240 volt / 110 volt

I have just learned that my 110 volt cable is available for me. I am looking forward to comparing the KVA used while charging with the 110 volt cable to the 220 volt charger. Once I get a good comparison I will report the results. I have a 110 volt plug that is connected to the same meter.

The one thing that I know I must remember is to set up 030 to be charged by the proper voltage supply. I must make a reminder notice to hang on the steering wheel and the 32 amp charger that is a reminder that the input voltage has been changed. It sure has saved me from driving off my RV with an antenna raised. That can be embarrassing! Plus expensive---

3 BLINKS

I have wanted to change the turn signal so it would give 3 blinks instead of just 1 like it came on delivery. It is simular to changing the automatic door lock. Just find the right sub-menu on the turn signal end. When you come to show "1" highlighted, change it to the "3" and then move out of the menu. I have not yet driven it that way, but I am confident it will work like I want it to do so. I am going to see if only the one "Key" was programed, but I suspect that is what happened. I find the programming a little complex, but with patience & the manual I am getting the hang of it.

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING

My first day I pulled into the garage, lowered the windows and got out of 030. I was really surprised when I went to open the door later and found it locked. Fortunately I did not have to call AAA to let me inside where I had left both keys.

Finally, today I determined to turn off the automatic door locking. I found the instructions under "Automatic Locking" on pages 22 & 23. I had to go through it several times to figure it out, but I believe I have it correct now as the padlock shows it open. Note the second sentence that says "The setting is stored for the remote control in use." So, you need to set up both remotes---

IPod?

I have been looking into the idea of adding an IPod as a music source.  With only 1 CD slot and no good place to store the extra CD's I am told that an IPod is a very  good option,  I am still in the research mode, knowing that the only possible input is the small jack below the radio.  Keep tuned -- I will comment later on what I learn.

LUNCH AT THE BEACHCOMBER

We invited a friend to lunch at The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove State Park.  And our friend wanted to check out the ME too.  They estimated the wait after signing up to be about 45 minutes, so I buzzed down the the 4 miles with Katie and dropped her off to get on the wait list.  I then drove to CDM (5 miles) and picked up the friend.  Lunch was great, the view fabulous, and the conversation was very good.  Then the discussion turned to how we would get everyone home.  The photo shows our quick solution  --  make 030 a 3 passenger car!

I have been trying to figure out the best way to install my Garmin 265WT.  An ad for Best Buy included a holder that just sits on the dash at about 1/3 of list price, valid through today.  I trotted over there and was told that it works very well.  I like it because it just sits there without any hook tape or other undesirable method of installation.  You can see in the photo that it is a great location.  While there I asked about the traffic report feature of the GPS and he explained that the roads are color coded according to the current conditions.  I was wondering why it was not talking to me to warn of traffic ahead!  Also I tested out the bluetooth connection and found it satisfactory as a hands free device.  Just do not use it with the phone open  --  it squeals!  You can even dial on the GPS.

Today I only traveled 43 miles and had a 48% charge left.  I wonder if the higher usage was due to playing the radio most of the time and having the GPS plugged in about 1/2 of the time.

San Juan Capistrano

A great Sunday afternoon ride took us south along the coast.  First we checked out a mobile home park in Laguna Beach we looked at several years ago.  They have a lot of empty lots, but with rents over $2,600 a month plus the cost of the mobile, it is too rich for our blood as a vacation home.  We had one on the water at El Morro for 26 years and the space rent was $850 when we had to give it up to the CA State Parks for redevelopment a  few years ago.  Oh well, I guess we will have to stick with our RV.  I wonder if I towed the ME if it would charge the battery?  (Just a   joke!) 

  

After touring another MH Park with 90 mobile homes on the beach at San Clemente (just for more fun) we drove through town and then headed to Cedar Creek Inn across from Mission San Juan Capistrano for a delicious lunch.

On the technical side we traveled 59 miles and the battery indicated 39% remaining   That is in line with my previous observation that on the average the battery loses about 1% for each mile.  Interestingly the % went up to 43% after sitting 1 hour.  My odometer reads 726 in 13 days.

TRIP TO TERRANEA RESORT

On TV I saw a short report on the grand opening yesterday of the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes.  It was a perfect 43 miles up there traveling on surface streets.  Our first surprise was to have Gerhard's new MINI-E #080 toot as he passed us on PCH.  It was our first sighting of a fellow pioneer while driving!  The resort is spectacular and was 12 years in development.  The property is at the location of the former Marine Land.  A link to read all about the resort is:

http://www.justluxe.com/travel/resort/feature-244355.php

The total trip was 90 miles.  The last few miles showed us dropping below 10% battery available, so it changed to miles left "in the tank".  But after sitting for awhile at home with the cooling fan running, it went back up to 19%.  The charger used 28.3 KVA's for an average of .31 KVA's per mile.

AN EVENING OUT

Today I needed to get extra keys for my 2002 T-Bird, so #030 had to stay home.  But we then went to see the movie Earth.  Spectacular seeing unbelievable footage of wild animals, birds and fish around the world!  We thought it was great for the young families there with us and worth ignoring the kids disruptions.

After stopping at Marie Callender's for pie I headed east just to cruise around.  We ended up near friends, so we stopped by for a visit.  Of course they both wanted to drive too and they were very impressed with my new wheels.  They were #14 & 15 to sign my "Guest Book".  The stats for the trip were 40 miles total with the battery ending up at 64% charge remaining.

If you have a MINI-E related blog or website of your own & show the link in a "Comment", I will try to get it listed here (I am not sure of how I do that, but I am sure I can work it out). 

To Azusa

The trip to Azusa went well today.  R/T was 97 miles with a 9% indicated charge left in the battery.  I drove conservatively, but did clock 65 mph part of the time.  I would say 60 mph was my average.  We had very little traffic delays.

On the way home we stopped by Crevier Mini and soon after Keith Goldsmith (he picked up #010 immediately after I drove away with #030)  arrived to show off his new MINI-E shirt he made last night.  Pretty slick!  Kirk took a photo of us by our ME's that I included.

After 540 miles in 10 days the average KVA/% = .34

030's odometer shows 425 miles.  Deduct the original 24 miles and the net is 401 miles in 8 days.  Not a bad average of 50 per day, considering that I am not commuting somewhere.  The average KVA continues at .33 per mile.  As I watch the battery % go down I note that it usually drops about 1% per mile that I drive.  I am planning a trip to Azusa that is a run of about 5o miles one way.  You can be sure that I will be driving conservatively to ensure that I can get all of the way home!

I am keeping a "Guest Book" of those that have checked it out.  A total of 12 persons have signed it in the first week.  "Cute" is a frequent comment (all women, of course).  My granddaughter wrote "Can I have it, please?"

ME #2

I have started tracking my KWH usage and here are my latest results:

DATE 6/5/09
MILES 268
KWH 84.7
KWH/Miles .347

What this shows me is that I am using about one KWH every 3 miles. I have not yet verified that this is my total extra cost per KWH, but Socal Edison told me that I am presently paying 24 cents per KWH and that rate will go to 28 cents when I reach my next tier. All of this is to say that my electricity is costing about 8 cents per mile. Not a bad cost for fuel!

ME #1

Since taking delivery of MINI-E 030 on 6/1/09 I have been tracking the KWH of electricity each time I recharge, noting the % of discharge of the car battery before that charge. I am finding it uses about .34 KWH average per mile of driving.