Universal 3-Speed Switch (no programming,works w/any cntrlr)

[methods]

Matthew has come up with an awesome new product. He has created a 3spd switch that is totally independent of the Infineon X1/X2/X3 programming. Instead it has two potentiometers for setting the Medium and Low percentages.

They are potted in epoxy and plug-n-play ready for any ebikes.ca or Crystalyte controller that uses the standard 3 pin JST-SM black connectors. He already did a production run of 15pcs and they are ready to ship (as soon as I get back to the shop). We will put them up on MethTek.com this weekend.

The switches are marked in awesome Chinese - which btw... we are looking for some creative translations for

Matthews company is Custom Link Technologies

No website yet - he is too busy working on his CroMotor setup but his contact info is there. Matthews shop is way WAY nicer than mine... he already has a 500W solder pot, ultrasonic cleaning station, hot air setup, work stations.... When I went by there the other day they were rigging up some little kids electric go-kart to do like 25mph Teach um young.

I also saw a bunch of Emoli cells and it looked like they were building up packs - so if you are local to the Bay Area you may consider talking with them if you are looking for someone to help you complete a project.

I dont have any pictures - hopefully Matthew does and will post them below.

Anyway - This is a limited production run that took a long time to make and fool around with so I wanted to make sure you guys got first crack at them in case he does not have time to do a second run. They ain't going to be cheap - if you are cheap then put your DIY pants on and get to work I am sure that Matthew will be more than happy to share his design with anyone who is broke or interested in DIY.

I will post back up when they are available on the www.MethodsTechnology.com.

-methods

[heathyoung]

I'm guessing a resistive divider on the throttle output right? Nice. One good thing about speed rather than torque based throttles

[Sacman]

Matthew has come up with an awesome new product. He has created a 3spd switch that is totally independent of the Infineon X1/X2/X3 programming. Instead it has two potentiometers for setting the Medium and Low percentages.

They are potted in epoxy and plug-n-play ready for any ebikes.ca or Crystalyte controller that uses the standard 3 pin JST-SM black connectors. He already did a production run of 15pcs and they are ready to ship (as soon as I get back to the shop). We will put them up on MethTek.com this weekend.

The switches are marked in awesome Chinese - which btw... we are looking for some creative translations for

Universal 3-speed switch... Very nice! I could actually use 1 or 2 of these so I'll be looking out for them becoming available. I couldn't really tell from your description but does this plug in between controller and throttle?

[scriewy]

Good thingy !
i use 1 not to maw down pedestriens if something happens with throttle when on sidewalks

[deVries]

Good thingy !
i use 1 not to maw down pedestriens if something happens with throttle when on sidewalks

That's a good idea.

Methods, you always mention Matthew working "the projects" you guys do together. Does he contract with you, or are you in some partnership business wise? At times it seems he's living at your place "cooking" circuit boards with you to some "mad scientist" hours of the night, etc. I'm just curious, idle curiosity, since you always talk about this mystery guy named Matthew. I say "mystery", since most ES people don't live nearby Santa Cruz or even in CA for that matter.

[methods]

I'm guessing a resistive divider on the throttle output right? Nice. One good thing about speed rather than torque based throttles

Basically you put an inline resistance between the throttle and the controller.
HIGH then gives you 100% throttle
MEDIUM switches a potentiometer to ground on the throttle side creating a voltage divider
LOW switches in a different potentiometer to make a different voltage divider

Now you can have 3 different settings - or scales - of the throttle.

Methods, you always mention Matthew working "the projects" you guys do together. Does he contract with you, or are you in some partnership business wise? At times it seems he's living at your place "cooking" circuit boards with you to some "mad scientist" hours of the night, etc. I'm just curious, idle curiosity, since you always talk about this mystery guy named Matthew. I say "mystery", since most ES people don't live nearby Santa Cruz or even in CA for that matter.

It is a little of both

I originally interviewed Matthew for a position at a company I used to work at. He was top of his class and we hired him. We started working on ebikes and when I left the company he started helping me at MethTek in his spare time. We still work together on projects - and since this is basically a 1/2 man show either of us could be doing anything from design work to populating boards to troubleshooting and repair. Anyway - my little shop got crowded quick and Matthew opened up his own shop. Now instead of us staying up till all hours sweating in my shop I basically give him a box of parts and he comes back with finished product

So we do work till all hours of the night cooking up mad brews in my Chemistry lab and we also do regular business.

-methods

[Trackman417]

Any pictures of this nifty device?
What about an estimated price range, for those who are broke

[methods]

Matthew went over to my shop to take some pictures today I think.

The price is going to be so staggeringly high that you will probably become lightheaded and fall over when you see it on MethTek.com. The reality is tho... that we spend tons of time making something like this available - we front all the cash, deal with the vendors, make the prototypes, test, provide customer support, warranty, eat the failures, eat shipping warranty.... so if we price these to make $5 and the inevitable happens we actually lose money and Matthew has to boil is boots to make soup.

