Cyclone 500w Kits...

[bringageek]

I'm working on a custom e-bike project and I'm thinking that one the basic Cyclone 500w Brushless motor kits, might be a perfect start for the job.

Below are a couple of items/questions that I am hoping some of you fine folks here can help me out with. Please, confirm, clarify and correct accordingly!

For simplicity's sake, let's assume the standard 1 chainwheel 500w kit with the motor behind the bottom bracket and on the same chain as the freewheeling crank/chainwheel... as seen here --> http://www.cyclone-usa.com/images/hex04-16.jpg


1. When the motor is not spinning (either throttle is not engaged or power is off) the rider can still use standard pedalling to ride the bike as normal correct?
2. Since the motor gears are essentially on the same chain as the front crank, when pedalling only, this will cause the gear on the motor to spin at the same speed as the pedals, correct?
3. When that motor gear spins, doesn't that cause the shaft of the motor to rotate at the same time? Can't this damage the motor at all?
4. If the Cyclone motor was a Brushed DC motor rather than a Brushless DC motor, would the answers from number 3 be the same?
5. Is there any added resistance from the motor being spun by pedals only?

And one question completely separate from the above set -- Right now, if I understand correctly, there are two main connectors coming from the motor/gearbox/controller combo, the two-prong goes to the battery and the second 7pin (or was it 6?) goes to the throttle. How would someone go about connecting a Cycle Analyst to the standard 500w kit? Where exactly in the setup would in connect up?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Ypedal]

The motor has a freewheel, so that when you pedal only, the chain spins the freewheeling hub and the motor shaft does not turn.

get a Stand Alone CA that goes between the battery and the motor, no need for the 6 pin version ! 8)

 

[bringageek]

Righto... Ummm... So....

That freewheel attached to the motor would be a left hand drive freewheel -- often called a Southpaw Freewheel, correct?


If the motor only had just a solid sprocket attached (no freewheel), and the shaft DID turn -- is that bad? if so, why specifically?

 

[Ypedal]

southpaw freewheel, correct.

If there were no freewheel, you would feel a significant amount of drag when pedaling without the power on.. battery plugged in or not..

All the output you can muster with leg power sould go as directly to the chain as possible, spinning a motor around on top of propelling the bike and you would be a waste of your limited energy ! 8)

 

[bringageek]

All the output you can muster with leg power sould go as directly to the chain as possible, spinning a motor around on top of propelling the bike and you would be a waste of your limited energy ! 8)

One thing I do loath is unnecessary waste.


Okay, next question(s)... This may be a bit clueless of me, but, when it comes to non-hub motors specifically, why brushless DC over brushed DC?


A 36V 1000w Brushed DC (3000RPM) with matching 36v 1000w (40A MAX) controller and throttle go for about $200... maybe $225. Cyclone 500w motor (built in controller) and throttle seem to start around $350 at the lowest... $475 or more with an external controller. What gives?


edit:// essentially, they could both be used in exactly the same fashion. And what is the proper name for the style of setup a Cyclone kit is? Crank Drive? Bottom Bracket Drive? Chain Drive? (from what I gather Cyclone is a brand... Like Bandaid, or Kleenex.

 

[heathyoung]

All the output you can muster with leg power sould go as directly to the chain as possible, spinning a motor around on top of propelling the bike and you would be a waste of your limited energy ! 8)

One thing I do loath is unnecessary waste.

Okay, next question(s)... This may be a bit clueless of me, but, when it comes to non-hub motors specifically, why brushless DC over brushed DC?

A 36V 1000w Brushed DC (3000RPM) with matching 36v 1000w (40A MAX) controller and throttle go for about $200... maybe $225. Cyclone 500w motor (built in controller) and throttle seem to start around $350 at the lowest... $475 or more with an external controller. What gives?


edit:// essentially, they could both be used in exactly the same fashion. And what is the proper name for the style of setup a Cyclone kit is? Crank Drive? Bottom Bracket Drive? Chain Drive? (from what I gather Cyclone is a brand... Like Bandaid, or Kleenex.

Brushless DC because they are 'maintenance free' no brushes to wear out, and are slightly more efficient.

What gives is that the 500W version has a very nice planetary gearbox integrated into the unit.

Its a bottom bracket drive. The 500W setups tend to be heavy on batteries, I could never get brilliant efficiency out of mine, it may have been the gearing, but I get roughly the same efficiency out of a 1500W direct drive hub motor for commuting. I tend to spin (high cadence rates) so I don't think it is the gearing. The crank freewheels are horrendous. Off-road, it would be a different story - the low gearing is great for crawling.