adrian_sm
1 MW
Alpha Testers Update
Well it looks like I will be making about 6-8 kits at the moment (with a 3-4 fence sitters). Room for a few more if people are interested in this early release. Still waiting on a couple of people to get back confirming sizes etc, before I pump them out.
New 28.7mm Mount Option
As I had a few requested I went out and go some new tools, so I can now offer a 1 1/8" or 28.7mm seat tube mount option.
Shopping List
Here is a link to the shopping list I created a while ago, which I just reviewed and it still looks correct.
Commuter Booster Shopping List
The main issue is stock levels. Both motor and the two ESC options that I have done all my testing with are in backorder. :x
[EDIT] Oh I should mention that I actually prefer the smaller, cheaper $37 Turnigy Brushless ESC 85A, mainly because it has an on/off switch that the bigger $64 TURNIGY K-Force 100A. It would also potentially be easier to water proof.
So if you are happy to wait for the stock to return you can go the safe option. But if you are impatient you may have to try some new motors are ESCs. I bought all the available alterntives I liked the look of, but haven't received them yet. When I do I'll give them a run and let you know.
Would be great if someone built a high quality build, rather than the cheapskate motor/ESCs I have spec'ed. I just wanted to see how cheap, light, small and robust I could get. So feel free to get a CC-Pheonix 100Amp and maybe a Hyperion motor. Remember the higher the efficiency of your motor the more power you can safely get out of it.
CB-5065 & Modified Watt-Meter Update
And for those of you that can't fit the CB-6374, I have just come back from a test ride on the CB-5065 at nominal 500w (900w peaks) limited by my modified watt meter. The ESC was only just warm, and the motor felt hot but no where near melting. May still be a bit high for longevity. With the dialed down power levels it no longer feels like a turbo boost kicking in, but a more like a firm assist. Much closer to what I had originally in mind back last year when this was all just an idea. The 50mm motor is starting to look really viable, and I am getting excited, but still requires something custom made to limit the current, which is a real stumbling block.
The modified watt meter is working a treat now. I used it with a simple on/off button throttle for this test run, as I like it for the road bike drop bars. Was cruising at over 40kph, nicely smoothed out all the hills, the drive is actually quieter now that I have dialed down the power, it smoothly ramps the throttle up and down, power levels appear to have a bit of over shoot but you don't notice it on the bike, didn't notice any tire slip while riding and saw no evidence of it after the ride. The little motor is also more efficient at light loads than the bigger 6374-200kv, probably because it doesn't have that large diameter skirt bearing to turn. One strange thing was it seems to hit some sort of resonance at 33-36kph, and makes a strange sound. :? I am sure my other 5065 didn't do that. I guess that is the sort of quality you can expect from a $40 motor.
If anyone is keen on creating their own modified watt meter, I will write up some instructions. In summary you will need a $30 programmer, obviously a donor $24 watt meter to mod, a few resistors, a pot, and servo wires for throttle in/out. You will need to pry the boards apart slightly to remove a few surface mount resistors, then solder on a few wires, resistors and a pot on the exposed back of the PCB. Reprogram it using free tools and my modified code, then you are good to go.
That's enough of an update for now, need to spend some time with the family so I can get some time to make the kits.
- Adrian
Well it looks like I will be making about 6-8 kits at the moment (with a 3-4 fence sitters). Room for a few more if people are interested in this early release. Still waiting on a couple of people to get back confirming sizes etc, before I pump them out.
New 28.7mm Mount Option
As I had a few requested I went out and go some new tools, so I can now offer a 1 1/8" or 28.7mm seat tube mount option.
Shopping List
Here is a link to the shopping list I created a while ago, which I just reviewed and it still looks correct.
Commuter Booster Shopping List
The main issue is stock levels. Both motor and the two ESC options that I have done all my testing with are in backorder. :x
[EDIT] Oh I should mention that I actually prefer the smaller, cheaper $37 Turnigy Brushless ESC 85A, mainly because it has an on/off switch that the bigger $64 TURNIGY K-Force 100A. It would also potentially be easier to water proof.
So if you are happy to wait for the stock to return you can go the safe option. But if you are impatient you may have to try some new motors are ESCs. I bought all the available alterntives I liked the look of, but haven't received them yet. When I do I'll give them a run and let you know.
Would be great if someone built a high quality build, rather than the cheapskate motor/ESCs I have spec'ed. I just wanted to see how cheap, light, small and robust I could get. So feel free to get a CC-Pheonix 100Amp and maybe a Hyperion motor. Remember the higher the efficiency of your motor the more power you can safely get out of it.
CB-5065 & Modified Watt-Meter Update
And for those of you that can't fit the CB-6374, I have just come back from a test ride on the CB-5065 at nominal 500w (900w peaks) limited by my modified watt meter. The ESC was only just warm, and the motor felt hot but no where near melting. May still be a bit high for longevity. With the dialed down power levels it no longer feels like a turbo boost kicking in, but a more like a firm assist. Much closer to what I had originally in mind back last year when this was all just an idea. The 50mm motor is starting to look really viable, and I am getting excited, but still requires something custom made to limit the current, which is a real stumbling block.
The modified watt meter is working a treat now. I used it with a simple on/off button throttle for this test run, as I like it for the road bike drop bars. Was cruising at over 40kph, nicely smoothed out all the hills, the drive is actually quieter now that I have dialed down the power, it smoothly ramps the throttle up and down, power levels appear to have a bit of over shoot but you don't notice it on the bike, didn't notice any tire slip while riding and saw no evidence of it after the ride. The little motor is also more efficient at light loads than the bigger 6374-200kv, probably because it doesn't have that large diameter skirt bearing to turn. One strange thing was it seems to hit some sort of resonance at 33-36kph, and makes a strange sound. :? I am sure my other 5065 didn't do that. I guess that is the sort of quality you can expect from a $40 motor.
If anyone is keen on creating their own modified watt meter, I will write up some instructions. In summary you will need a $30 programmer, obviously a donor $24 watt meter to mod, a few resistors, a pot, and servo wires for throttle in/out. You will need to pry the boards apart slightly to remove a few surface mount resistors, then solder on a few wires, resistors and a pot on the exposed back of the PCB. Reprogram it using free tools and my modified code, then you are good to go.
That's enough of an update for now, need to spend some time with the family so I can get some time to make the kits.
- Adrian
