GCinDC's Giant DH Comp

[The fingers]

"Can it go up 'em?" 8) priceless

 

[Hyena]

Nice, this this has a bottomless list of cool menus!
I take it you'll be able to flash the new firmware when they're out of beta testing ?

And 220 F is 104 C, so not too bad.
A quick rough guide for doing the conversion in your head for weather type temperatures is to knock off 30 and then divide by 2. For higher temps up around boiling point (ie where our motors run) knock off 20 instead. In this case that gives 100 oC which is near enough. I found this handy when I was in the US recently and didnt want to pull out my phone every morning when looking at the weather :lol:

 

[GCinDC]

reposting to top cause i like this one...
[youtube]lnadpox0VLU[/youtube]

I take it you'll be able to flash the new firmware when they're out of beta testing ?

yes. there's an SD inside but that means removing screws, and there's also a USB port, so not sure which to use yet.

And 220 F is 104 C, so not too bad.... knock off [20] and then divide by 2

thanks, that's helpful. i should probably changed the default motor alarm temp down from 355F.

so i guess this thermistor is just for Farenheit? cool. and you get another for C?

yesterday after the jumps, i checked my tire pressure to tell pendragon whether my tire pressure was at 30 or 40psi, and it was at 3psi! i do totally hate myself sometimes. i vaguely recall releasing tire pressure to reseat the bead but then getting pulled away, and never pumped it back up - and by hand didn't notice.

so that was nice to give the rim a good beating. maybe next time i'll just take the tire off and use a sledge hammer... @#$!@#

anyway, no rain in the forecast, so i went out at 6AM, flipped the bike (so glad the display doesn't touch ground) and adjusted spokes so tire didnt' grind frame (which it did after pumping it up to 40psi)

i'd forgot to charge it from an errand yesterday, so only the max stats are really interesting from this morning part:

obviously i need to tweak the tire size a bit, cause my tracks gps captured: Max speed: 82.80 km/h (51.4 mi/h) and i didn't hold it WOT for long, cause there are some clanks that make the bike sound like it's going to fall apart under me.

going to go through with an allen wrench a couple more times!

fun commute tho. no crazy moves. but so much power. i missed the thrill. and the looks!

tonight, i'll check the footage (a hero 3 on the fork and the original hero underneath facing backward).

ps. the balancing levels fluctuate a ton so no one picture captures it well, and here are out quite a bit again...

 

[Trackman417]

All is looking good for you man
I dont think anybody would have bounced back as fast and as strong as you did after that fire. You learned your lesson and made one bad ass build from an already bad ass build. Completely jealous.

Your taking the bike to WI again, right?

 

[doc007]

Good thing u checked your psi. I was pretty impressed by how much a tire compresses aftee taking a jump. Now we know why. :lol: Does the mx tire take a tube? Or is it tubeless?

Any ideas why the batteries are going so out if balance?

 

[GCinDC]

Does the mx tire take a tube?

Yes, big fat tube.

Any ideas why the batteries are going so out if balance?

Cause they're zippys? I don't think i posted pics of it, but i replaced my paralleled 4s ghetto crimped zippys out with a pair of new turnigy 25c 4s 5800mah packs that had a delta of 0.004 V. While riding an looking at balance board, those cells (17-20) stood like towers as the zippy cells rose and fell... might have to get gopro on them.

Your taking the bike to WI again, right?

i think i probably will.

unless thud, you want me to make a day trip of coming over there - perhaps taking the ferry from Milwaukee - and 'visit'?

 

[Thud]

unless thud, you want me to make a day trip of coming over there - perhaps taking the ferry from Milwaukee - and 'visit'?

Friend,
You are welcome to drop by anytime.....I'll even pick you up in Muskegon or Ludington on my side of the lake but if your looking for our little project, you will be quite disapointed...is just strewn all over the basment req room cluttering up this falls goal of re-claining the basment after broken pipe water damage...

I blew all my free time last winter desigining & overdesigning..wasted a month trying to fab a decent crank spindle (that failed 2 minutes into its trial under human power ) & once spring broke..I am working 50 hour weeks at the real job & motorcycle repair in the evenings. The last month all my free time is working on the property in a war with my insurance providers....this weeks evenings are planned re-siding the 1/2 of the pole barn garage & hopefully painting before the weekend. we'll see.....I don't even have an e-bike put together for myself currently. Next week I have a pro felling a couple trees....more clean up & cosmetics then its time for a fresh inspection.
If all works out well enough...I will indulge myself in a motocross race on one of my 74 hondas (July 28th) My workshop is a disgracefull wreck...quite embarassing really. but if you are serious, this old (flat land) hill billy would be glad to have you!

In my defence, look at how long it takes any of us fabricators to get anything done.....
back to work!

 

[GCinDC]

wtf, todd!

you broke a crank spindle and didn't post the photo???

just kiddin, man. sorry to hear you're so busy. i got exhausted just reading that! don't kill yourself. take it easy... phew

 

[Thud]

naww, it just bent....nothing dramatic.

