cheapest ezip upgrade

[latecurtis]

I bought an ezip ebike from Wal-Mart,--24 volt currie electro drive technology.

Its been about 6 months of moderate usage and the battery pack is losing range between charges and performance.

I don't wish to buy another standard battery pack. I want to build a pack using 12 volt deep cycle batteries in series.

I want to do this as cheap as possible. The standard pack does not have near the range it says. I am looking for about

20 miles range and about 17 miles per hour. It only did about 12 mph and about 6 miles in range from the start.

can I upgrade to 36 volts using 3 - 12 volt batteries in series. atbatt,com


http://www.atbatt.com/csb-battery-12v-72ah-deep-cycle-sla-battery.asp

evx1272 f2 cbs battery 12v 7.2 ah deep
cycle sla battery. - $27.44 each.

the voltage would be higher but the amps will be 7.2 instead of 10. this would increase performance without producing too much extra heat at low throttle. I have been doing lots of research. However I am still not an expert.

Also these batteries are cheap and boast 400 cycles of recharge. the stock pack says its only good for 200 and they were not lying.

Please somebody help me with this as I am quite sure that a lot of people who bought these cheap Wall-Mart bikes
would love to pull of this cheap upgrade. less than $150 to get 5 more mph and about triple the range on these bikes.

 

[latecurtis]

I bought an ezip ebike from Wal-Mart,--24 volt currie electro drive technology.

Its been about 6 months of moderate usage and the battery pack is losing range between charges and performance.

I don't wish to buy another standard battery pack. I want to build a pack using 12 volt deep cycle batteries in series.

I want to do this as cheap as possible. The standard pack does not have near the range it says. I am looking for about

20 miles range and about 17 miles per hour. It only did about 12 mph and about 6 miles in range from the start.

can I upgrade to 36 volts using 3 - 12 volt batteries in series. atbatt,com


http://www.atbatt.com/csb-battery-12v-7 ... attery.asp

evx1272 f2 cbs battery 12v 7.2 ah deep
cycle sla battery. - $27.44 each.

the voltage would be higher but the amps will be 7.2 instead of 10. this would increase performance without producing too much extra heat at low throttle. I have been doing lots of research. However I am still not an expert.

Also these batteries are cheap and boast 400 cycles of recharge. the stock pack says its only good for 200 and they were not lying.

Please somebody help me with this as I am quite sure that a lot of people who bought these cheap Wall-Mart bikes
would love to pull of this cheap upgrade. less than $150 to get 5 more mph and about triple the range on these bikes.

 

[latecurtis]

I already posted on ebike general discussion cheap upgrades

I am now moving on to a mid priced upgrade option which I currently cant afford but I still am looking for feedback

and wish to share my ideas.

Bike Berry


http://www.bikeberry.com/gas-engine-kits/brushless-electric-bicycle-motor-36v-700w-front-wheel-hub-kit.html

Brushless Electric Bicycle Motor, 36v 700w Front Wheel Hub Kit - OUR PRICE: $284.99

26" front wheel (the whole wheel with tire!)
Battery charger
Electric controller
Thumb throttle
2ea. handlebar grips
2 brake pullers
Battery carrying bag
Rubber connecting harness(color will pick at random)
Battery not included


Special: Comes with end bracket for FREE

Battery Recommendation:


1. Electrokinetic cell battery ( Li, lead-acid, NiMH battery etc.) featured in nominal voltage 36V, nominal capacity¡Ý20Ah is compatible with the motor.

This will make the ebike an all wheel drive. I still would change the standard battery pack with the batteries I de
scribed in my previous thread. The advantage I see is that I would be using the front wheel the most for cruising
on straightaway and only engage the rear wheel hub when climbing up a hill and it would be at full throttle therefore the excess heat the motor would produce at low throttle being overvolted would not exist.
also the range would be great with 6 batteries.

 

[vptech]

Dropping to 7.2ah from 10ah with wide open throttle would actually decrease your range to about half. You are best to look at another battery technology unfortunately while increasing the Ah not decreasing it if you are increasing your speed as well.

 

[latecurtis]

Thank you for that information as the same battery company sells similar batteries that are rated at 14AH for about 12 dollars more. In that case I would only need two and keep the voltage at 24. is that right.

I know how the voltage works when wiring in series however am not Shure. about the AH. When wiring in series two batteries each rated at 14 AH would the hub motor see 14 AH or 28AH. I know 28 AH would probley fry something.

 

[latecurtis]

If I have a hub motor and controller system rated at 24 volts and 10AH

and wish to replace with 2 - 12 volt batteries, in series. What will the hub motor see as far as AH. if each battery put out 10AH would the motor see 10AH or 20AH.

