Can I use a 36V hub motor on 48V speed controller & 48V batt

[Shauncyq]

Hi, I recently just started riding an E-bike.
LICI Z1
36V lithium battery
36V 13A speed controller
36V 250W hub motor.

I would like to upgrade to 48V battery,
( 36V lithium + 12V Sealed Lead Acid Battery, connected in series)
And it am also planning to change my speed box to 48V 18A.

Will this be compatible with my 250W motor? Will I burn my motor?

Current speed is 25KM/H.
What would the change with 48V speed controller and battery be like?

Please advise. Thanks.

 

[dogman dan]

48v should be OK, provided you keep the amps low, like you have on your original controller. If your original controller has 63v capacitors inside, you can just use that controller, and give it 48v. Look inside, for little cans marked 63v.

48v 20 amps might be ok, but no guarantee. 15 amps would be safer. 48v 20 amps is 1200w so a bit too much more than your motor was intended for.

 

[Sancho's Horse]

Is 48v 20 amps 1200 watts or is it 48v 25 amps is 1200 watts?

Maybe a touch under 1000 watts?

 

[wesnewell]

Is 48v 20 amps 1200 watts or is it 48v 25 amps is 1200 watts?

Maybe a touch under 1000 watts?

VA=W, so 48x20=960W, 48x25=1200W.

 

[999zip999]

55x20= 1100 watts ? How many volts is your battery off the charger ?

 

[Shauncyq]

Ok guys, I will open up my speed controller and take a look at the capacitors. Thanks. I will get back to you guys ASAP.
Anyway, how much more speed will I get?
Currently 25KMH. With my weight 50KG.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rassy]

Gee wes, I've been counting on you to ask new members to indicate where they live:

Please go to the User Control Panel, select Profile, and then enter your city, state/province, and country into the Location field (country minimum) and save it. This will help people help you. Example: Wylie, TX, USA. Without knowing what country you are in it's hard to make any recommendations. Thank you.

Shaun, welcome to the forum. The speed is directly related to voltage, so your unloaded speed will increase by about 1/3 when going from 36 volts to 48 volts. Your actual speed probably won't increase quite as much due to increased wind resistance and other factors. The motor will usually seem a lot stronger in acceleration and hill climbing if it can get enough amps, at the expense of battery range, of course.

 

[Shauncyq]

Shaun, welcome to the forum. The speed is directly related to voltage, so your unloaded speed will increase by about 1/3 when going from 36 volts to 48 volts. Your actual speed probably won't increase quite as much due to increased wind resistance and other factors. The motor will usually seem a lot stronger in acceleration and hill climbing if it can get enough amps, at the expense of battery range, of course.

So if I change my speed controller to 48V 18A instead of my current 36V 13A, how much speed difference do I get?

 

[Rassy]

So if I change my speed controller to 48V 18A instead of my current 36V 13A, how much speed difference do I get?

Shaun, I think I already answered the question the best I can. There are so many variables it is impossible to give you an exact answer, but I'm certain you will be pleased with the result. Of course, you run the risk of burning up the motor, or, if your dropouts/torque arms aren't good enough you could spin your motor out, etc.

Since you plan to just add an SLA 12V battery in series, the best way to answer your question is to just try it. Someone a long time ago gave this sage advice: If you burn up your motor (or blow up your controller, etc.) you wanted to upgrade anyway, so no loss, whereas if it all keeps working you save doing the unnecessary up grades.

Just make sure your torque arms are adequate and all the bolts are tight, etc. No use ruining something if you can prevent it.

 

[d8veh]

So if I change my speed controller to 48V 18A instead of my current 36V 13A, how much speed difference do I get?

Most 250w hub-motors can handle 48v 18A, especially with only 50kg on board. I've done it with 100kg, which works except I have to be a bit more careful not to go too slow up hills.

Your present 25km/h might be restricted by the controller. If it is, there's normally a way of releasing it. The new controller won't have a speed limit, so your new speed will be at least 38 km/h.

As you only weigh 50kg, you'll be OK with the 48v 18A controller. Go for it. If you could get a 48v lithium battery later, the weight-saving will make it a lot better.

 

[999zip999]

What will kill the motor is that hill you should have gone around instad of going back up it twrice just to test it out. Flats save motors.

 

[swen]

Good info here for a noob . Do i need to change the throttle and LCD display too to make it work with 48V?

 

[dnmun]

Good info here for a noob . Do i need to change the throttle and LCD display too to make it work with 48V?

not sure what LCD display you are talking about but if you have a 36V controller then it should work on 48V of lifepo4 too.

 

[d8veh]

The LCDs have to cut the voltage down from battery level to 5v, so in theory there could be problems, but most are designed yo run on multiple voltages. You won't know until you try it, but probability is on your side.

All throttles work on the 5v from the controller, so they don't know or care what voltage battery you have except that if it has battery indicator LEDs, the LEDs run off the battery voltage so they'll switch at the wrong time and therefore be on all the time when over-volted.