This is why I will not use SSR Solid State Relays instead of Tyco Kilovac contactors

Shopping for components for my DIY ESS Kit #2, I started to look into SSR - Solid State Relays - to maybe replace the expensive Tyco Kilovac contactors, one of the most pricy item in my build, and I need 2 of them for each kit ...

Looking on eBay I found a lot ...

Also I found this interesting video a a SSR maker, explaining how you have to install it:

I discovered that you need to heat sink it because it will use so much power ! In the video it says the SSR is wasting 1W per Amp of current passing through it: this is huge

Unless you want to create heat, I do not see any good reason to use this; The Kilovac EV200AAANA from Tyco uses only 1.7W when the contact is closed, and for whatever amount of current passing through this contact, and it can be a lot !

So I guess I will keep using Kilovac for my build :

It is an investment but a good one for safety - reliable cut off - and efficiency - 1.7W used only -

EVTV Friday Show - March 29, 2013

- VW Thing :

  - Siemens AC Motor Installation 

  - DMOC 645 Inverter installation 

  - Cooling System strategy 

  - Rear Battery Box fabrication

- 2008 Cadillac Elescalade : Heating system AGAIN and again

- Tesla's Tuesday surprise ...

We start with a 3-bottle wooden box, gift from EV West in San Diego

and some wine testing

Guess what: the Solid State Relay Jack used for his Escalade heating system failed closed = draining the battery pack again

So he is adding a contactor ! a Tyco Kilovac EV200AAANA as usual, that seems to be the only one you can trust (and this is why I also chose to use two of them for my DIY ESS)

A new, bigger tank for hot water

New SSR - Solid State Relay - with big aluminum heat sink and the Tyco Kilovac Contactor wired in series

The Contactor will be used to apply power to the heating system and the SSR will be used to cycle the heating ON & OFF

VW Thing : Jack & Brian are mounting the Siemens AC Motor in the back

- Painfull to watch -

Et voilà, it just sticks out a little ....

DMOC 645 mounted on the shelf

DMOC 645 & Siemens AC Motor cooling system

Rear battery box behind the rear seats

Low Cost Coil Economyzer Test for Tyco Kilovac EV200A1ANA

I am still in search of an economizer for my new Tyco Kilovac EV200A1ANA

Last night, I tested different resistor values along with this 4700uF capacitor - I got for my Grid Tie Inverter repair previously - and found that the simple economizer described in this DIY Electric Car thread


seems to work . I could not find a resistor that works so I used this air dryer resistive wire again - alreday used on my mini bottom balancer - and cut a piece that was 10Ohms;

Closing the circuit bypassing the economizer, the relay closes and is using 3,5A

With the economizer, the contactor is closing and only 1A is going through the circuit - instead of 3,5A with no economizer -   

1A at 12V = 12W

I will have to try with 20Ohms and see if what it does ... The idea is to leave the relay closed using minimum current, thus minimum power

LiFePO4 DIY ESS - New Tyco Kilovac EV200A1ANA Contactor for Charger Side

So here is my brand new Tyco Kilovac EV200A1ANA contactor, which requires an Economizer to be used ... I contacted TE (Tyco Electronics at te.com) and asked about this missing Economizer and they answered that it is required to use the contactor with a PWM component (?) otherwize the coil would be overheating and be destroyed (?!!). 

So I think I will look into the first used Tyco Kilovac EV200AAANA that I got a year ago from eBay and see what electronic component(s) Tyco is using

Once this problem is solved, this is how the chargers positive leads (carrying only 4A) would be attached to the new contactor, and on the other pole, a bigger 25mm² crimped jumper cable to connect to the other contactor

The 2 Tyco Kilovac contactors side by side

(and Brian is back on EVTV Friday Shows BTW)

EVTV Friday Show - March 8, 2013

- Brain returns

- Battery prices and Tesla's Battery Achilles Heel

- Electric Escalade Heating Woes continue

- EVCCON 2013 August 6-11

Brian is back ! It's good to see him

I think this is 'love' :-)

Tesla's battery system strengths and wicknesses 

Cadillac Elescalade heating system improvement continues : More powerfull heating element 

& Contactor vs Solid State Relay to cycle the heating system

"Welcome back Brian" with a good handshake ...

and a warm hug !