Wiring Diagram

Found a wiring diagram for a Nordco Marketeer cart thanks to these guys. It's a different model, but definitely close...

The Modelling Begins...

Downloaded Google's 3D modeling program, SketchUp. Great program and free! Check out the first basic attempt at drawing Small Orange. Once the base is modeled well enough, it'll be time to move onto designing the mutant modifications:-) More to come...

28 Years Young!

After moving a bunch of DeMentha Camp stuff out of the garage yesterday, thanks Sheana again!, there was finally room for Small Orange and she sleeps in the dry from now on :-)


So in taking off the cab and removing the charger, was able to figure out the age & model number.

It's a 1979 Nordco Marketeer model 262 burden carrier. The date inside the now-discarded charger proved useful...


The motor is 4.5 HP, not quite as powerful as the current offerings from Columbia, but should be ok for getting the mutant vehicle around the playa.


That's it for today, the new charger & motor controller should arrive during the week, so serious work to come.

Almost forgot, ordered a 500A ammter & remote shunt on eBay, cheap
cheap, $25. The meter will allow continuous motor current monitoring to make sure everything is under control.

Motor Controller

Small Orange came with a resistive motor controller, meaning that at anything other that full speed, power is wasted, reducing range and making more frequent charging necessary. The answer is an electronic speed controller that maintains excellent efficiency at all speeds. Curtis is a good manufacturer and the 1205 model 400A controller seems to be the ideal solution. Picked one up on eBay for $229

Got Blacklight?

Want to bathe passengers in black light when riding on the Small Orange, that should look great with fur etc. Will try to make all lights LED to minimize power consumption. Found this Chauvet LED black light on-line, looked cool but was steep at $180, as luck would have it a demo model was available for $90, NTFS. 12W current draw and should cover a 20'x20' area. Ordered and it's on the way...

Sound Options

Gotta have killer tunes when rolling around the playa, so…

A pair of KRK RP-8 (90W) powered monitors could be good, we’ve used these for several years at DeMentha Camp, as DJ monitors, and they’ve proven themselves as robust. Sound good too. Found these new, as cheap as $249 at zZounds.com. Could add their RP-10S (150W) sub to the setup, cheapest for the sub is $299. So that leaves a KRK setup at about $500 or $800 with sub.

The next stage up would be Mackie SRM450s, there are bigger than the KRKs (400W vs. 90W) and wouldn’t need a sub. Haven’t used these before but they’re regarded as robust and loud. Also have a 3-minute auto-off feature that could be handy. Good eBay prices around $500, so $1,000 for the pair. Bargain-hunting auto-searches locked and loaded on eBay and Craigslist…

Thoughts as to what to do next…

Need to get the basic chassis in good electrical and mechanical shape before considering playa mods.

• Batteries unknown condition, need to test and replace cells as necessary
• Inspect motor
• Inspect motor controller
  
• Brakes are weak, investigate and repair
• Replace old-school timer charger with new Dual Pro model
• Inspect/repair headlight and turn signals
• Steering is heavy, may just need to lube
• Remove the cab
• Replace bed plywood, $10 job.

As to those playa mods, the basic idea is to incorporate fur, lights, music, people and alcohol in the right proportions. Thinking a Honda 1kW or 2kW genny will work well, quiet and plenty of juice to keep things powered. A roof we could stand on would make a nice viewing platform, and give something to hang speakers from.

First Purchase

Small Orange, came with a basic timed battery charger. Realized that this was likely to shorten battery life, especially in the temperature elevated environment of the playa. A temperature compensated 3-stage charger was the right job, but expensive, found a reconditioned Dual Pro unit for $269, < $300 including shipping. Seeing as the batteries may the most expensive item in Small Orange, this thing should turn out to be money well spent.

Small Orange Arrives Home

Friday 10/12/2007 – Small Orange, now without the tool cabinet, arrives safely at Capp St.

Found Small Orange

Thursday 10/11/2007 – Found an old Marketeer burden carrier on Craigslist. A burden carrier seemed like the ideal mutant vehicle base for a few reasons…

• Designed to carry (2,000 Lbs) and tow (4,000 Lbs) heavy loads
• Compact size (4’6”x9’6”) would allow for easy trailering or could fit in a 24’ truck.
• Sturdy flatbed boxy-but-good steel construction will lend itself well to playa modifications

Electric operation, nice and quiet, can charge with solar etc. Also figured the batteries can be topped up with the genny that powers the lights & sound

Owner was looking for $1,500, agreed on $1,000, picked up from Tom in Sonora, CA. U-Haul 5x9 ramp trailer just about did the trick and at $30 to rent, NTFS as DeMentha camp-mate Big Bear would say. Big thank you to my GF, Sheana, for making the oh-so-tiring 8-hour journey to-and-from Sonora to pick up Small Orange that evening.