bandaro
10 kW
G'day guys, so as some of you know I make conventional longboards regularly, and have been prototyping an electric model recently.
Glad to say I have reached a stage where I am pretty happy with the prototype. I am still waiting on the grip tape and some trucks to build it as a regular electric, but I fitted a pair of trucks and wheels onto it and took it for a little spin without the grip/electrics. The board has come out super solid feeling at a very acceptable weight. I haven't fully tested it as I am waiting for the grip to arrive, but I could flick it out without twist, stand on my heel on the top lid without deflection, bounce and shuffle around on it without problem.
So onto specs:
- 988mm (39") long
- 662mm (26") wheelbase
- 240mm (9.5") wide on the gas pedals
- 13* rear kick angle
- 110*530*25mm (4.3*20.8*1") Battery compartment inbuilt
- Elliptical tub concave, should come to around 16mm gripped
- Shape is similar to the superglider that people seem to love, but with beasty gas pedals.
This compartment can fit 12 cells of the zippy 5000mah lipo's (so 12s1p/6s2p or anything smaller). I will be running mine in 6s2p configuration. For convenience/price/looks, I am setting mine up with a backlit LED power switch connected to an electronic relay, and the batteries hard wired as 6s2p with a single 15 pin AV plug. This plug was used for a couple of reasons: balance and power can be split on top/bottom rows, handles the power, single plug for everything, same spacing as standard hxt balance plugs. This means that the top row of 7 pins can have a cheap cell checker/alarm plugged in and fastened to the deck with velcro so I don't have to rely on the ESC cutout to save the batteries and they can easily be checked externally.
The current deck used an old piece of carbon that has been off the roll and tucked away for a while hence the not quite straight grain, with a vacuum used to apply it so this left the wobbles in the surface (it's only for me to I wasn't too fussed about it visually as it's still a proto). The vacuum meant I couldn't pull the fabric all the way down to the white acrylic supports, so they were cut out. If I start a beta production run I will use a full mould that should pull the fabric right down tight and leave a wobble free surface on the carbon.
When I designed/cut the core materials I thought it would be set for both lipo (2 cells high) and 18650 cell packs at a minimum deck thickness. Unfortunately, Enertion has since come out with a battery 30mm wider than the compartment. This is one aspect I would greatly appreciate your input on. Do I leave it the same dimensions or alter them to fit the pack? If I alter them, I will need to make the board much wider than everyone is used to, ie about 280mm to ensure it is still structurally sound, or have the board about 30mm thick on the edges and look noticeably tank-like.
Here are some pics straight from the workshop, I will get a mini photoshoot when the board is finished:
General info: Ride height is about the same as a regular 9 ply topmount, deep wheel wells accommodate 97mm wheels - maybe larger, graphics can be custom for each deck, veneer/balsa/carbon construction, perfect for hub motors, downhill speedboard style flex, deck appears to be 10mm thick from side view then angles down on chamfer.
Still to do: wire up battery, velcro the "lid" into place, cut holes in the rear base for the esc's to stick through for cooling, drill holes for the motor wires to exit, apply grip. General finishings really. Also, I broke a tap in one of my mounts so will have to cut a new one if I can't get it out.
So what does everyone think? wider board to accomodate 18650 cells? stay with lipo for now? Is this something people would be interested for a beta run once I have run it through it's paces and happy with?
The post below has what changes are confirmed that will be on any future decks, this post will be updated with more info/better photo's.
Glad to say I have reached a stage where I am pretty happy with the prototype. I am still waiting on the grip tape and some trucks to build it as a regular electric, but I fitted a pair of trucks and wheels onto it and took it for a little spin without the grip/electrics. The board has come out super solid feeling at a very acceptable weight. I haven't fully tested it as I am waiting for the grip to arrive, but I could flick it out without twist, stand on my heel on the top lid without deflection, bounce and shuffle around on it without problem.
So onto specs:
- 988mm (39") long
- 662mm (26") wheelbase
- 240mm (9.5") wide on the gas pedals
- 13* rear kick angle
- 110*530*25mm (4.3*20.8*1") Battery compartment inbuilt
- Elliptical tub concave, should come to around 16mm gripped
- Shape is similar to the superglider that people seem to love, but with beasty gas pedals.
This compartment can fit 12 cells of the zippy 5000mah lipo's (so 12s1p/6s2p or anything smaller). I will be running mine in 6s2p configuration. For convenience/price/looks, I am setting mine up with a backlit LED power switch connected to an electronic relay, and the batteries hard wired as 6s2p with a single 15 pin AV plug. This plug was used for a couple of reasons: balance and power can be split on top/bottom rows, handles the power, single plug for everything, same spacing as standard hxt balance plugs. This means that the top row of 7 pins can have a cheap cell checker/alarm plugged in and fastened to the deck with velcro so I don't have to rely on the ESC cutout to save the batteries and they can easily be checked externally.
The current deck used an old piece of carbon that has been off the roll and tucked away for a while hence the not quite straight grain, with a vacuum used to apply it so this left the wobbles in the surface (it's only for me to I wasn't too fussed about it visually as it's still a proto). The vacuum meant I couldn't pull the fabric all the way down to the white acrylic supports, so they were cut out. If I start a beta production run I will use a full mould that should pull the fabric right down tight and leave a wobble free surface on the carbon.
When I designed/cut the core materials I thought it would be set for both lipo (2 cells high) and 18650 cell packs at a minimum deck thickness. Unfortunately, Enertion has since come out with a battery 30mm wider than the compartment. This is one aspect I would greatly appreciate your input on. Do I leave it the same dimensions or alter them to fit the pack? If I alter them, I will need to make the board much wider than everyone is used to, ie about 280mm to ensure it is still structurally sound, or have the board about 30mm thick on the edges and look noticeably tank-like.
Here are some pics straight from the workshop, I will get a mini photoshoot when the board is finished:
General info: Ride height is about the same as a regular 9 ply topmount, deep wheel wells accommodate 97mm wheels - maybe larger, graphics can be custom for each deck, veneer/balsa/carbon construction, perfect for hub motors, downhill speedboard style flex, deck appears to be 10mm thick from side view then angles down on chamfer.
Still to do: wire up battery, velcro the "lid" into place, cut holes in the rear base for the esc's to stick through for cooling, drill holes for the motor wires to exit, apply grip. General finishings really. Also, I broke a tap in one of my mounts so will have to cut a new one if I can't get it out.
So what does everyone think? wider board to accomodate 18650 cells? stay with lipo for now? Is this something people would be interested for a beta run once I have run it through it's paces and happy with?
The post below has what changes are confirmed that will be on any future decks, this post will be updated with more info/better photo's.
