[IamIan]

As the weather gets nicer... the flowers come out the birds sing... and well my thoughts turn to MIMA install

I know I for one would like to have my MIMA installed before Tour De Sol... I also know that I would like someone who has done it before to be there for my stupid questions...

So I figured I would start a topic here to see if anyone else is interested , Where would be good places and when would be good times for people.

Ian George ( iamian )

Current Location: State College, Pa

When : Weekends are best for me. May 6th to May 14th I can do just about any day but would like to attend Tour De Sol which if memory is correct is May 10th to May 14th

Any body else??

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

IamIan
The next weekend that the weather will be over 50, with no rain, we could do it here. Lets see how it goes. I will be putting together another batch of built systems in preparation for the spring MIMA rush :wink:

 

[IamIan]

March 18th and 19th
look like a no go as the weather prediction is 30's with a low chance of rain.

Later date are just averages.... weather will be updated as we get nearer to them.

March 25th and 26th
Will not have better idea until a week or so.
Averages say upper 40's
Unless it warms up and stays dry .. probably not.

From April 1st on the average Temperatures are low 50's and up.

 

[goat961]

i'd definately love to see a mima install.... i still got a couple months before my waranty runs out so i won't install yet.

anyway, i'm interested

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Everyone is welcome. Installing, watching, helping, discussing, test drives. It was a lot of fun last year.
:wink:

 

[IamIan]

Unless this doesn't work for some reason ..... I figure the Install days should be near Mike's area... as a central point.... depending on the number of people may determine exactly where.

If the weather is nice ... as is no rain and over 50 degrees .... The first possible Install day I see is the weekend of March 25th / 26th....

This is very tenative yet as weather forcasts that far ahead are not known for acuracy.... and this time of year is known for rain.

Will post more updates... as a better idea of weather and such forms.

 

[IamIan]

Weather Update...

Still a good ways off ... so hopefully the weather will clear up some ... but right now the forecast for North Grosvenordale, CT the weekend of March 25th... has changed to a temperature in the Upper 40's and a 40% chance of rain...

Hopefully the weather predictions will change as we get closer to it.... We are looking for Over 50 degrees... and I would say less than 10% chance of rain.


The next weekend of April 1st is very far ahead.... But averages are in the low 50's for that distant / next weekend.

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Since we only have one install, and one visitor so far, we can afford to be flexible with the install plans.
The weather for tomorrow and Sunday while below our 50 deg cutoff, looks reasonablly clear and pleasant.
All of the rear wiring can be done with the hatch and doors closed, so should not be any problem with the temp. The Insight is a nice solar collector. The ECM wiring is the only place where The door needs to be open, but that can be done in a bit over 1/2hour. The predicted 39 deg with a 10-15mph wind would make it seem a bit chilly, but In my opinion it could be done.
You know how New England weather is, you have to take advantage of a known reasonable day, rather than try to plan a week ahead, as things can change so fast.
Your call. I am willing to give it a go. The hardware is ready to go.

:wink:

 

[IamIan]

I appreciate the offer.... but , this weekend I can not do.... I have plnas already set for this weekend.

Next Weekend I have kept open.. but the weather is not looking great... hopefully that will change as we get closer to the weekend of the 25th.

The following Weekend... the 1st... I have made plans for... so that weekend will not work for me... I will keep my eye to the weather forcasts for myself and others as the weekends aproach.

I agree... Weather is always a bit unpredictable... and this time of year is more so than others... and New England Area is always a bit on the varible side too.... will have to do what we can do....

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Ok No problem, more time to play with batterys and such.
:wink:

 

[IamIan]

weather is looking a bit better for the weekend of the 25th....

Rain chance is down to only 30%... hopefully that will drop to like 10% or less....

And temps are a bit chilly in the mid 40's but doable....

Still a bit off and the rain chance needs to come down a bit more... But I am hopeful.

More as it comes..

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

I worked outside all day on Sat and Sunday in 38-41 F temps, and as long as it is not windy, it was not too bad.
Lets make our final plans on Thurs or Fri.

 

[IamIan]

ok.. Thursday ~ Friday we will decide if this is it or if it needs to be pushed back....

I found my liability forms... forgot to mail them.. sorry about that...

I will just bring them with me... to make sure they are there in time and such.


I agree that mid 40's should be ok too... a bit chilly but shoudl be ok....