Your welcome to take a mini vacation away from the family & tag along to a motocross race...I need a better set up man for my camera positioning LOL. The last sample was of the ground next to my front wheel.
(I know you are a world class fix it man also.... :wink: )

 

[GCinDC]

tag along to a motocross race...I need a better set up man for my camera positioning LOL.

wouldn't trust me to ride one, huh?

 

[Thud]

wouldn't trust me to ride one, huh?

hehe, no problem buddy! I even have boots & gear for you to ride in.....no better place to bust your cherry than the black sands of Midland Michigan! (dosen't even hurt to crash there!)
your in much better shape than my flabby 50 years....it would be an epic story for the lurkers here...& your camera skillz are legend! (i suck on my best day!)
shall i continue?

Consider this an official double dog dare! I bet grindz would drive over to catch this in person! your already on vacation.... imagine the flack from the green oriented folks here watching us burn gasoline in 2 stroke engines....just riding in circles for no good reason other than its fun! & destroying the soil to boot!

But if you just want to throw a leg over a dirt bike & ride some, thats cool too.(the swamp out back is finaly drying up)

Are you tempted? (man, I aint getting much done on the computer this afternoon LOL!)

 

[doc007]

wouldn't trust me to ride one, huh?

imagine the flack from the green oriented folks here watching us burn gasoline in 2 stroke engines....

Burn away , just make sure you get good footage! :lol:

Greg- I always find going thru hours of diving and snowboarding video to be a pain. What kind of set-up are you running that helps you edit everything? any tips for video editing newbs?

 

[GCinDC]

What kind of set-up are you running that helps you edit everything? any tips for video editing newbs?

mac, imovie. shhhh. don't tell anyone.

i'll make a vid of me making a vid someday...

meanwhile, a little commuter for ya.
[youtube]c0JZNQUybq8[/youtube]

and i found some more menus today. :lol:

and the other menus. the numbers after my return commute. 5.8kw

got a bit warm on the ride home... 267F. and temp sensor in controller : 138F

 

[Trackman417]

That controller is a lot of bang for the buck . Why are there only 4 or 5 people on the forums that are using this full time?

 

[doc007]

That controller is a lot of bang for the buck . Why are there only 4 or 5 people on the forums that are using this full time?

i think its still in beta.. limited release? I would like to have this set-up available here too.

I'm surprised they didn't give a menu map of all the different functions.

 

[GCinDC]

I'm surprised they didn't give a menu map of all the different functions.

there's this but it requires reading... :wink:

 

[doc007]

Pretty sweet! 2wd drive mode, traction control, horn, high beam, low beam etc. etc.

Looking forward to seeing this all implemented by next week :lol:

 

[Hyena]

Some cool features! The DC-DC converter is a nice touch, especially being software programmable!

 

[GCinDC]

full charge this am, got it a bit faster on the downhill:

normal commue w/ 45A infineon was about 4Ah, and now pushing 5.8kw i reckon it's more efficient.

has surprising extra power at high speed, particulary on downhill.

uphill not so much. w/ infineon i was getting only ~32mph top speed WOT up my hill, wasting lots of energy as heat.

the miniE dials back - i topped out at 37mph uphill, and it drew max 30A continuous, sometimes 20 something.

so not a high torque hill climber, but some incredible speed for that energy..

 

[Hyena]

the miniE dials back - i topped out at 37mph uphill, and it drew max 30A continuous, sometimes 20 something

Is that in relation to the motor temp or just it thinking it's clever ? What is your programmed battery current ? Around 80 amps peaks I'm guessing if you're seeing nearly 6kw peaks ? 20 amps up a hill would certainly give sluggish performance, especially on a HS3540. It should be demanding 50 amps +
Or was it that smart range thing where it limits your wattage to ensure a certain range?

 

[SniperGaulois]

when you have some next gen home assembled battery.... smoke alarm...

actually my neighbours garage was on fire in 1996 total car fire... it was an idle mercedes... so if it can happen on a mercedes...

 

[GCinDC]

the miniE dials back - i topped out at 37mph uphill, and it drew max 30A continuous, sometimes 20 something

Is that in relation to the motor temp or just it thinking it's clever ?

Pulled 67A up a hill this morning very torquey-like. I wonder if yesterday afternoon an overheating protection kicked in, perhaps the controller (mosfet) temp...

What is your programmed battery current ? Around 80 amps peaks I'm guessing if you're seeing nearly 6kw peaks ?

Battery current is set to 65A and phase 125A. andrey said 70A/130A are the max allowed in the mini to prevent suicide, though there may be a way to unlock it.

when you have some next gen home assembled battery.... smoke alarm...

still need the smoke alarm. what i need more is the timer to cut power to the charger. in the meantime, i'm turning it off after an hour...

i'm getting into a routine of seeing ~20mv delta after a ride and this after each charge... sure would be nice to see this on my cell phone, andrey, maybe via wifi app? like the gopro? allowing remote cut off of charge current? :wink:

Any ideas why the batteries are going so out if balance?

the other factor worth mentioning is that while each 4s pack is paralleled at cell level, the subpack power leads are NOT paralleled, EXCEPT at the ends... i'm not sure what if any ramifications that could have in cell balancing... cells 1-8, 9-16,17-20 are connected in series by lipo pcbs, cells 8-9 and 16-17 are connected in series by 10" of 10AWG and 5.5mm bullets... considering the cells a paralleled at the cell level, i can't see how that would matter.... hence my quip that they're puffy zippies... but who knows... and no, they're not puffy yet, but i like how that sounds: puffy zippy.

enough yap:
[youtube]UQRpU-gBmNU[/youtube]

 

[dbaker]

Power is nice in this heat Sounds quieter than before but still hear some noise from wheel runout? So is this controller a must have for ebikers?

