KMX tadpole trike with canopy, Windwrap, cromotor, 10KW
- Thread starter adam333
- Start date
adam333
1 kW
kenwood96 said:
The heatpads are only 6W ea for a total of 70W heating inside the box. This is not much but so far, I had no batery sag at low temperature until I hit the
According to my temperature sensor, the average temperature inside the box is only 5 deg C higher compare to the ambient. I would need a sensor in direct contact to the battery to have a better idea.
I have 3-4mm of toe-in and I've taken my KMX up to 52mph... uphill... 
Glad to hear your batteries aren't sagging, my a123 pack has been great until I get well below freezing. Then acceleration suffers. 28mph top speed at -23C... though that's from BMS cutoff, it could go faster with a smarter BMS but this is healthier for the cells. Someday I may put together a heater and do a fancy build like yours Adam but it probably still won't be so polished.
Glad to hear your batteries aren't sagging, my a123 pack has been great until I get well below freezing. Then acceleration suffers. 28mph top speed at -23C... though that's from BMS cutoff, it could go faster with a smarter BMS but this is healthier for the cells. Someday I may put together a heater and do a fancy build like yours Adam
but it probably still won't be so polished.
adam333
1 kW
kenwood96 said:
Zippy's are ok so far, although some cells will have their voltage dropping quickly below 3.5V while the rest of the pac is still fine. Just because of that I need to restrict the LVC to 3.6V or 3.7V I have yet to find an alternative to the Hobbyking cell low price. They sag badly at low temperature unless you control their temperature. The capacity will also go down with the time. On my first ebike, those 8000 mAh zippy are now only supplying 6000 mAh after 3 years.
Toe-in is roughly the same as it was on the brand new KMX but I didnt mesure it. There is some toe-in for sure as the bike remain stable and goes straight at 40 mph without touching the steering.
adam333
1 kW
xenodius said:I have 3-4mm of toe-in and I've taken my KMX up to 52mph... uphill...
Glad to hear your batteries aren't sagging, my a123 pack has been great until I get well below freezing. Then acceleration suffers. 28mph top speed at -23C... though that's from BMS cutoff, it could go faster with a smarter BMS but this is healthier for the cells. Someday I may put together a heater and do a fancy build like yours Adam
hehe, ty :wink:
if you go that way, do not go below 5W per heater though.
adam333
1 kW
I got asked for a daylight video, so here is a short 1 min video.
Traction is not that great since I have no studs on the back tire.
Things to be done:
1-The chain rust badly within a day or two in salty water/snow. This one must be replaced by a S.S. version.
2-Upgrade the front mudguards so they can actually stop some mud.
3-Design a new electronic flag. This one is fine during night time, but not visible enough during the day. The red plastic flag himself only lasted 15 min during my first ride before the wind shred it.
Traction is not that great since I have no studs on the back tire.
Things to be done:
1-The chain rust badly within a day or two in salty water/snow. This one must be replaced by a S.S. version.
2-Upgrade the front mudguards so they can actually stop some mud.
3-Design a new electronic flag. This one is fine during night time, but not visible enough during the day. The red plastic flag himself only lasted 15 min during my first ride before the wind shred it.
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@adam333: I had zippy's and turnigy's, must say the the turnigy hold up to their specs much better then the zippy's. I had a zippy pack, and like you said, the cells aren't working that well together...
My recent pack has 9x 6s 5000mah 20C turnigy's, after 2 years of use, same capacity comes out, and cells stay within 0.01 range! I've had this pack recharged for 225 times, puling a total of 7875 Ah out of these baby's!
My recent pack has 9x 6s 5000mah 20C turnigy's, after 2 years of use, same capacity comes out, and cells stay within 0.01 range! I've had this pack recharged for 225 times, puling a total of 7875 Ah out of these baby's!
adam333
1 kW
I finally made my new LED High power Flag for this trike.
It is now visible during the day and very bright at night.
roughly 10W @ 12 V DC
The flashing pattern is driven by an Arduino inserted in the Flag pole. The only requirement is to have a 12 Vdc source.
1 min video ( the camera was saturating ):
It is now visible during the day and very bright at night.
roughly 10W @ 12 V DC
The flashing pattern is driven by an Arduino inserted in the Flag pole. The only requirement is to have a 12 Vdc source.
1 min video ( the camera was saturating ):
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GiantEV
100 W
Is your new flag made of nylon? Should hold up better than your last flag which seemed to be plastic.
