can i use a 36v controller on a 48v hub

[jdmfreek]

so i bought this kit in January http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GIXZKP8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00
and didnt realize how fast 48v was. i just use it to for work so speed is not my goal plus in my 39 years i have been hit 5 times.
my question is if i switch out the controller to a 36v will it still function?

 

[Lurkin]

then you would also need to change your battery. Cheaper to just limit your speed...

 

[jdmfreek]

I was thinking more along the lines of the battery cost. Because at lunar cycle 348 volt 20 amp hour battery is 599 but for a 20 amp hour 36 volt battery its only 299

 

[Lurkin]

That's because there's less batteries making up the voltage. i.e. if its based on nominal voltage 3.7v per cell, 36/3.7 = ~10 cells per parallel brick. 48/3.7 = ~13 cells per brick. This is why it's best to try and price up everything before pulling the trigger. If you haven't bought the battery you could buy a 36v battery and controller, it will be slower. Just not too sure on how efficient the motor will be on 36v, rather than 48v.

 

[amberwolf]

Why not just limit your speed?

If you reduce the voltage of the battery, but do not increase the Ah, you also decrease your range (total Wh).

You can limit the speed in a number of ways, but the easiest is to add a physical stop to the throttle if you can't make yourself not use it's full range.

If it doesn't have a throttle (can't tell from the pic in the link), then the screen it has with it should have levels of assist that you can set, which may also affect it's top speed, or even have a separate speed limit you can set.

 

[Lurkin]

Because he hasn't purchased the battery yet and its $200 different, so hes thinking if he purchases the 36v battery, its $200 back in the pocket, less the cost of a 36v controller.

 

[amberwolf]

Ah, I didnt' see that stated anywhere in the thread before you posted it. That would be useful information for the OP to post.

 

[jdmfreek]

Because he hasn't purchased the battery yet and its $200 different, so hes thinking if he purchases the 36v battery, its $200 back in the pocket, less the cost of a 36v controller.

thats exactly what i was thinking. so will it work?

 

[dogman dan]

The hub will work fine with 36v, and 36v controller. But the 48v controller is very likely to be set to work only with voltage over 42v, so you will need another controller.

My best advice, look for a new controller that does include the self learning, or self study feature. This will make getting the new one to run much easier. Jacks Musical has them very cheap on e bay.

 

[jdmfreek]

There's not much more that I know about my current set up besides what I had posted in the original post I had bought it from Amazon and I posted the link in my original post. My main concern is is not so much speed but weight and cost. For a 20 amp hour 36 volt battery will be much cheaper and lighter then a 48 volt 20 amp hour battery but I also understand that I have to factor in the price of a new controller. My main goal is to have a reliable source of transportation I would like at least 25 miles without pedaling and something that I can place in the Triangle of the bike for a more balanced feel. Currently I am using 8 9 amp hour SLA batteries and my bike weighs over 100 pounds and is near impossible to enjoy