Operating Instrument Panel Controls
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A Silver Eagle record run was conducted by first turning left side instrument panel control switches to ON in the following sequence:
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COMM switch starts the speed control motor.
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PWR switch enables main drive power.
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AUX switch powers on-board systems and instrument circuits.
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COOLING switch powers the main drive motor vane-axial cooling fan.
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Panel photo above shows the left side switches in the ON condition.
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Next, power was applied to the drive motor circuit to begin acceleration by turning right side MOTOR POWER switches to ON in the following sequence:
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Left (first) switch turned to ON.
Acceleration began; speed control foot pedal was depressed to maintain the ammeter needle at red high limit mark; vehicle speed increased and the foot pedal was fully depressed. When the needle reached the green low limit mark the:
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Second switch was turned to ON
This procedure was repeated until all eight MOTOR POWER switches were turned to ON and maximum speed was reached.
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Panel photo above shows all switches ON, the tachometer at the rev limit, and the ammeter needle against the high limit.
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The eight switches, operated sequentially, gradually increased voltage to the drive motor, an effect similar to shifting gears in a transmission as cell groups were added to the power circuit.
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During the run the TEMP lamp was monitored. If the drive motor exceeded a pre-set temperature limit the lamp illuminated and the run would be aborted by tripping the EMERG CLEAR switch. The motor never exceeded a safe operating temperature during testing or record runs.
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At the end of the speed run the EMERG CLEAR switch was tripped blowing a large fuse in the MOTOR POWER circuit. A fuse was blown because opening magnetic switch contacts at high current could weld contacts closed and motor power could not be disconnected. The fuse was replaced before each run. (See Right Side Chassis)
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