Great build by the way! How is it holding up?
Great build by the way! How is it holding up?
adam333
1 kW
Yes, this one is made of Nylon and solved my previous problem.
Thanks for good word.
One cell died and damaged another 3 cell that were paralleled with it. So it is now on the bench until I fix those 4 batteries.
I will also take some time to implement a canopy and possibly a front suspension.
Thanks for good word.
One cell died and damaged another 3 cell that were paralleled with it. So it is now on the bench until I fix those 4 batteries.
I will also take some time to implement a canopy and possibly a front suspension.
mclark999
100 W
adam333 said:
I'd love to see your canopy when you are done. I'll be making a canopy for mine. Thinking of using stretch fabric.
adam333
1 kW
It took a while but here it is: The E-KMX canopy
Basically, this tadpole trike canopy could be fitted on any recumbent bike and it allow the use of a Windwrap.
With the Windwrap:
Without Windwrap:
Rear view:
To get on the bike, you simply release the 2 front clips. The canopy's rod are made out of Fiberglass and always return to their "straight" shape. This is also what allow the fabric to stay stretched. I tested up to 60km/h and there is no flapping noise or deformation.
Rear brackets that goes on the rack:
The waterproof fabric sewed: ( I bought a sweing machine and learned how to use it for this project )
Fiberglass rod assembly:
2 min Video:
This is not my design though, I was inspired by Ed miller to create this canopy: recumbent trike canopy – Tadpole Rider
Basically, this tadpole trike canopy could be fitted on any recumbent bike and it allow the use of a Windwrap.
With the Windwrap:
Without Windwrap:
Rear view:
To get on the bike, you simply release the 2 front clips. The canopy's rod are made out of Fiberglass and always return to their "straight" shape. This is also what allow the fabric to stay stretched. I tested up to 60km/h and there is no flapping noise or deformation.
Rear brackets that goes on the rack:
The waterproof fabric sewed: ( I bought a sweing machine and learned how to use it for this project )
Fiberglass rod assembly:
2 min Video:
This is not my design though, I was inspired by Ed miller to create this canopy: recumbent trike canopy – Tadpole Rider
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Marc S.
100 W
adam333 said:
Have a look at the (drop in) front suspension from ICE Trikes http://www.icetrikes.co
http://www.recumbenttrikestore.com/images/FS.jpg
I'm pretty happy with the front suspension in my ICE Sprint. You might also try 20" front wheels first.
I found very nice and sturdy 47mm wide rims here: http://www.classic-cycle.de/en/Ready-Spanned-Wheels-Rims-Parts/Rims/?force_sid=dc3dbb03a0a4c1e6ca22c581a9db8292
You got a pretty monsterous KMX there! Nice!
mclark999
100 W
I really like this. What was total time and materials cost?adam333 said:It took a while but here it is: The E-KMX canopy
Basically, this tadpole trike canopy could be fitted on any recumbent bike and it allow the use of a Windwrap.
With the Windwrap:
Without Windwrap:
Rear view:
To get on the bike, you simply release the 2 front clips. The canopy's rod are made out of Fiberglass and always return to their "straight" shape. This is also what allow the fabric to stay stretched. I tested up to 60km/h and there is no flapping noise or deformation.
Rear brackets that goes on the rack:
The waterproof fabric sewed: ( I bought a sweing machine and learned how to use it for this project )
Fiberglass rod assembly:
2 min Video:
[youtube]nz4fJd-S114[/youtube]
This is not my design though, I was inspired by Ed miller to create this canopy: https://tadpolerider2.wordpress.com/tag/recumbent-trike-canopy/
ohzee
100 kW
Yea that is one sick looking trike. I love it. Being able to stay out of the wind and sun some also is pretty sweet.
Awesome build.
Awesome build.
cal3thousand
10 MW
I would have to say this is an ideal trike. If I were to eventually make one, it would follow many of the same concepts
adam333
1 kW
Thanks for the kind words guys =)
Yes, thanks for the suggestions. I will definitively go toward an "ICE suspension"
I am not sure yet about the 20" at the front, I would have to try it I guess.
I took a look at your blog, the Wh/km of your trike is very good. Mine is roughly 18Wh/km.... do you pedal to obtain those numbers?
Material cost is roughly 50$ for the canopy. But labor took me a month on and off.
