Catrike. 5303. 48V. 2-year old build. Just decided to post.

Holz2010

10 mW
Joined
Nov 7, 2009
Messages
21
Location
Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Catrike Trail. Ping 48V 30Ah double pack. Crystalyte 5305, Methods Modified 100V 100A 18 fet Controller. Lots of hills in Blacksburg, Virginia area. Lots of fun! The flags and lighted whip dork it up a bit, but it's visible!
 
Nice space management. I guess since you started it I better post a build thread of my Expedition. No sense in KMX Karts being about the only trikes being represented. How do you like the GX fairing? I decided to go with the XT. Is that an Arizona Whips LED pole?

Nice ride man! :D
 
Yea I like that looks nice.. How does that fairing work does it do a pretty good job keeping you sheltered from the wind/cold?
 
That's sweet. I've got a Catrike Road, with rear BPM geared, and I'm thinking of going direct drive on it, like my Actionbent trike. I bet that 5303 is fast! Like you I've got dual Pings, right under the seat - mine are removeable, sitting in cutaway bike baskets, and inside Westmarine Polycarbonate tackleboxes for waterproofing. We're on the same wavelength with these machines I think.
 
Thanks all! The lighted whip is from Tribal Whips-and even mounted on the back of the trike, it is just about bright enough to light up the road even without the headlight. The headlight is SuperBrightLED WL-CWHP27-S80: Square 27W Heavy Duty High Powered LED Spot Light and I like it mounted high for better visibility (both to see, and be seen). Could not have put this together with lots of help and guidance from tjason, and support from methods and ebikes.ca.
The GX fairing works well, but it's not magic. It does keep my legs and lap dry, and is easy to get out of the way for access. I have plans to add a removable tarp canopy that goes from the rear of the trike over the upright hoop behind the seat, connecting it to the top edge of the fairing with a gap to see through. In a good world it will keep the controller and me dry with blowing around too much. I like chvidgov's battery baskets -- My boxes are also removable, but not without a bit of effort. None the less, I have a lock on them.
Question: At high speeds, when hitting the regen I leave an impressive strip of rubber. I have adjusted the regen down, but even at the lowest setting it does this. Anyone else have similar issues? I had some discussion with Methods about developing a modulated regen system (it would make for more controlled regen braking and be a bit gentler dropouts and torque arms) but I don't know if that is going to happen. Any one else have similar issues, and or an interest in seeing something like that developed? It's definitely way beyond my talent level, but would be helpful.
One more pic.
Trike in evening in drive r.jpg
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chvidgov.bc.ca said:
I'd like to see this go head to head with DocBass'es badass KMX! He's probably running higher voltage, but the Catrikes are lightweight...hmmm....
I'm afraid that Doctor Bass' KMX trike is way out of my league -- 70MPH! -- Yikes! :shock: It would probably deform my windscreen!
With a 20" rim, I push it up to 40MPH to avoid dogs on the loose, or the occasional rabid trucker trying to get around me on the curves. I can take it a bit faster on the downhills ;) but that about as far as it goes. And about as far as i am comfortable with.
 
Oh well...if I see you on the road, I'll pull over and let you by...I'm just pushing a 9C at 48Volts on my Actionbent trike. I've hit a max speed going downhill at 43mph...just can't seem to go any faster without more hill. Just curious how much toe-in you are set to. I find my other trike, the Catrike Road, a bit sensitive steering-wise. I think I have +1/16 inch toe. My Actionbent is set to zero.
 
chvidgov.bc.ca said:
Oh well...if I see you on the road, I'll pull over and let you by...I'm just pushing a 9C at 48Volts on my Actionbent trike. I've hit a max speed going downhill at 43mph...just can't seem to go any faster without more hill. Just curious how much toe-in you are set to. I find my other trike, the Catrike Road, a bit sensitive steering-wise. I think I have +1/16 inch toe. My Actionbent is set to zero.
To be honest, I have never tried to adjust it. The stability with my Trail even at high speeds is good, so I haven't messed with it. Ideally it should be about 1/16".
 
Hi Barry,

In response to your leaving a patch when you use the regen brake; I realize that at that point you're busy watching the handling of the trike but by any chance have you noticed the regen current reading on your cycle analyst at that time (during regen braking)? My line of thought is that perhaps it isn't regenerating at all but just shorting the motor phase wires together. The braking effect would be similar but very strong compared to regen. I don't know if this is possible with the design of your controller and still allow it to propel you forward but since re-programming of the regen level didn't change it that much (at all?) I thought this might be a possiblity. You could also test this when going slow or with the rear wheel propped up and just pedaling against the regen to see if the current is actually getting back into the battery. I am probably talking out my butt because of my limited knowledge of the controller operation but, just a thought.

Terry
 
tjason said:
Hi Barry,

In response to your leaving a patch when you use the regen brake; I realize that at that point you're busy watching the handling of the trike but by any chance have you noticed the regen current reading on your cycle analyst at that time (during regen braking)? My line of thought is that perhaps it isn't regenerating at all but just shorting the motor phase wires together. The braking effect would be similar but very strong compared to regen. I don't know if this is possible with the design of your controller and still allow it to propel you forward but since re-programming of the regen level didn't change it that much (at all?) I thought this might be a possiblity. You could also test this when going slow or with the rear wheel propped up and just pedaling against the regen to see if the current is actually getting back into the battery. I am probably talking out my butt because of my limited knowledge of the controller operation but, just a thought.

Terry
Well, I do look at the accumulated Regen reading on the CA at the end of a trip, and it is giving me regen. (Also I can see the current shift at lower speeds as well when I hit the regen button, but there is a less abrupt braking effect at lower speeds - so no skid.) But you're right, running down a steep hill at 40+mph, its not what I am focussed on. Don't think it would be shorting of the phase wires just at higher speeds...but I will do a test of that. Off to TN for a bit -- but unfortunately, not on the trike.
 
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