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mikedjames
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2012
Posts: 3348
Location: Hamble, Hampshire, UK
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 Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
One thing no one has mentioned yet is how would this unit or any PS unit effect driving in the wind. Would it exasperate the over correction that gets people in trouble when hit by a wind guts or lessen it?
I don't spend much of my time trying to parallel park but do spend a lot of time battling the winds. |
The Litesteer has either a GPS or a speedo cable speed sensor to control its strength with speed like modern cars. So when travelling fast it provides much less assistance than when it is used for low speed parking.
It will not stop people making a bad call when driving at speed.
Personally I find that the skills I learned from driving a powerboat in waves were transferrable to driving a bus in gusty crosswinds.
_________________
Ancient vehicles and vessels
1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.
1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23213
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2024 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Easysteer VW T2 bay electric power steering conversion |
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I have kind of been watching this thread since it first started simply because the tech seemed interesting.
Yeah, I can see a few people older and/or with disabilities....where this would be a good/useful modification.
My take is that overall it's good technology.
First, from looking at a few pictures from other sites, their site etc....their harness, relay and power controller packaging seems top notch. Looks like modern factory connectors and harness materials.
Next, from digging around it appears it requires 18-20 Amp draw when in operation. Pretty normal for electric power steering but it would be ideal to have the large alternator in your bus and/or have it running from an Auxiliary battery.
The technology....they are using EPS gear motors from existing cars/systems. EPS has been rock solid (at least in foreign cars) for a while and they have been quite reliable. Vw switched to all electric around 2006. The mk5 had an electric rack system meaning it was just a rack and pinion system with the motor built in. Later....maybe mk7 cars....they switched to a system like this where the motor was built into or attached to the steering column and operated a normal unpowered rack.
So this is not strange or unproven technology.
The fear that it could lock up or break a pinion or gear and lock your steering wheel? ....kind of unfounded. Your existing gearbox can do the same exact thing at 50 years old.
If the motor fails....it's just manual steering. I drove my Golf a few miles with the EPS system unpowered doing some suspension diagnostic. Once rolling its just like any other car with no power steering .....maybe slightly stiffer because the gear ratio is high. But in my Golf...at 3300 lbs with a 2.5L five cylinder and five speed trans right in line with the axles....in the driveway trying to turn around sucked! 
Man I could see this being great for parallel parking for people in cities who have not really practiced it enough, have weak or short arms or a heavily loaded van.
What I think would be ideal....unless the speed/force ratio is perfect....is to have a switch to turn it off. It may already have that I don't know.
Interesting!
Ray |
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