Marc S. said:Have a look at the (drop in) front suspension from ICE Trikes http://www.icetrikes.co
http://www.recumbenttrikestore.com/images/FS.jpg
I'm pretty happy with the front suspension in my ICE Sprint. You might also try 20" front wheels first.
I found very nice and sturdy 47mm wide rims here: http://www.classic-cycle.de/en/Ready-Spanned-Wheels-Rims-Parts/Rims/?force_sid=dc3dbb03a0a4c1e6ca22c581a9db8292
You got a pretty monsterous KMX there! Nice!
Yes, thanks for the suggestions. I will definitively go toward an "ICE suspension"
I am not sure yet about the 20" at the front, I would have to try it I guess.
I took a look at your blog, the Wh/km of your trike is very good. Mine is roughly 18Wh/km.... do you pedal to obtain those numbers?
mclark999 said:
Material cost is roughly 50$ for the canopy. But labor took me a month on and off.
Marc S.
100 W
Go for it! I've never seen or heard from a KMX trike with ICE front suspension before.adam333 said:
ICE uses 1" head sets and 12mm axle bolts btw. They ship the front suspension with rather firm 'medium' hard elastomeres.
If you weight less than maybe 90-100kg you will experiance an overly stiff suspension. Get a set soft elastomeres right away as well.
Other KMX trike models use 20" front wheels already. As I understand they all share the same frame.adam333 said:
Because of the changed steering geometrie, you will get a slightly less 'nimble' but more stabile steering with bigger wheels.
Rolling resistance and comfort will improve with bigger wheels. Tyre choice in 20" is vastly bigger as well.
18Wh/km is not a bad figure with your studded rear tyre. I was expecting way more.adam333 said:
I juggle a bit with my battery configuration, but I'm rather lazy in the pedaling departement...
With a 20s battery I'm some where between 23-25Wh/km, just under 70km/h top speed and having a lot of fun chasing cars through the city...
Most of the time, like my daily commute, I use a 15s battery configuration at about 15-18Wh/km and 52-55km/h top speed.
The low figures from my last trip where with 10s batterys, some pedaling and restricted top speed to 30km/h to get the range.
adam333
1 kW
I realy like your waterproof Givi E21cruiser cases...
On the web site, they are black and white:
Yours are fully black right ? And how much are those?
On the web site, they are black and white:
Yours are fully black right ? And how much are those?
Marc S.
100 W
adam333 said:
That are E21 with silver lids. Interesting if you are living in a real sunny area. I think my black lids reached 70°C on the outside last week.
They where about €110 for a pair three years ago + €20 for the mounting set.
Recently Givi brought the E22 on the market. Interesting design but 3cm wider as far as I can tell.
adam333
1 kW
With all the cels working as they should, I was able to do a 90km ride so far on this battery pack at 20km/h average, ( 13 Wh/km ) 17 AH used on the 32 AH pack. Each cells were roughly at 3.65 V and I started at 4.1V
This seat is not the best... I badly need to work on a suspension or a better seat...
This seat is not the best... I badly need to work on a suspension or a better seat...
Marc S.
100 W
adam333 said:
You still use the tiny front wheels?
Just get a set of wide 20" wheels for a more comfortable ride AND decreased rolling resistance. You could even get 24" wheels.
I'll receive a second Sprint frame (unsuspended) in a few weeks and most likely set it up with 24" front and 26" rear wheels.
I allredy have a set of 24" front wheels and used them for a while. The first thing I noticed (apart from the smoother ride) was how much less rolling resistance the bigger wheels, compared to my 20" front wheels, provided. The thing just wouldn't stop rolling! I used 1.75" wide Marathon Greenguard on both wheel sets.
Others took even more extreme measures and use 700c wheels on their trikes to decrease rolling resistance and speed things up a bit:
http://etrike.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/3x700-wheels-on-a-tadpole-trike
And then there is the White ICE Cycle...
Build by ICE Trikes for Maria Leigerstam’s 10 day, 400 mile solo tour to the south pole. Thats what I call a winter trike!
http://etrike.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/white-ice-trike/
adam333
1 kW
I will give the 20 inch wheels a try. this will restrict the turning radius though.
thanks for the advice
thanks for the advice
GiantEV
100 W
You may want to consider 16" moped tires for your front wheels to match your big rear wheel. 16" tires fit on wide 20" bicycle rims. I run Shinko 714 2.25-16 moped tires and love them. The key is to make sure your rim is wide enough for some of these tires.
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