ecat
10 W
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2009
- Messages
- 88
First: Full disclosure. I am a Grin dealer, and the Canadian distributor for Juiced Bikes.
This was the third repower of my 2007 Catrike Expedition. First came an Ecospeed mid drive with 20 ah 36V Ping batteries , it ran well for years until I needed to replace the batteries, and decided to upgrade to 48V. The old Ecospeed didn't really run run well at the higher voltage, (long story) so I eventually decided to try a hub motor. Next came a Crystalyte HS3540 paired with a Grinfinion 40 amp controller and 48V, 26 ah Panasonic 18650PF batteries. This combo worked well, and it was nice to be rid of the wine of the mid drive, but it did have a major flaw. After 15-20 minutes ride time the motor would hit 100 degrees C and go into thermal rollback, until the power level had stabilized at about 1000 watts. I had given it the Statorade treatment, but the motor was somewhat enclosed behind the seat, and with hard case panniers, maybe there was not enough air flow to cool it.
So I was casting around for a better solution and the idea of using the new Grin through axle hubs on the front came up. Justin was keen to see how the motors would work in this application, and offered to make up custom adapters for the trike if I bought the two motors. View attachment 1 So I removed the front spindles and sent them off to Grin, meanwhile removing the Crystalyte, purchasing a new rear wheel, and getting started on a new set of 72V 20 ah Samsung 25R batteries.
I had four 36V 10ah 25R batteries from Expedition that had not sold yet, so I decided to make use of them.
Two fit easily in the exsisting fiberglass boxes that I had fabricated for the last batteries, and I found some nice Hammond aluminum boxes that fit the other two. For these batteries I used a 72V BMS on each side, so there are two split packs.
This was a pain two wire up, and is way too complicated, with wires running everywhere, but it works.
View attachment 2
This was the third repower of my 2007 Catrike Expedition. First came an Ecospeed mid drive with 20 ah 36V Ping batteries , it ran well for years until I needed to replace the batteries, and decided to upgrade to 48V. The old Ecospeed didn't really run run well at the higher voltage, (long story) so I eventually decided to try a hub motor. Next came a Crystalyte HS3540 paired with a Grinfinion 40 amp controller and 48V, 26 ah Panasonic 18650PF batteries. This combo worked well, and it was nice to be rid of the wine of the mid drive, but it did have a major flaw. After 15-20 minutes ride time the motor would hit 100 degrees C and go into thermal rollback, until the power level had stabilized at about 1000 watts. I had given it the Statorade treatment, but the motor was somewhat enclosed behind the seat, and with hard case panniers, maybe there was not enough air flow to cool it.
So I was casting around for a better solution and the idea of using the new Grin through axle hubs on the front came up. Justin was keen to see how the motors would work in this application, and offered to make up custom adapters for the trike if I bought the two motors. View attachment 1 So I removed the front spindles and sent them off to Grin, meanwhile removing the Crystalyte, purchasing a new rear wheel, and getting started on a new set of 72V 20 ah Samsung 25R batteries.
I had four 36V 10ah 25R batteries from Expedition that had not sold yet, so I decided to make use of them.
Two fit easily in the exsisting fiberglass boxes that I had fabricated for the last batteries, and I found some nice Hammond aluminum boxes that fit the other two. For these batteries I used a 72V BMS on each side, so there are two split packs.
This was a pain two wire up, and is way too complicated, with wires running everywhere, but it works.
View attachment 2