information.

My C5 is pretty much vanilla, with no accessories and the original key ignition/battery cover. The chassis had recently been cleaned of rust, coated in rust-proof paint and had its bearings replaced before I got it.

Here are my projects I have planned, some of which i've given more thought than others:

• Replace the battery (currently a leaking lead acid) with lithium iron (120Ah at 14.4v). This may also involve replacing/modifying the pod electronics
• Fit indicators - I'll probably get some car repeater indicators and make a circuit on stripboard to drive them
• Buy some hub centres - probably newell ones, but I'm considering painting them yellow. Not entirely true to the original, I know, but I think it will look cool for it to match the front wheel decal
• Replace the reflective strip - an easy one, I know, but probably a job for when the weather's warmer
• Do something to make it more visible. Possibly a strip of orange LEDs on a pole, kinda like the original visibility flag.
• Replace the headlights with LEDs
• Improve the brakes - I'm going to look into replacing the rear drum brake with a disc brake, and replacing the front wheel with a metal one and better brake pads.
• Potentially do a hub motor conversion, although this isn't an immediate plan. My battery pack will be made of 8 60Ah cells configured in series-parallel for 120Ah 14.4v. This is so that I keep the option open to do a 24V hub motor mod: I can just reconfigure the pack into series for 60Ah at 28.8V.
• Add a derailleur - the C5 is very difficult to cycle at speed since the gears are too low. Just two gears would be fine - the standard one and a high gear, for helping the motor out without spinning your legs around like crazy

Anyway, here are some pics:
(http://nothinguntoward.eu/imgalbum/sinclairc5-20131119/main.php?cmd=thmb&var1=IMG_7577.JPG&var2=140_70_false) (http://nothinguntoward.eu/imgalbum/sinclairc5-20131119/photos/IMG_7577.JPG)

(http://nothinguntoward.eu/imgalbum/sinclairc5-20131119/main.php?cmd=thmb&var1=IMG_7582.JPG&var2=140_70_false) (http://nothinguntoward.eu/imgalbum/sinclairc5-20131119/photos/IMG_7582.JPG)

Title: Re: alecjw - An introduction
Post by: pso-buzz on 20, November, 2013 - 00:57:07

Hello

Looks a good c5. Looking forward to seeing all the mods you have planned.

Title: Re: alecjw - An introduction
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 20, November, 2013 - 08:43:08

Hi there good luck with the mods .You have  a lot of work in front of you ...all the best Chas

Title: Re: alecjw - An introduction
Post by: Brooksymk on 29, November, 2013 - 10:59:31

Hi, it looks like you have a good c5 to start with, let us know how you get on with the planned mods. Look forward to seeing the photos, and hopefully meeting next year for ride out somewhere. Have fun Neil