Kalkhoff Panasonic chain drive units

[NeilP]

Just acquired a Kalkhoff Pro Connect Allround, as pictured below.

No battery so was unsure what voltage..guessed 24 volt.
Only have 5s and 6s packs around at the moment, so connected just a 6s, at around 22 volts...
First (of three) battery indicator lights came on, but flashing and no go, little power.
So connected a 5 s pack as well, so 44 volts or so.
Well it still goes, gutless, but it is a UK spec system..BUT still only one battery indicator light.

So I am assuming the battery indicator system is not just a battery voltage monitor and possibly gets feedback from the third grey wire as pictured.

I have tried on the UK Pedelec forum, but no one there seems to have a clue about it. One of the member there (Flecc) has a useful reference site for Panasonic units, old and new, but it is really a site for those of a non technical ability, good info but not what I was looking for.

So has anyone on here done any work with these, programming? mod'ing for higher current limits, RPM levels etc.

From what info I have gained so far, the motors do seem to be BLDC sensored motors, so I suppose one could just bypass the internal controller and fit an external. but it woudl be nice to be able to keep some of the good features of the original, like torque assist etc, but remove the limits ..like power down ramping at 15mph etc.

Anyone got any pointers?

 

[Ykick]

I owned/rode a Panasonic (National) brand version for a few years and other than changing the rear cog never managed to find any electrical "modding" info. The closest I could find back in the day was some folks in Japan that knew a little about these systems but it was all in Japanese.

Stock 24V NiMh battery uses a temp sensor IIRC? Could that be the extra wire mentioned? My 24V also shutdown above 29V or so but later version did run 36V.

It's actually a great "little" system - dunno how it would hold up under more demanding parameters but if anybody can figure it out, you probably can.

The weirdest thing to me about this "pedelec" is/was that the lighter you pedal the more assist it would provide. Another trick I learned was to pedal inconsistent cadence so that the torque sensor always thinks you're starting from a dead stop.

btw, that brand is very expensive sold here in USA. $3k or more IIRC....

 

[NeilP]

3k!!!
You can have it for half that

I have not managed to get to even look at it today, just spent the best part of two days restoring disk images, re installing software, on parents computer. been here since 0900 hrs..time now 1828..still not done..bloody slow internet connection does not help either .

Big single shunt so may think of either wrapping the legs or fitting another shunt across it. Does not seem to be any programming info available. Alternative is jsut to add the external controller of course..it is a hall sensor BLDC after all.

Am actually in the middle of a tractor rebuild, and have nto got around to the blocks for the axle for the 5403..So many jobs and I start another

 

[flecc]

Quote NeilP: "Big single shunt so may think of either wrapping the legs or fitting another shunt across it."

This does work and can achieve 900 volt peaks as against the usual 400 volts. I've no idea how long it might last like that though. See this link on my Panasonic help website for the info:

http://www.flecc.co.uk/p/performance.html

 

[NeilP]

Ahh flecc.....first post here eh umm must have come across you some where else


No idea what happened to the at bike now..think the motor drive unit is still in a box down the farm.. bike definitely scrapped..so slow and under powered just not worth keeping.

Someone wanted the drive unit, but never got back to me..so It will probably go in the scrap pile..if it has not already gone.

Bike was perfect apart from missing battery, but why spend money on something that only goes slower than you can pedal any way ? Best pat of the whole bike was the seat.