Also what would happen if I wired it so the hub motor got say 12 or 14AH at the same voltage.

Which is the better way to go to increase performance. over volt a system by running 36 volt thru a 24 volt system or overamp the system using the same voltage.

 

[vptech]

It would be 14ah. You can not hurt anything with Ah, amp hour is not power like amps but is the capacity. Just means the size of your gas tank.

 

[vptech]

Remember the ah rating will physically affect the size of the battery. 14ah of lead at 24v would be around 30 pounds I think.

 

[wesnewell]

I'd get 6 of these and wire them 8s3p. That'll get you a little more speed and a 20 mile range and should be compatible with your current controller. They will also outlast any lead battery,
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18631__Turnigy_5000mAh_4S1P_14_8v_20C_hardcase_pack_USA_Warehouse_.html

 

[wesnewell]

How to wire batteries.
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=39666

 

[Gregory]

Hi & welcome latecurtis,

DrkAngel has threads on ezip bikes, details on what he’s found as to max voltages, DIY battery, gearing changes. Some of it may be useful.
Plenty of other threads too, type ezip into the search box and tick the google search box. Pretty sure others have added a hub to an ezip before also.

I wouldn’t consider lipo on your first day on ES.

Not until you learn more on how Ah differs from A and have researched lipo thoroughly.
Ebikes can be quite a steep learning curve, but well worth it.

 

[latecurtis]

Thanks for the link to hobby king. I don't have
the funds for a big upgrade. and I want to keep the wiring real simple. will this work to replace my dying lead ass battery,

hobby king
ZIPPY Compact 5800mAh 7S 25C Lipo Pack

also I don't want to push my luck with overvolting this system as I heard that my ezip curry system was only good for overvolting pre 2009 models. This battery would only boost it a little. I need more range and can live with the
speed for now. If unemployment gets extended I can get a good front wheel system going.
I got a bum leg and need it for looking for work and hopefully going to work. The more range the better.

Also I wish I knew exactly what is needed to connect to the electrodes to battery.
My bike came with dual electrodes for an xtra battery. There is also a switch on the back of the controller to use them both.

ezip currie electro drive.

 

[wheelbender6]

Have you come across drkangel's posts (re-gearing the Ezip, re-volting the ezip...)?
If not, I'll see if I can help you find them.
There is a thread under the "Battery Technology" subforum for the care and feeding of RC lipo battery packs. Take a look at it and see if you still think RC lipo will work for you.
I have a currie also but I'm still chugging along on SLA batteries.

 

[wheelbender6]

By the time you read these a few times, you should know what will work best for you.
RC battery charging and wiring
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=52240
Regearing the ezip
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=47566
Drkangels' battery pack links – Also has el cheapo laptop battery pack info
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=26383&p=381104#p381104

 

[wesnewell]

In answer to your pm.
1 mah (mili amp hours) is .001ah, so 5800mah is 5.8ah. A 5.8ah 7s pack is 150.22wh. pack nominal voltage times ah (25.9 x 5.8). If you want 20 miles out of a 5.8ah 7s pack, you can use 7.5wh per mile. That will require a lot of pedaling to make it. Without pedaling, you would need ~12ah of 7s for 20 miles at 15 miles per hour with an ezip bike.
As for where to mount the batteries, I'd just pull the sla batteries out of the case and wire the new ones in. There's nothing magic about batteries, just get the connectors you need. I don't know what currie uses. Probably cheap ass spade lugs or they may solder them in.

 

[latecurtis]

When taking weight, size, price and simplicity into consideration I am still looking for a good replacement for my currie ezip 24 volt leadass battery. If I can wire something into the existing leadass case It would make it simple. 80If it will go 20+ miles on a charge and be lighter than the leadass batt + not cost over $150 with the right charger or be compatible with the standard currie leadass batt charger that would be ideal.
That's the upgrade I am looking for also I would like a second leadass case for the same on the other side as the bike is set up for dual batteries. That should give me about 40 miles with just my rear hub motor. Then if I add a front wheel kit 700 or 1000 watt 36 or 48 volt I should be looking at about 80 to 100 miles round trip. The front battery pack will have to be mounted towards the front somewhere on the frame for a better weight distribution. Too much weight in the ass end is not good
especially when I have a basket on the back for hauling beer and groceries. I always have a basket and use every bike I ever had for a pickup truck. To me a bike without a basket on it is worthless. I have been asked many times why I have big baskets on the back of my bikes and my answer is so a midget with a machine gun can stand in the basket for drive byes.
The answer should be obvious My first basket was years ago when I had 2 - 6 packs on each handlebar and the plastic bag rubbed on the tire got a hole and my beers hit the pavement and were rolling down the street. With my basket now I can easily carry an 18 pack of bud bottles or a 50 pound laundry bag.

 

[Hillhater]

..You can have something that fits in the currie case ..
You can have a battery that weighs less than lead
You can have a battery that will carry you -100 miles ...
you can have a battery that will work with your existing charger..
You might even have a battery that cost less than $150..
..BUT,..if you can find one that does ALL of those things,...please let me know !

 

[latecurtis]

http://www.hobbyking.com

2 - SKU: ZC.5800.7S.25 for rear motor


2 - Turnigy nano-tech 6000mah 6S 25~50C Lipo Pack for

48 volt 1000 watt front wheel kit.

What will the range be on this combined

 

[latecurtis]

Turnigy nano-tech 8000mAh 6S 25~50C Lipo Pack I just found these on hobby king. more money but more miles

1 for the 24 volt rear motor and 2 for 48 volt front when I get front wheel kit.

How will that work for range.

If someone can figure it . front battery range and rear battery range separately.

I will be using only the rear for awhile. When I add the front system the rear will only be used for hills and for when the front motor runs low. I can also get a speedometer. What is the Ideal speed for longer range.

 

[latecurtis]

Actually I will get 2 for the rear as I got a dual system.

 

[latecurtis]

also I want to thank wesnewell,vptech and Gregory for your feedback earlier. I am new to this. I checked DrkAngels posts and it looks really complicated.


I want to try to keep things a little simpler.

The Turnigy nano-tech 8000mAh 6S 25~50C Lipo Pack seem like it may be simple. Ill have to wire two in series for the front.48 volt system when i get it.

Only one in each rear lead ass batt. case. however I need another leadass case as I only got 1 when I got the bike I did not get the xtra battery. can I find a case cheap somewhere that has a dead or half dead leadass batt in it.

 

[Hillhater]

Range will depend totally on how fast you go and how much you pedal.
The two extremes are ..
no pedaling, 15 mph.. you will use about 1 Ahr per mile,.... so 16 miles on the rear and 8 on the front .
..( less than half that if you ride flat out )
Pedaling briskly you might extend that 30-50%
. and as far as you like, if you keep pedaling.. !

 

[dogman dan]

You shouldn't need a front motor to go further. Faster maybe, but not further.

Nor do you have to carry the new battery in currie boxes, although that might be quite convenient.

Lots of good batteries out on the market now, in the limn types and the older lifepo4 stuff like pingbattery. Two 24v 20 ah pings for example, would take you a long ways. About 1000 watthours. Two pieces, each one could carry in a pannier bag. A third 24v 20 ah pack would easily fit in your bikes triangle too.

 

[latecurtis]

dogman

I checked the ping batteries
20ah was over $300 that's crazy. looking for something affordable. The hobby king looks the most promising.
The only thing is the ah is not that high like the ping batt. ill have to compromise. If I was as smart as drkangel and could wire
a bunch of batteries together that would be great but probly not much cheaper. I could wire 2 12s to get 24 or 3 for 36 but not much more. I would use 2 - 22.5 for 48 but do not want to wire 6 or 8 batteries togeather unless I am building an electric truck. maby someday.

 

[latecurtis]

My ezip trails bike has a lead ass 24 volt battery that's seen better days.
It is rated at 24 volts and 10 ah I think its overrated. It never went much than 4 or 5 miles without a dramatic decrease in power.
I am looking for about 30 ah. I cant afford a big ping battery. Hobby king has lipo batteries that are rated in mah and the biggest
is 8000 which = 8ah. and over $70. the best bang for the buck is

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18631__Turnigy_5000mAh_4S1P_14_8v_20C_hardcase_pack_USA_Warehouse_.html
PRICE$25.47

2 of these in series will be 29.6 volts 5ah running thru a 24 volt controller and motor. Will it be too much voltage.

My Idea is to buy 8 of these and make 4 external battery packs. I will keep the leadass batt I got until it dies completely.When it gets low I will hook the external pack to the electrodes on the other side of the bike where the second leadass battery pack would go if I had one, then flick the switch on the back of the controller to battery 2. With 4 of these packs I should get about 20 miles.
I need an external cable which plugs directly into the two electrodes the original leadass batt pack sets on.

Somebody please tell me what part number and company for a cable of this sort. Im thinking about ordering 8 of the batteries I listed above. I should be good for 20 miles total. Is that accurate or not? Im new to this but do realize that 8 of these batteries probley weigh less than the 10ah leadass battery that the bike came with.

My only other issue is waterproofing the batteries, cable and the electrodes the external batt cable plugs into. waterproof batt cases would be good. I will need a part number and company name. Would silicone work over the electrodes.