The main issue to see as we approach thursday / friday is rain.... I am thinking it has to be 10% or less chance.

right now i See Sat at 20% rain and Sunday at 30% rain

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Ian
I have a garage so we could work even if it rains, at this point we are only doing one car.

 

[goat961]

so is this going to be a 2 day thing or just 1?

i gotta take off work so lmk asap.

also.... where exactly is this shin-dig happening?

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

goat961
So far it is not much of a shin-dig.
IamIan and I will install a MIMA system in his car.
We have not picked a day or time yet, but the weather forcast keeps getting better for both Sat. and Sun. Depending on when He can get to my place, we should have no problems getting it done in an afternoon.
It would be fun if yourself and several more people came up for a mini Insight gathering as well. People could try out MIMA in my car while we do Ian's wiring, and of course all the conversation about hypermiling techniques and booster packs will be more fun if we get several more people.
To get here, take CT I 395 to exit 100(last exit in CT.)
Directions from there.
http://99mpg.com/Data/downloads/related ... ctions.pdf
We should settle on a day and time by thursday.

 

[IamIan]

Will be set I think Thursday but as of right now....

I think the plan now is to have this thing at Mike's ... which his adress is on the MIMA page under contact us I think.... thanks for the garage offer Mike.... that means that this should be a go I think for this Saturday 3-25-06.... temperatures look like they will be mid 40's ...so chilly but not killer cold.... chance of rain for Saturday is staying ~20% Sunday is a bit worse ~30% and a bit colder lower 40's.

if I recall corectly it is in North Grosvenordale , CT .... from here in State College , Pa.... I am looking at 6~7 Hour drive each way.... plus the 3~4 hours of MIMA install time.... one very full day.... I figure to leave here a little earily like 5 or 6 AM that will put me at Mike's around 11~12ish .... so we should still have plenty of day light left for the install.... My Wife said she will be coming with for the road trip, so with company the road trip should be nice ... she will probably do home work or read or something during the install and such as she isn't really into this like I am... I told her it would be a 7 hour drive each way and at least 4 hours for the install ... so she is prepaired.... she just said I would have to do all the driving myself... ok that was an easy sell ... wish I had saved up sooner... I was half expecting to work harder for it.

The install is a one day thing for sure... depending on where you are coming from and your schedule ... you may want to have 2 days off....

I have cleared my schedule for saturday and sunday... I anticipate being wide awake and ready to test the New MIMA on the road trip back to state college Saturday evening / night .... but if I am tired or it is just late, I will just stop at a hotel somewhere and drive home sunday.

Still will be a nice little road trip anyway.

 

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Ian
Thats a lot of driving for one day. There is a nice inexpensive Motel nearby.
http://www.kingsinnputnam.com/
You may want to get a room there, and that way we can have more time for testing and discussion after the install. On Sunday you can have a liesurely drive back home. Your Wife can visit with my wife Sue, or do homework and reading while we hack into your car.

 

[IamIan]

getting a room at a hotel and then driving back on Sunday... Is a very good 80+% chance of happening.... concidering the time and amount of driving... plus it would be nice to see some of the booster pack stuff up close if there is time after the install.

 

[IamIan]

I think as far as I am concerned it is a Go for My MIMA + FAS Install on This Saturday the 25th...

The weather forcast still says it will be in the mid 40's.... with a 20% chance of rain on Saturday....

so Chilly but not killer cold....

Plus since Mike was nice enough to offer to use his Garage if it rains.... Then I think we should be good to go.

Sinse the AR2 output on the MIMA activates the FAS I think that means I do not need the Momentary Swicth for the FAS????

I am going to get my stuff all together and so I can be ready....

I plan to arrive at Mikes sometime between 11 and 12 ish... depending on exactly how hard it is to pull my *** out of bed in the morning and how well the traveling goes....

If I am going to be much later than 12:30 I will Give Mike a call at the number listed on his MIMA page.

Any problems Mike Let me know.... I will bring my OQO with so I will have email and web access on the road.... but will probably only check it when I make pit stops for food and such....

As far as I figure the list of stuff I need to bring is:
Good condition fine tipped soldering iron
Fine rosen core electrical solder.
Wire strippers
good condition small wire clipper
Long nose plyers
Wire ties
Black electrical tape
Phillips screwdriver
Large flat blade screwdriver
Small flat blade screwdriver

My Insight of Course

Me

Check Book

Liability and transfer of ownership paper work.

Anything I am missing let me know....

Latter today I have to go out and buy some of this stuff... as my Soldering Iron Sucks.... etc...




:lol: