Most Bestest Lipo Containment? (soft tail mtb)

[sinesolder]

Hi everyone,

Newish to the ebike world and ES has been a huge help! This is my first post, but I have really tried searching everywhere for a "best" Lipo container for my bike setup.

Firstly, I have a Mongoose Impasse 29er with 26" wheels on it. No, the pedals don't scrape and no, it's not too squirrely :wink: The only issue with the bike so far is that there isn't any space within the frame for a pack or even the controller really so containage has been a challenge. And it's a soft tail so it limits the types of racks I can use. I currently have a beam style which works well enough.

I've already seen the ammo can idear, not sold on the weight factor. I finally ditched the SLAs that came with the bike, I don't want to add the weight back! I have the pack that came with my kit (Yescom 48v 1000w kit) and it's large enough to stack my 12s 10ah pack but I'm searching for the golden savior of containers to put inside the trunk bag for safer keeping. I have to keep my controller in the bag as well so a removable option such as the Topeak yada yada won't suit, otherwise I'd just line that and call it good. I would love to hear about an aluminum box or such that fits 4-6 6S 5000mah Lipo packs that I can remove to charge, but also fits in the bag and is short enough to clear my seat (roughly 5.5-6in clearance).

Does anyone have this magical wonderment of a storage solution for on-the-bike?

Much thanks in advance!
-sinesolder

 

[melodious]

http://bikereview.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/3/mongoose-impasse-29-inch-mountain-bike-review-best_3.jpeg

Pics will get better response.

Just off the top of my head, you have mucho mucho room in the down tube which is the ideal location for handling. 2nd best location for a battery is a "saddle" type bag on your top tube near the headset so your legs don't strike during pedaling. 3rd is a "pelican hard case" attached to a dual crown fork.

The easiest of those 3 methods is the saddle bag. ES member Teslanv is selling (or will be soon) such a bag. Another bag is the Additive bike bag, but that comes with a premium $200ish pricepoint and I'm not 100% positive it would work on that downward sloping toptube.

 

[melodious]

*double post deleted

 

[wesnewell]

Mount controller on back of seat post tube. Hang the batteries over the top bar. 2 on each side. Here's how I did my 12 4s packs as 24s2p on my Mongoose. 4 6s packs will be a lot easier.
View attachment 2
Since you have soft packs, buy some corrugated plastic from Home depot or some aluminum sheets to protect the outside. Once you do it, you can use the pack on any bike with a straight top tube. I use the same battery pack on my Mongoose Ledge 2.1 and my Mongoose Dolomite fat bike.

 

[dogman dan]

Actually, 12s 10 ah, less than 10 pounds is quite small enough to carry on a rear rack.

Yes, it WILL affect handling. But not enough to buck you the hell off. Not at all like a 15-20 pound battery on a rack.

Also quite small enough to carry on a front bag or box.

Wrap the pack in a super tight fitting homemade box to protect it. Masonite, aluminum sheet, coroplast sheet, etc. I've even used the plastic storage tote lids to protect a battery. Cut and fold to make the box, tape it up tight. Only the top with the wires exposed.

I regularly carry a 12 pound allcell battery on this bike. Handled better though, with a 4 pound 48v 5 ah in there. Everything must be tight, any battery flopping around in the bag on a rear rack will buck you off.



A larger battery such as Wes carries, would have to be carried another way. But your little battery can carry just about any way you like.

 

[sinesolder]

I like the responses so far. This pic shows my Impasse. A bit different than the Mongoose pictured after my original post.

I hadn't considered hanging them off the top bar. Don't they swing when turning sharply? I had a 10ah SLA pack originally so I'm all too familiar with dragging booty in the trunk! That's why I'm trying to stay away from a .50cal ammo can. With a 12s 15ah pack (my largest setup for commuting) with 6 x 6s 5000mah in total will bring me up to 10 or so pounds. An ammo can adds another 5 and then I'm close to where I started. Honestly it wasn't that bad, but I was just riding like a tank. I'm not sold on the having everything exposed. I'm in an urban environment and really like having my current setup be sort of inconspicuous. Nobody at work has even noticed that it's electric! Saddle bags may work though.

I can't mount the controller to the seat post unless I remove the rack, but I have considered mounting it to the side of the top bar. The top bar is actually a square beam. I'm just afraid of catching my leg on the sharp sides of it. I've seen it mounted like a radiator in front behind the wheel. Anyone have luck with that location? Getting the controller out of the bag would be ideal in the long run. Popping my entire bag off and taking in to charge sounds groovy.

All in all, I was hoping to hear about a particular container that someone has found that's lighter than an ammo can, still made of metal (aluminum) and fits the dimensional restrictions of 11.5L x 7W x 7H and fits 6 6S packs with room for wiring. I'd cut holes for cable management and venting for sure.

 

[melodious]

The saddlebags have velcro straps & rubberized placeholders that will keep things in place. There are even smaller versions of saddlebags that may work with your capacity. Google "Ibera" brand bags.

http://www.ibera.info/products_list.php?cID=5

Wesnewells pack looks simple & legit if your a fair weather rider. It's also a power pack (>48v)!

 

[motomech]

Click on my GT Idrive link below.

 

[Eclectic]

I made saddlebags for the top tube near the headset. It’s made from coroplast (using 3M VHB tape). It fits 3 4s hardcases on each side (total of 12s 10Ah). It took some work to get it to miss both my knees and the top of the forks but it was a nice place for weight balance. Sorry no pics.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Saddle bags would be ideal for that frame, but making them weather proof, yet small enough to not interfere with your legs while pedaling can be a challenge. There isn't much off the shelf that would work for that, you're going to need to get creative with Fiberglas, canvas, sheet metal, or something similar.

For a light battery a rear rack could work. It's not ideal, but much better than the lead would have been. As a third alternative, you could mount them in a bag, box, or rack secured to the handlebars.

As for metal cans like ammo cans, they may not be the best idea. While they offer great protection from impacts and punctures, if a thermal event happens, some tin ammo can isn't going to stop it or contain it. What they will do is allow the pressure to build before bursting, amplifying the problem. it would be better to make sure the gasses and flames can be vented easily, preferably away from your self. A sturdy plastic tool or tackle box is all you really need.

 

[sinesolder]

I'm still on the search, however I figured I'd post my short term solution! My iCharger 306B box fits 4 6s 5000mAh batteries almost perfectly once I took the separating foam out. The actual box keeps the 4 batteries snug and has a thin layer of foam for protection. The top of the box doesn't close perfectly or anything. Nothing some gaff tape couldn't fix.

I think I'll end up moving my controller outside of the bag and get a detachable trunk solution in time. Being that I'm commuting and can build different sized packs for whatever journey I need to make, but also need to charge at work, I think a Topeak MTX bag may be best for me. I'll update this thread as changes occur.