This is all about the DIY revolution so if you are broke then dude... just make one!

I will let you wait to see the price

-methods

[cbr shadow]

I dont quite understand what this is.. Is it a 3 speed switch that can work with any controller, as opposed to the currently available 3 speed switches that only work with infineon controllers?
Thanks

[Stochastic]

Ok I got the pictures all together. This is the first batch of the switches.

FirstBatch.jpg (181.23 KiB) Viewed 3447 times

UpClose.jpg (174.15 KiB) Viewed 3447 times

UpClose2.jpg (184.67 KiB) Viewed 3447 times

Switch.jpg (160.57 KiB) Viewed 3447 times

-Matthew

[methods]

I dont quite understand what this is.. Is it a 3 speed switch that can work with any controller, as opposed to the currently available 3 speed switches that only work with infineon controllers?
Thanks

Yes - that is the idea.
Since none of the Ebikes.ca controllers work with 3spd switch - and since many people who have programmable controllers are not comfortable flashing them... this solves that problem by just doing it the old school analog way.

Speaking of which... we need to test one on a Lyen controller. From what I have heard he and Keywin are populating the throttle input with only a 2K pull down which is going to screw this up a bit. I wish they would use a 10K or 20K. I know they will work with a Lyen controller but the stated range percentages will change a bit with the lower input impedance.

-methods

[hydro-one]

I would set those pots and then pot the pots. who knows what will happen when i pour salt water on that thing!!!

Iguess if its a divider, worst that could happen here is an unintentional , full range (normal throttle). so should be ok!!

[snellemin]

Nice, I want one to mess with on my ebay controller and Lyen sensorless controllers.

[Sacman]

The price is going to be so staggeringly high that you will probably become lightheaded and fall over when you see it on MethTek.com. The reality is tho... that we spend tons of time making something like this available - we front all the cash, deal with the vendors, make the prototypes, test, provide customer support, warranty, eat the failures, eat shipping warranty.... so if we price these to make $5 and the inevitable happens we actually lose money and Matthew has to boil is boots to make soup.

This is all about the DIY revolution so if you are broke then dude... just make one!

I will let you wait to see the price

-methods

I don't have any problem paying people for the work they put into developing a specialized and useful product. If it works right they should get paid.

Since none of the Ebikes.ca controllers work with 3spd switch - and since many people who have programmable controllers are not comfortable flashing them... this solves that problem by just doing it the old school analog way.

Speaking of which... we need to test one on a Lyen controller. From what I have heard he and Keywin are populating the throttle input with only a 2K pull down which is going to screw this up a bit. I wish they would use a 10K or 20K. I know they will work with a Lyen controller but the stated range percentages will change a bit with the lower input impedance.
-methods

I'm thinking about using one on my brother's ebike with an analog Crystallyte controller, and also with a digital 18-FET BMC controller. But I do have a new Lyen controller I can try it on and let you know.

[rojitor]

I'm down for one just in case i can afford it.

[nicobie]

That neat having the pots adjustable. This way we can set what we want for 1st & 2nd speed.

Awhile back, at methods suggestion, I made one of these to go on the throttle wire to control the range of the throttle. Works great.

[Trackman417]

That neat having the pots adjustable. This way we can set what we want for 1st & 2nd speed.

Awhile back, at methods suggestion, I made one of these to go on the throttle wire to control the range of the throttle. Works great.

Looks great too
Great ingenuity

[Sacman]

That neat having the pots adjustable. This way we can set what we want for 1st & 2nd speed.

Awhile back, at methods suggestion, I made one of these to go on the throttle wire to control the range of the throttle. Works great.

Looks good Nick! Pretty minimal and can be placed next to the controller. But since there's no remote switch to mount on the handle bars I guess you can't change the speed on the fly... you have to stop, get off the bike in order to switch it right?

Methods gave me some similar info on how to make a universal cruise control but I never got around to making one.

[nicobie]

It's not made to do what methods unit does. It just fine tunes the throttle range to get rid of dead spots.

Methods unit is the real deal.

[Trackman417]

Hey Methods!
What happened to posting these things up on your site this weekend
That was, quite literally, the highlight of my weekend. Forget all the July 4th fire works and party's that was going on

[JoramsWeapon]

I'd be very interested in getting this 3-speed switch plus throttle assembly and I hope you put them up for sale soon!

[Stochastic]

I'll have to remind Patrick to put the switches up when he gets a chance.

This first batch is limited but if there is enough demand I can start working on another batch .

-Matthew

[Trackman417]

Just ordered one.
How are they setup "right out of the factory"?
Any ballparks on the percent throttle in each position of the switch?

[deVries]

Is there any ideal placement location thought of to put the potted adjustment part on the bike somewhere hidden or out of sight?

Thanks.

[Sacman]

I just ordered on as well. Gonna be interesting to see how it tames down the twitchy-ness of the throttle on one of my higher speed ebikes. Thanks again for developing these Matthew!