Long range scooter

[tkopper]

Hello! Well I picked up this 3 wheel scooter the other day. The motor controller is no good, dash lights up and works ok but nothing on the controller. The scooter has a 24V 270 watt motor that says 3 AMP max. What I just planned to do is, strap my 2 12V 125AH marine batts on it wired in series and connect it directly to the motor. Since the motor is 24 volts, it should be fine... right? The link below is the specs on the scooter. Its says in there that the 18Ah battery can push it 9.5 miles... what can 125Ah with no controller do? lol Thanks.

 

[dogman dan]

first of all, the size of the battery, which is amp hours won't matter except for the excess weight. As long as it's 24v, the motor will run on it. Amps is different, amps is how fast the power is flowing. With no controller, your battery can supply hundreds of amps, while the motor likes only 3 amps. 3 amps makes no sense though, 3 amps x 24v is 73 watts.

You can test the motor with no controller, but if you climb a big hill the motor will pull enough current to melt it. Riding it in milder conditions, the motor might survive quite some time with no controller, but it will tend to burn up the switch you are using instead of a throttle. The switch may weld itself stuck in the on position, so be ready to bail off.

Brushed motor Controllers that size are very very cheap, so just get one. 24v x 10 amps is 240 watts. So look for 10 amp controllers.

 

[tkopper]

OK so your saying the 90AMP controller that comes with this scooter is overkill? Because yea, a 350W (25A) ESC is indeed cheap.

 

[dogman dan]

Well, given your specs. 3 amps motor, 270 watts, I just assumed you had something fairly tiny. Now I just have no idea whatsoever what you have. A 90 amps controller is 2000 watts.

All I can say for sure now, is if the motor is big enough, you really need a controller. Pick one that fits your budget. Do test the motor first though, before spending money. Hook the motor leads to a 12v battery briefly, just to see if the motor turns.

 

[Dauntless]

Unfortunately your link never appeared. Let me go out on a limb here and speculate that you really misunderstand your scooter. (I realize I just shocked so many readers who were sure you did.) Had you posted a picture I could have at least tried to find what looked like it. So instead I found what seems like a pretty representative mobility scooter and let's look at that:

Transport Scooter Technical Specifications

Dimensions
Ground Clearance 2.4"
Length - Overall 37"
Width - Overall 19"
Height - Overall 37.2"
Wheelbase 27.3"
Folded Size 29.5" x 19" x 17.7"
Ground Clearance 2.4"
Drive Wheel 8" x 2"
Front Caster 7" x 1.6"
Suspension Articulating Front Wheel
Leg Room 16.5"
Seat width 16"
Turning Radius 32.3"
Travel Range 10 - 15 Miles
Weight Capacity 250 lbs.

Maximum Speed 4 mph
Maximum Safe Slope 6 degrees

BatterySpecifications

Option 1
24V x 11.5Ah Li-Polymer (Japan Battery Core) (OPTIONAL)

Option 2
24V x 12 Ah MK Batteries (STANDARD)
Charger Type
2.5 amp, 11/240 Volt, Li-ION Charger

Controller Type S-Drive 45 AMP
Motor Type 4-Pole 270 W

Weight W/ Li-Battery 60 lbs, W/ MK battery 70 lbs.
Weight Without the Batteries Only 53 lbs.

Dang, I don't know what these batteries you got for it are, but I feel sure they're heavier than what's intended. Meanwhile if there's one thing I'm certain you got wrong it's that '3 amp max.' Probably that's the max when CHARGING.

My first thought is, do you WANT to peak at 4mph? I WALK faster than that to get downtown. (Here's a 500watter that says it'll go 18mph.) http://www.ebay.com/itm/E-Wheels-EW-36-Fast-Recreational-Outdoor-Terrain-Electric-Power-Mobility-Scooter/251277701146?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D163%26meid%3D7853601718432881306%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D330871400527%26

The 750w will go 25mph.

I would think not just bigger amperage, I'd say you need a 48 volt controller to go faster.

http://www.extremescooters.biz/48v-500w-universal-controller.aspx

Keep in mind that will only get your speed up to 8mph, if indeed the speed was 4mph to begin with. Maybe there's a way to change gear ratios to speed it up. I got fed up with the 350w Currietech because it was only going 12mph.