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Question 1: What are the most common causes for electrical failure during competition?
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People plugging the wrong connectors
fix with plugs that can’t be plugged in the wrong way
reverse voltage protection
PFET
zener diode for higher input voltage range
fuse for overcurrent
zener clamp
Spraying water on the solar array (for keeping cool)
need appropriate drainage
Not securing wires/cables
crimped connectors recommended
Question 2: Numerous teams have implemented sequential lighting. Do you have any advice for designing these?
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Specific board for sequencing
keep in mind things like turn signal vs hazards
Need to be able to split LED arrays into segments.
Question 3: What would be the limiting factors in terms of electrical integration if making a solar powered EV larger than a cruiser (e.g: van for instance) ?
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Sun needs to be powering a significant portion of car during operation. Not possible with current technology.
Solar panels need to improve (the hard part)
Electric motors also need to improve (realistic)
Question 4: Apart from battery technology, what other key areas in the system do you think need the most innovation to make EVs more accessible to the consumer market?
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See above
Electric power train; efficiency so high in electronics that active cooling is no longer required.
Question 5: What would you say would be the best ways to learn circuit design for people who are new to it, especially in a remote environment ?
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By doing - kinda hard in COVID though lol
Doing layout/schematics
“I wonder how xyz works” + simulations (ex. using LTSpice)
Discrete logic/FPGAs instead of software control
Talk to people and ask the right questions (leads/alumni e.t.c)
Question 6:
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