 

[Hyena]

I wonder if yesterday afternoon an overheating protection kicked in, perhaps the controller (mosfet) temp...

Sounds like you need to keep a closer eye on all those fancy bars
Does it tell you mosfet temp on screen too or just the motor temp ?

andrey said 70A/130A are the max allowed in the mini to prevent suicide

Having seen your videos, I assume he was talking about you and not the controller
I guess that's continuous and it has a 'block time' like setting that allows bursts over that if you're seeing close to 6kw.
Thats fair enough, I ran my infineon 4110 12 fet with 80 amp battery current peaks daily for 18 months without incident so I'm sure this could handle it.

still need the smoke alarm. what i need more is the timer to cut power to the charger. in the meantime, i'm turning it off after an hour...

Why don't you just use one of those $5 mechanical timers ? Set it for 90 mins (or what ever) then snooze away.

i'm getting into a routine of seeing ~20mv delta after a ride and this after each charge... sure would be nice to see this on my cell phone

Bah, 20mv is nothing! Look at the resolution of that bar graph, it makes it look like the cells aren't too balanced until you see the upper and lower voltages are 4.16 and 4.18v! Who ever started this balancing to the nearest nanovolt business needs to be hung

the other factor worth mentioning is that while each 4s pack is paralleled at cell level, the subpack power leads are NOT paralleled, EXCEPT at the ends... i'm not sure what if any ramifications that could have in cell balancing...

Yeah that could potentially cause issues. I'd sort that out. If the battery has some stronger cells than others (which it most likely will) the weaker parallelled cells will try to compensate for voltage sag to equalize through only the balance taps. It's probably not such an issue now when the pack is new but as it gets cycles on it this will become more pronounced and it could result in significant heating of your wiring, or worse case, the dreaded balance tap melt and sparkle.

To visualise it another way, it's sort of like how normal RC balance chargers work.
They bulk charge through the main pack wires at say 5 amps and try to correct imbalances in cell voltage by bleeding the high ones down at maybe 5% of that power. Trying to balance like this is like pissing on a roaring fire. This is vaguely comparable to your set up is now, because you're bulk discharging current though the main wires and then the cells are trying to self balance through their paralleled balance taps.

 

[GCinDC]

Power is nice in this heat Sounds quieter than before but still hear some noise from wheel runout?

gopro hero is noisy on bottom bracket, but i don't hear that noise... i think it's a lot of bearings actually, in the bb, in the rear wheel.. i'll hold the camera in hand. you won't hear anything but the wind and my mofo tire...

So is this controller a must have for ebikers?

I'd say it's a pretty attractive offering once you run the numbers on controller/display/bms, IF it's ever available..

Bah, 20mv is nothing! Look at the resolution of that bar graph, it makes it look like the cells aren't too balanced until you see the upper and lower voltages are 4.16 and 4.18v!

the resolution changes... so the pack delta V was .005 before my commute (see above). at the end of commute, i took some pics while riding up a steep hill one handed:

if anyone ever wanted to know the difference between zippy 25c cells and turnigy 25c cells under a 25A(?) load, they needn't look any further!

moments later, under NO load:

silly me. what was i thinking testing it in the blazing heat at the end of a ride. i'd forgotten about the motor temp! whoops!

Sounds like you need to keep a closer eye on all those fancy bars. Does it tell you mosfet temp on screen too or just the motor temp ?

The bars are cool. The bottom left ones darken to represent current when accelerating. The bottom right ones show temp. I don't think the mosfet temp display on the that screen. I think once i lower the temp on the screen somewhere from 355 to 250, the bars will move a lot more on the heat side...

If the battery has some stronger cells than others (which it most likely will) the weaker parallelled cells will try to compensate for voltage sag to equalize through only the balance taps.

huh?

considering my pics above of the turnigy vs zippys, is this still relevant?

if so, a paralleled cell is effectively one cell, right? it can only have one voltage, right? one side may be weaker or stronger, but there's no way to know once they're paralleled except by the single voltage.. right?

i've got a pair of 8s packs that make up cells 1-8. i could have paralleled the positive leads off cell 8 and connected them to paralleled GND leads of cell 9 on the next 8s pack, but I didn't. i created two rows, and the + from one series goes into the GND of the next series... would it make a difference if the LEADS were paralleled between 8-9 and 16-17 when none of the other LEADS are paralleled except at the end?

phew, that hurt.

some scenes from the am, which is always more fun for some reason..
[youtube]zMp5DMTv048[/youtube]