Fifty pins of woe

So, it looks like my nemesis on this project is going to be the 50 pin connector on the EVBMW board. Though the board functions beautifully now, it isn't talking to the rest of the inverter and I'm getting some really weird readings from the sensors. Diagnosis from the forums (and the board's creator) is that the 50 pin connector that originally caused me so many problems isn't soldered down correctly.

This time I need to find a real electronics professional as I can't afford to take another gamble on an enthusiast - welcome as their help was. Hoping to get this sorted in the next week.

In the meantime we can't really do a lot on the car as we have builders in working on the front of the house and the car is now pinned in by scaffolding. I'll just have to take some more time off later in the summer to catch up the lost time.

It's not all bad news though. Before I realised the connector was borked I got the all the high voltage electronics working beautifully. I'd post a video but it all failed before I could. When you turn the key, the negative contactor and pre-charge relays engage, then when you twist to the start position it engages the primary contactor giving the inverter the full juice. This means that once I get the inverter sorted I just need to plug it back in and I should be into motor testing.

It's all a bit of a mess in this photo because it was taken after the inverter was disconnected. But you can see the primary components and the brackets I 3D printed to hold the keyswitch, direction switch (forward/reverse) and the brake button (the red momentary pushbutton standing in for the brake signal).

In the meantime I'm focusing on 3D design and some missing components. I might have a trade lined up for my old engine in return for some cash and an electric steering rack. And I'm nearly there with the shroud for the high voltage connections on the inverter.