Grin Motors and baserunner z9

[Aswin]

Hi everyone,


I’m considering getting the Grin Motors Bafang G311 hub motor paired with a Baserunner Z9 controller. The twist is that I’ll be installing this on a velomobile that weighs around 50 kg.


A couple of things I’d like your input on:

1. Suitability: Do you think the G311 + Baserunner Z9 is a good combo for this weight and application? Will it provide enough torque and reliability?
2. Configuration: I’ve read that the Baserunner controllers are highly tunable with Grin’s software suite (Phaserunner Suite). How easy is it to configure the motor and fine-tune parameters like current limits, regen, assist levels, etc., for a first-timer?
3. Other considerations: Anything I should watch out for with this setup on a heavier velomobile?

Would really appreciate suggestions from anyone who has experience with this motor/controller combo or has used it in a similar application.

 

[lnanek]

I think it would struggle. My Baserunner can barely get my fat bike up to speed, which weighs half that. A Phaserunner would be able to handle more voltage and amps.

I've never changed the assist levels since I have it paired with a cycle analyst that is programmed separately. I've changed max battery amps plenty of times on it, though, when switching batteries to one that needs a lower limit to not trip the BMS. Both via Mac laptop and Android phone connected by a cable.

The regen setting is kind of broken. If you set it to zero the controller doesn't work. You can set it to a tiny value or use a geared hub motor with a freewheel where it doesn't matter, though.

 

[Aswin]

I think it would struggle. My Baserunner can barely get my fat bike up to speed, which weighs half that. A Phaserunner would be able to handle more voltage and amps.

I've never changed the assist levels since I have it paired with a cycle analyst that is programmed separately. I've changed max battery amps plenty of times on it, though, when switching batteries to one that needs a lower limit to not trip the BMS. Both via Mac laptop and Android phone connected by a cable.

The regen setting is kind of broken. If you set it to zero the controller doesn't work. You can set it to a tiny value or use a geared hub motor with a freewheel where it doesn't matter, though.

If I set the regen to some tiny value instead of zero, will it affect my freewheeling? (will it use electrical braking) because freewheeling is very important for my vehicle

 

[E-HP]

If I set the regen to some tiny value instead of zero, will it affect my freewheeling? (will it use electrical braking) because freewheeling is very important for my vehicle

Unless you are going to modify the motor by welding the clutch, regen is not supported when you have a geared hub motor.

 

[lnanek]

If I set the regen to some tiny value instead of zero, will it affect my freewheeling? (will it use electrical braking) because freewheeling is very important for my vehicle

There's a separate setting for virtual electric freewheeling (where the controller will try to use power to make a direct drive hub freewheel without resistance as if it had a freewheel). I think that motor you cited is a geared motor with a freewheel anyway, so regen does nothing. It can't regen any power while the freewheel is spinning. You'd have to weld the clutch to make it regen.

 

[offGridDownUnder]

a velomobile that weighs around 50 kg.

You have not told us most of what's needed to evaluate what you are proposing.

The same Grin that makes the motors provides a motor simulator (and other tools). It's presented as a URL, so you can just open it here in the links below. I made several guesses about the details of your machine - you can dial in what you want, including changes once you see the likely performance.

The first URL is with the Bafang as a hub motor. Grin does not list the 311 in the drop down list - I expect as it is the same motor as the 310 which they do list.

That raises an interesting question - why are you putting the motor in the front wheel? Is this a two-wheeled velomobile?

Bafang as hub motor

The second URL is with the same motor, but with a gearing drop - which isn't mentioned at all by you, but happens to be what I am doing with my trike. With my trike, I have used a Shengyi SX2 as the motor, and it will pull me up a 12 degree (measured with my iPhone) slope. I provided this to show how to use the Grin Motor simulator with gearing drops - for most, that's about the output stages of a mid-drive motor, but in my case, it's due to me using a stoke monkey mounting. It's possibly not relevant for you, but you can see how to do it from this.

Bafang wiith reduction

Keep in mind that the wheel size you choose (which you did not tell us) is itself a "gear reduction". I accepted a 26" wheel in the Grin simulator settings. I have seen 16" wheels on high-speed trikes, which is a 1.6 reduction compared to a 26" wheel.

 

[amberwolf]

Moved to Ebike General out of Ebike Reviews and Testing as it is not a review or a test.

 

[Aswin]

You have not told us most of what's needed to evaluate what you are proposing.

The same Grin that makes the motors provides a motor simulator (and other tools). It's presented as a URL, so you can just open it here in the links below. I made several guesses about the details of your machine - you can dial in what you want, including changes once you see the likely performance.

The first URL is with the Bafang as a hub motor. Grin does not list the 311 in the drop down list - I expect as it is the same motor as the 310 which they do list.

That raises an interesting question - why are you putting the motor in the front wheel? Is this a two-wheeled velomobile?

Bafang as hub motor

The second URL is with the same motor, but with a gearing drop - which isn't mentioned at all by you, but happens to be what I am doing with my trike. With my trike, I have used a Shengyi SX2 as the motor, and it will pull me up a 12 degree (measured with my iPhone) slope. I provided this to show how to use the Grin Motor simulator with gearing drops - for most, that's about the output stages of a mid-drive motor, but in my case, it's due to me using a stoke monkey mounting. It's possibly not relevant for you, but you can see how to do it from this.

Bafang wiith reduction

Keep in mind that the wheel size you choose (which you did not tell us) is itself a "gear reduction". I accepted a 26" wheel in the Grin simulator settings. I have seen 16" wheels on high-speed trikes, which is a 1.6 reduction compared to a 26" wheel.

Its a 3 wheeled velomobile (2 on front and 1 at the back) I am using this motor on the rear wheel and the wheel size is 20". Can u tell me the max speed that u have achieved with this motor without reduction

 

[offGridDownUnder]

Can u tell me the max speed that u have achieved with this motor without reduction

No, I can't, as I have not used the Bafang motors at all, nor have I used my Shengyi SX2 without reduction.

The motor speed will also vary directly with the voltage the battery supplies - a 48V battery is generally that much faster (at top speed) than with a 36V battery, and a 52V battery even faster - and with the immediate conditions (wind, hills).

The motor speed will also vary with the winding - note that the Bafang G310 is provided in Std ("Standard"), Fst ("Fast"), and VFst ("Very Fast') windings and each thus has a different speed range it provides.

Grin's page on the Bafang motor and their motor simulator (first URL provided in my reply above) will give you the best estimate of the speeds attainable by the motor. I recommend you read that closely - they mention stripping the gears if the motor is pushed too hard.

I have reached over 50km/hr going down steep hills with a GMAC motor in my trike and less reduction than I am using now, and I have reached 40km/hr downhill with the Grin All-Axle v3 Fast wind I am using now in my trike. I am not interested in high speeds - I am interested in utility - and I live in a country with limits on powered cycles, and I have tried turning at higher speeds. All together, I won't be of any help if speed is your goal.

Turning more than a small course correction above 20km/hr will turn my trike over and I like my face as it is now. Speed does not concern me.

 

[E-HP]

Hi everyone,


I’m considering getting the Grin Motors Bafang G311 hub motor paired with a Baserunner Z9 controller. The twist is that I’ll be installing this on a velomobile that weighs around 50 kg.


A couple of things I’d like your input on:

1. Suitability: Do you think the G311 + Baserunner Z9 is a good combo for this weight and application? Will it provide enough torque and reliability?
2. Configuration: I’ve read that the Baserunner controllers are highly tunable with Grin’s software suite (Phaserunner Suite). How easy is it to configure the motor and fine-tune parameters like current limits, regen, assist levels, etc., for a first-timer?
3. Other considerations: Anything I should watch out for with this setup on a heavier velomobile?

Would really appreciate suggestions from anyone who has experience with this motor/controller combo or has used it in a similar application.

The components you’ve listed should have no problem meeting the performance expectations* that you’ve described in this thread, as long as you don’t exceed the component capabilities.

Make sure you start a build thread and provide pics of your progress!

*have you read the sticky on how to get proper advice at the top of this forum?